Kaizui

A Chinese Ming Dynasty official. A native of Qiongshan County, Hainan Island. His courtesy name was Ruxian, his title was Goho, and his posthumous name was Zhongsuke. In 1549, he became a provincial governor, and thanks to the kindness of Lu Guangzu, he became a clerk in the House of Representatives. He was known for his stubbornness, and in 66 he was imprisoned for speaking out against the misrule of Emperor Jiajing. It was at this time that he strongly remonstrated with the emperor, first buying a coffin and breaking away from his wife and children to await punishment (the story goes that "Hairui City buys a coffin"). After the accession of Emperor Longqing to the throne, he was promoted from Right Censor to Yingtian Governor, and in addition to implementing the Yi Tiao Whip Law, he also devoted himself to improving civil administration, such as land reclamation and water conservancy works. Later, he clashed with Zhang Juzheng and retired from office, but he was loved by the people as a clean official on par with Zhou Si and Yu Qian, and even in the new China era, he was featured in historical dramas such as Wu Han's "The Sea Rui Disappearing Official."

[Mamoru Kawakatsu]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

中国、明(みん)代の官僚。海南島瓊山(けいざん)県の人。字(あざな)は汝賢(じょけん)、号は剛峯(ごうほう)、諡(おくりな)は忠介。1549年挙人となり、陸光祖の知遇を得て戸部主事となった。性は剛直をもって聞こえ、66年、嘉靖帝(かせいてい)の失政を直言して獄につながれた。帝を強く諫(いさ)めるにあたり、まず棺(ひつぎ)を買い、妻子に訣別(けつべつ)して罪を待った（「海瑞市棺(かいずいかんをかう)」）という故事はこのときのことである。隆慶帝の即位後、右僉都御史(うせんとぎょし)から応天巡撫(じゅんぶ)となり、一条鞭法(べんぽう)の実施のほか、土地丈量(じょうりょう)や水利工事の施行など民政の充実に意を注いだ。のち、張居正と衝突して官を退いたが、周忱(しゅうしん)、于謙(うけん)と並ぶ清官として民に慕われ、新中国になっても呉晗(ごがん)『海瑞罷官(ひかん)』などの歴史劇に取り扱われた。

［川勝　守］

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