Kanchu - Kanchu

A politician from the state of Qi during the Spring and Autumn period in China. He was a vassal of Prince Jiu (?-685 BC), and was taken prisoner after Jiu lost a battle for the throne with Duke Huan. However, he was recommended by Duke Huan's vassal Bao Shuya and was appointed prime minister. He subsequently assisted Duke Huan in promoting policies to enrich the country and strengthen its military, particularly promoting agricultural development and the use of marine resources such as salt and fish to promote commerce and industry. In foreign policy, he used his powerful military as a backing to form alliances with other countries, allowing Duke Huan to demonstrate his leadership among the feudal lords. In particular, he made Duke Huan the hegemon at the meeting at Kuiqiu (west of Shangqiu, Henan Province) in 651 BC, but after the death of Guan Zhong, Duke Huan is said to have lost his leadership in both domestic and foreign affairs. Guan Zhong's philosophy was characterized by placing economics above morality and prioritizing the stability of the people's lives, which is similar to the later Legalist philosophy. "Guanzi" is said to be his book, but it is believed that many parts were actually written by people from the Warring States period onwards.

[Yukio Ota December 14, 2015]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

中国、春秋時代の斉(せい)の政治家。公子糾(きゅう)（？―前685）の臣下で、糾と桓公(かんこう)との公位争いで糾が敗れたため捕虜となった。しかし、桓公の臣下の鮑叔牙(ほうしゅくが)の推薦で用いられて宰相となった。以後、桓公を助けて富国強兵政策を進め、とくに農業の振興策や、塩、魚などの海産物資源を利用して商工業を振興させる政策を推し進めた。対外政策では、強力な軍隊を背景とし、他国と会盟を結ぶことによって諸侯間で桓公の指導力を発揮させるようにした。とくに紀元前651年の葵丘(ききゅう)（河南省商丘(しょうきゅう)市の西）の会によって、桓公を覇者にさせたが、管仲の死後、桓公は内政、外交両面で指導力を喪失したといわれる。管仲の思想は道徳より経済を重んじ、国民の生活安定を第一義とする点に特色があり、後の法家思想と通ずるところがある。『管子(かんし)』はその著書と伝えられるが、実際は戦国時代以降の人の筆になる部分が多いと考えられている。

［太田幸男　2015年12月14日］

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