Genshin

A Chinese man of letters from the mid-Tang Dynasty. He also served as a prime minister. His pen name was Weizhi. He was a descendant of the Later Wei royal family, but fell into poverty and was raised by his mother. At the age of 28, he passed the imperial examination and made a name for himself. He also composed a group of Yuefu poems, pioneering a new field with political satire as its theme. He had a close relationship with Bai Juyi, and introduced the double rhyme form to his recitation poems, which attracted the attention of the world and established the style of the era known as the "Genwa style." He also promoted a new style of prose in writing, and his work "The Tale of the Nightingale" played a leading role in the field of short stories. All of his literature was supported by his sharp sensibility and talent, and attempted to break free from tradition while following the trends of the times, and had a great influence on later generations. During our dynasty, the "Kudai Waka", "Senzai Kakku", and "Wakan Roeishu" were popular. The "Genji Chokeishu" has 60 volumes.

[Hideki Hanabusa]

"Hanabusa Hideki (ed.), "Research on Yuan Zhen" (1977, Ibundo Shoten)" ▽ "Maekawa Yukio, "Various Aspects of Yuan and Bai Chao Poetry" (included in "The World of Chinese Literature 5", 1981, Kasama Shoin)"

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

中国、中唐の文人。宰相にもなった。字(あざな)は微之(びし)。後魏(こうぎ)の王室の子孫であったが、没落して母の手で育てられた。28歳で皇帝の親試に及第し、才名を響かせた。ときに一群の楽府詩(がふし)をつくり、政治風刺を主題として新しい分野を開いた。白居易(はくきょい)とも深く交わり、その唱和の詩に次韻(じいん)形式を導入して世の耳目をそばだて、「元和体」という時代様式を確立した。文辞においても新体の散文を推進し、『鶯鶯伝(おうおうでん)』は短編小説の領域で指導的な役割を果たした。すべてその文学は、先鋭な感覚と才能とに支えられ、時代の動向に沿いつつ、伝統からの解放を試みたもので、後代にも多くの影響を与えた。わが王朝時代にも、『句題和歌』『千載(せんざい)佳句』『和漢朗詠集』によってもてはやされた。『元氏長慶集』60巻がある。

［花房英樹］

『花房英樹編『元稹研究』（1977・彙文堂書店）』▽『前川幸雄著「元・白唱和詩の種々相」（『中国文学の世界5』所収・1981・笠間書院）』

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