Cai Jing - Saikei

A Chinese politician at the end of the Northern Song dynasty. His courtesy name was Yuanchang. He was born in Xinghua Xianyou (Xianyou County, Fujian Province). He passed the Jinshi examination in 1070. He served the eighth emperor, Huizong, and took control of the government four times. He is famous for restoring the new laws, but he did not have firm beliefs in political policies. For example, there is an episode in which he was one of the first to follow the old laws when Sima Guang restored them. He skillfully handled himself while pandering to those in power at the time and seizing power. He was also famous as a calligrapher along with his younger brother Bian (1058-1117), and ingratiated himself with Huizong, who had a taste for culture, and monopolized the government in collusion with the eunuch Tong Guan. He allied with the newly emerging Jin to destroy the Liao dynasty, but at the same time, he was invaded by the Jin and brought about the downfall of the Northern Song dynasty. After Emperor Huizong abdicated, he died while in exile as the leader of six traitors to the nation.

[Hiroshi Ihara]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

中国、北宋(ほくそう)末の政治家。字(あざな)は元長。興化仙游(こうかせんゆう)（福建省仙游県）の出身。1070年進士に及第。第8代皇帝徽宗(きそう)に仕え、4回にわたって政権を掌握した。新法を復活したので有名であるが、政治方針に確固たる信念があったわけではない。たとえば、司馬光が旧法を復活するといち早くこれに従ったエピソードも伝えられており、時の権力者に迎合しつつ、巧みに身を処して権力を握ったのである。弟の卞(べん)（1058―1117）とともに、能書家としても有名で、文化趣味の徽宗に取り入り、宦官(かんがん)の童貫と結託して政権を独占した。新興の金と結んで遼(りょう)を滅ぼしたが、同時に金の侵攻を受けて北宋の滅亡を招いた。徽宗退位後に国賊6人の筆頭として、配流の途中に没した。

［伊原　弘］

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