Cai Xiang - Saijyo

A politician and calligrapher of the Northern Song Dynasty in China. His pen name was Kunbo. He was a fairy-tale lover in the Xinghua Army of Fujian. In 1030 (8th year of the Tiansheng era), he passed the Jinshi examination. He served Emperor Renzong and was highly trusted, progressing through the ranks to become a Hanlin scholar and Sansi-shi, and at one time oversaw the finances of the Song state. In 65 (2nd year of the Zhiping era), he was misunderstood by Emperor Yingzong, and was demoted to the governor of Hangzhou, after which he died of illness and was awarded the title of Assistant Minister of Personnel. He was skilled in literature, and in calligraphy he occupied an important position as a pioneer of the Northern Song style, and is known as one of the "Four Great Masters of the Northern Song Dynasty" along with Su Shi, Huang Tingjian, and Mi Fu. His calligraphy was influenced by the Tang Dynasty's Yan Zhenqing, and is thick yet powerful. He excelled in calligraphy and writing, and was praised by Su Shi as the best in the Song dynasty. He left behind calligraphy works such as "Wan'an Bridge Monument," "Gratitude to the Emperor's Calligraphy," and "Postscript by Yan Zhenqing," and wrote works such as "Cha Lu" and "Collection of the Master of Tea."

[Hiroshi Kakui]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

中国、北宋(ほくそう)の政治家、書家。字(あざな)は君謨(くんぼ)。福建興化軍仙遊の人。1030年（天聖8）進士に合格。仁宗に仕えて信任厚く、累進して翰林(かんりん)学士、三司使となり、一時は宋国の財政を総括した。65年（治平2）英宗の誤解を受け、杭州(こうしゅう)知事に左遷ののち病没、吏部侍郎を贈られた。文学に長じ、また書においては、北宋様式の先駆者として重要な地位を占め、蘇軾(そしょく)、黄庭堅(こうていけん)、米芾(べいふつ)と並び「北宋四大家」と称される。その書は唐の顔真卿(がんしんけい)の影響を受けたもので、肥厚のなかに骨力を蔵している。とりわけ行・楷に優れ、蘇軾は彼を宋朝第一と評している。「万安橋碑」「謝賜御書詩表巻」「顔真卿自書告身跋(ばつ)」などの遺墨、『茶録』『蔡忠恵公集』などの著がある。

［角井　博］

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