Zi Gong -

A man from the Spring and Autumn Period in China. A disciple of Confucius. His surname was Danmu and given name Shi. Zigong was written as Zigan, and was also written as Azana. He was from Wei. He is listed as one of the Four Departments and Ten Philosophers. He was the cleverest and most eloquent of Confucius, and this talent was extremely useful in diplomacy, as he sent Zigong to Qi and Wu to save Lu from a crisis. Shusun Wushu is said to have said that Zigong was wiser than Confucius, and he was highly valued by politicians of the time. He presided over Confucius' funeral, and after three years of mourning, he mourned for another three years. There is a legend that he later became the prime minister of Lu and Wei. He also had a talent for amassing wealth, and his family amassed thousands of gold, making him the wealthiest of Confucius' school. Later, he went to Qi and died. It is believed that Zigong also played a major role in the flourishing of Confucianism in Qi.

[Shigehiko Uno December 14, 2015]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

中国、春秋時代の人。孔子の弟子。姓は端木(たんぼく)、名は賜(し)。子貢は字(あざな)、また子贛(しこう)とも書く。衛(えい)の人。四科十哲の言語にあげられる。孔門第一の利口巧辞の才があり、この才能は外交にきわめて有用で、斉(せい)・呉(ご)に使して魯(ろ)の危機を救った。叔孫武叔(しゅくそんぶしゅく)は子貢が孔子より賢であると述べたといい、時の政治家から重宝がられた。孔子の葬儀をとり仕切り、心喪3年ののち、さらに3年、喪に服したという。のち魯・衛の宰相になったという伝誦(でんしょう)がある。また貨殖（蓄財）の才があり、家千金を積み、孔門中もっとも富裕であった。後年は斉に行って死んだ。斉の儒学が盛んになったのは子貢もあずかって力あったと思われる。

［宇野茂彦　2015年12月14日］

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