Shin Fugai

A legalist thinker and politician from the Warring States period in China, who is said to have excelled in his study of the arts, or methods, by which a ruler can control his subjects. He was from the capital of the state of Zheng (Xingyang County, Henan Province). He was a low-ranking official of the state of Zheng, but later served as prime minister to the Marquis of Han (reigned 362-333 BC) for 15 years, during which he achieved success in enriching the country and strengthening its military amid the power of many powerful countries. From the various stories about him, it seems he excelled in his study of the arts by which subjects could be effectively used by their rulers, and the arts by which a ruler could effectively control his subjects in order to strengthen his sovereignty. It is thought that Han Fei appreciated and inherited this latter art. It states that a ruler should maintain an attitude of inaction and tranquility so that his subjects do not become aware of his likes, dislikes, or intentions, and should control his subjects by not leading them but instead by reprimanding their independent actions, which seems to be an incorporation of the Taoist ideas of inaction, following causes, and tranquility. This is what is meant when the Records of the Grand Historian states that his learning was based on Huang Lao. He wrote two works in the early Han dynasty, but six works, including "Shenzi," are recorded in the Book of Han, Art and Literature, and currently only fragments remain.

[Takio Sawada, December 14, 2015]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

中国、戦国時代の法家(ほうか)思想家、政治家で、君主が臣下を統御する法すなわち術に関する考察に優れたとされる。鄭(てい)国の京（河南省滎陽(けいよう)県）の人。鄭国の下級官吏であったが、のち韓(かん)の昭侯（在位前362〜前333）に仕え、宰相として15年間在職し、強国の間にあって富国強兵に努め成果をあげた。彼に関する諸説話からすると、彼は、臣下がうまく君主に重用されるための術や、君主権強化のため君主が臣下をうまく統御するための術についての考察に優れていたらしい。韓非(かんぴ)は後者の術を評価継承したと思われる。それは、君主は自分の好悪や意図を臣下に覚(さと)られぬよう無為虚静の態度を保ち、臣下を先導せずその自主的行為を督責して臣下を統御すべきだというもので、これは道家の無為、因循(いんじゅん)、虚静の思想の摂取と思われる。『史記』で彼の学問が黄老(こうろう)に基づくとするのは、そのことをさすといえよう。著作は漢初には2篇(へん)であったが、『漢書(かんじょ)』芸文志(げいもんし)には『申子(しんし)』6篇が著録されており、現在は逸文(いつぶん)があるだけである。

［澤田多喜男　2015年12月14日］

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