Su Jun

A writer from the Northern Song Dynasty of China. His pen name was Ming Yun and his pen name was Lao Quan. He was the father of Su Shi and Su Che, and was an outstanding prose writer representing the Song dynasty. Shi was called Da Su and Che was called Xiao Su, while Su Xun was called Lao Su, and together the father and son were known as the "Three Sus" and were counted together as one of the "Eight Great Masters of the Tang and Song Dynasties." This is a rare occurrence in the history of Chinese literature. Su Xun was born in Meishan County, Sichuan Province, to a father who was far from being an educated person, Su Xu, and he was a late learner who began his studies in his mid-20s. As a result, he was not able to enter the official world, and although he was recognized by Ouyang Xiu and participated in the compilation of the Imperial Court's ceremonial procedures for a while, he ended up as a private citizen. However, his prose, which developed original theories on military affairs and policy, was highly praised by Ouyang Xiu and others, and he played an important role in the intellectual circles of the time. He has passed down the Kayoushu to the present day.

[Kazuyoshi Yamamoto February 17, 2016]

Shimizu Shigeru, "Selections of Chinese Classics: Eight Classical Writings of the Tang and Song Dynasties, Part 2" (1966, Asahi Shimbun Company/Asahi Bunko)" ▽ "Chinese Classics Series 4: Eight Classical Writings of the Tang and Song Dynasties, Part 2" Expanded Edition (1972, Tomiyama Publishing)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

中国、北宋(ほくそう)の文章家。字(あざな)は明允(めいいん)、号は老泉。蘇軾(そしょく)、蘇轍(そてつ)の父で、宋代を代表する優れた散文家。軾を大蘇、轍を小蘇とよぶのに対して老蘇といわれ、父子はあわせて「三蘇」と称され、そろって「唐宋八大家」に数えられている。中国文学史でも希有(けう)のことである。蘇洵はいまの四川(しせん)省の眉山(びざん)県で、教養人にはほど遠かった蘇序(そじょ)を父として生まれ、20代もなかばを過ぎて学問を始めた晩学の人であった。それゆえに官界への正規の道は開けず、欧陽修(おうようしゅう)に認められてしばらく朝廷の儀式次第集の編纂(へんさん)に加わったことはあるが、ついに民間の人として終わった。しかし独創的な軍事論、政策論を展開する散文は欧陽修らに高く評価され、その時代の言論界で重きをなした。『嘉祐(かゆう)集』をいまに伝える。

［山本和義　2016年2月17日］

『清水茂著『中国古典選　唐宋八家文　下』（1966・朝日新聞社／朝日文庫）』▽『『漢文大系 4　唐宋八家文　下』増補版（1972・冨山房）』

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