Sotetsu

A Chinese politician and man of letters from the Northern Song Dynasty. His pen name was Ziyou and his pen name was Yingbang Ilao. Su Che was born in Meishan County, Sichuan Province, which was then called Shu, to the literary figure Su Xun. Su Shi (Dongpo) was his older brother. At just 19 years old, he passed the Jinshi course of the imperial examination at the same time as his brother, and then passed the Seika course (special appointment examination) to enter the civil service, but he spent the first half of his life in extreme misfortune because he opposed the New Law (administrative and financial reform measures) pushed forward by Wang Anshi and others with the support of Emperor Shenzong. Later, during the Yuanyou era (1086-1093), when the Old Law Party took power, he was promoted through the ranks, gaining a position as an aide to the emperor, eventually becoming Minister of Rites and then Assistant Chief Administrator (Deputy Prime Minister), but in his later years he was implicated in his brother and suffered exile. He excelled in prose and is counted among the "Eight Great Masters of the Tang and Song Dynasties," and his poetry is of a gentle style that reflects his sincere personality. In addition to the "Lancheng Collection," he left behind many works spanning philosophy and literature.

[Kazuyoshi Yamamoto February 17, 2016]

“Selected Chinese Classics: Tang, Song and Eight Family Texts Volume 2” by Shigeru Shimizu (1966, Asahi Shimbun/Asahi Bunko)”

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

中国、北宋(ほくそう)の政治家、文学者。字(あざな)は子由(しゆう)、号は潁浜遺老(えいひんいろう)。蘇轍は文人蘇洵(そじゅん)を父として、当時は蜀(しょく)とよばれていたいまの四川(しせん)省の眉山(びざん)県に生まれた。蘇軾(そしょく)（東坡(とうば)）はその兄である。わずか19歳で兄と同期に科挙の進士科に及第、続いて制科（特別任用試験）にも合格して、官僚生活に入るが、王安石らが神宗皇帝に支持されて推し進めた新法（行財政革新策）に反対したため、その前半生はいたって不遇な生活を送った。のち元祐(げんゆう)年間（1086～1093）になって旧法党が政権を握ると、天子の側近に職を得て昇進を重ね、礼部尚書を経て参知政事（副宰相）に至ったが、晩年には兄に連座して流罪の辛酸をなめた。散文に優れて「唐宋八大家」に数えられ、詩は篤実な人柄を反映して穏やかな詩風である。『欒城(らんじょう)集』のほか、哲学、文学にわたる多くの著作を残している。

［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）』

出典　小学館　日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)について　情報 | 凡例