Zhang Ji - Choseki

A Chinese poet of the mid-Tang Dynasty. His pen name was Wenchang. His original residence was in Wu Commandery (Jiangsu Province). He moved to Wujiang in Hezhou (Anhui Province) at a young age. He was a Jinshi in 799 (15th year of the Zhenyuan era). From around the age of 40, he spent nearly 10 years in the Taichang Temple Taizhu, and in his poverty he suffered from eye disease for a time. He served as an assistant to the Imperial Court, secretary, waterworks official, chief guest officer, and Imperial Court official. Although he was upright and stubborn, he was also sincere and considerate, and had friendships with many notable people. Han Yu was his lifelong benefactor, and Bai Juyi was his fellow poet. Zhang Ji's The Music of Songs, which conveys the hearts of the people in simple poetic language, was praised by Bai Juyi and remains highly regarded to this day. His writing is characterized by sharp satire and straightforwardness, such as, "Even if I exert myself, I cannot stop the pounding of the pound. The pounding of the pound is still unsettled, and all men die" ("Chronicles of the Fortress"). He also wrote folk songs, and together with his contemporary Wang Jian, he is known as "Zhang and Wang Yuefu." He is the author of the eight-volume "Zhang Siye Collection."

[Shigeru Maruyama]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

中国、中唐期の詩人。字(あざな)は文昌(ぶんしょう)。原籍は呉郡(ごぐん)（江蘇(こうそ)省）。少時に和州（安徽(あんき)省）烏江(うこう)に移住。799年（貞元15）の進士。40歳ごろより10年近く太常寺太祝(たいじょうじたいしゅく)に低迷し、貧窮のなかで一時、眼病を患う。国子助教、秘書郎、水部員外郎、主客郎中、国子司業を歴任。剛直でかたくなな反面、誠実で思いやりがあり、多くの名士と交遊した。韓愈(かんゆ)は生涯の恩人、白居易は詩友であった。平易な詩語で人心を伝える張籍の楽府(がふ)は、白居易に称賛されてより今日に至るまで、高く評価されている。「力尽くるも杵声(しょせい)を休(や)むるを得ず。杵声未(いま)だ定まらずして人皆な死す」（『築城詞』）といった尖鋭な諷諭(ふうゆ)性と直截(ちょくせつ)な筆致に特色がある。民歌的な作品もあり、同時代の王建とともに「張・王楽府」と並称される。『張司業集』八巻がある。

［丸山　茂］

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