Fuhitsu

A politician from the Northern Song Dynasty in China. Born in Henan (Luoyang, Henan Province). Discovered by Fan Zhongyan at a young age, during the reign of Emperor Renzong he was known as a great minister along with Han Qi, Fan Zhongyan, Ouyang Xiu, and Wen Yinbo. He was particularly keen on diplomacy, and was involved in the major issues of the time, namely the foreign negotiations between the Liao Dynasty in the northeast and the Western Xia Dynasty in the northwest. In 1043 he became a deputy privy envoy, and personally traveled to the Liao Dynasty, which was seeking the cession of the Kannan region, and averted the crisis by increasing the annual tax. He often served as prime minister, but in 1055 he exercised political discretion together with Wen Yinbo. He also had a good track record as a local official, and is famous for providing relief to over 500,000 victims of the Hebei flood in 1048. However, when Emperor Shenzong ascended to the throne and Wang Anshi was appointed to the position, he did not get along with Wang Anshi, strongly opposed it, and was demoted and resigned.

[Hiroshi Ihara]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

中国、北宋(ほくそう)の政治家。河南（河南省洛陽(らくよう)）出身。若くして范仲淹(はんちゅうえん)にみいだされ、仁宗期には韓琦(かんき)、范仲淹、欧陽修(おうようしゅう)、文彦博(ぶんげんはく)らとともに名臣と称された。とくに外交に意を用い、当時の大問題であった東北の遼(りょう)と、西北の西夏(せいか)との対外交渉にあたった。1043年に枢密副使となり、関南の地の割譲を求めた遼に自ら赴き、歳幣(さいへい)を増額することによって危機を回避した。しばしば宰相となったが、55年には文彦博とともに政治を裁量した。地方官としての実績もあり、48年の河北の洪水のときに被災者50余万人を救済したのは有名である。しかし、神宗が即位し王安石が登用されると、王安石とあわず、強く反対して地位を落とされ辞職した。

［伊原　弘］

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