Mengchangjun - Moshokun

A Chinese politician in the Warring States period. A nobleman of Qi and grandson of King Wei. Son of Jingguo Jun Tian Ying. His real name was Tian Wen. He inherited his father's fief and lived in Xue (now Zaozhuang City, Shandong Province), where he became famous as a powerful man in the state of Qi with several thousand guests. He was invited to serve as prime minister by King Zhaoxiang of Qin, but fled after being nearly assassinated, and served King Min of Qi as prime minister. He later went to Wei as prime minister, but in his later years he returned to Xue and became independent as a feudal lord. When he was fleeing from Qin, he was saved by a famous story that he was accompanied by a guest who dressed like a dog and was good at stealing, and who often made the sound of a chicken crowing (Keimeikuto). He is counted as one of the Four Lords of the Warring States Period.

[Ota Yukio]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

中国、戦国時代の政治家。斉(せい)の公族で威(い)王の孫。靖郭君田嬰(せいかくくんでんえい)の子。本名は田文(でんぶん)。父の封領を継いで薛(せつ)（現山東省棗庄(そうそう)市内）に居し、食客数千人を擁して斉国の勢力家として名をはせた。秦(しん)の昭襄(しょうじょう)王に相(しょう)として招かれたが暗殺されそうになって逃げ帰り、斉の湣(びん)王に仕えて相を務めた。のち、魏(ぎ)に行って相になったが、晩年は薛に帰って諸侯として自立した。秦から逃れるとき、同行の食客にイヌのかっこうで盗みをよくする者、ニワトリの鳴き声をよくする者がいて一命を取り留めた故事は有名（鶏鳴狗盗(けいめいくとう)）。戦国四君の1人に数えられる。

［太田幸男］

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