Yelu Chucai - A man of great skill

A meritorious official in the early Mongol Empire. His pen name was Jinqing, his posthumous name was Wenzheng, and his title was Zhanran Jushi. The Yelu family was of royal family of the Liao dynasty and served the Jin dynasty for generations. Chucai was knowledgeable in astronomy, geography, mathematics, medicine, Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism. When the Mongol army occupied Yanjing (Beijing) in 1215, he surrendered to Genghis Khan and became his political advisor, and accompanied him on his expedition to the Western Regions. He was instrumental in Ogedei's accession to the throne and was highly valued as the Secretary of State. After the fall of the Jin dynasty (1234), he implemented policies suited to the land of northern China, separating military and civil administration to prevent military officials from interfering with civil administration, and improving the tax system to establish the economic foundations of the empire, but was demoted after the death of Ogedei Khan (1241). He was also an accomplished poet and man of letters, and wrote the collection of writings Zhanran Koshi Ji and the account of his experiences during an expedition to the Western Regions, Journey to the West. Chu Cai's son, Chu (1221-85), also served under Kublai Khan and became a high-ranking official, and was especially famous as a poet.

[Masao Mamoru]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

モンゴル帝国初期の功臣。字(あざな)は晋卿(しんけい)、諡(おくりな)は文正、号は湛然居士(たんぜんこじ)。耶律氏は遼(りょう)の王族の出身で代々金(きん)に仕えた。楚材は天文、地理、数学、医学、儒教、仏教、道教に通じていた。1215年モンゴル軍が燕京(えんけい)（北京(ペキン)）を占領したときチンギス・ハンに降(くだ)ってその政治顧問となり、西域(せいいき)遠征に従った。オゴタイの即位に尽力し、中書令として重用された。金の滅亡後（1234）、華北の土地に適した政策を実施し、軍政と民政とを分離して軍官が民政に干渉せぬようにし、また、税制を整備して帝国の経済的基礎を確立したが、オゴタイ・ハンの死（1241）後は左遷された。詩人、文人としても優れ、文集『湛然居士集』、西域遠征に従った際の見聞記『西遊録』がある。楚材の子の鋳(ちゅう)（1221―85）も世祖フビライに仕えて高官となり、とくに詩人として有名である。

［護　雅夫］

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