Li Xi - Understanding

Date of birth and death unknown. A Chinese politician and lawyer in the early Warring States period. He served Wen Hou of Wei (reigned 445-396 BC) and is said to have made the state of Wei wealthy and powerful through his economic policies. First, he preached the "teaching of making the most of the land's potential" and implemented measures such as land development, simultaneous sowing of several types of grain, and utilization of vacant land to increase agricultural production. He also regulated grain prices through the "Pingjiao Law" and sought to stabilize the lives of urban residents as well as farmers. He is also said to have created six volumes of the "Fajing" (Book of Laws) by referring to the laws of various countries. After Shang Yang implemented this law in the state of Qin, it was passed down to the two dynasties of Qin and Han, and the Qin Code and Han Code are said to have been compiled based on it. There is a theory that he is the same person as Li Ke, a disciple of Confucius' disciple Zixia who became the prime minister of the Chung Shan Kingdom, but this is doubtful.

[Haruki Emura December 14, 2015]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

生没年不詳。中国、戦国時代初期の政治家、法律家。魏(ぎ)の文侯（在位前445～前396）に仕え、その経済政策によって魏国を富強にしたといわれる。まず、「地力を尽くすの教(おしえ)」を唱え、土地の開拓、数種の穀物の同時播種(はしゅ)、空閑地の利用などの方策を実行して農業生産を高めた。また、「平糴(へいてき)法」によって穀物価格の調節を行い、農民とともに都市住民の生活の安定を図った。一方、諸国の法を参照して『法経』六編をつくったとされる。この法は、商鞅(しょうおう)が秦(しん)国に実施して以来、秦、漢二朝に受け継がれ、秦律、漢律はそれを基礎に編纂(へんさん)されたものといわれる。なお、孔子の弟子の子夏の弟子で、中山国の宰相となった李克(りこく)を同一人物とする説があるが、疑わしい。

［江村治樹　2015年12月14日］

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