Li Huan

A scholar of the Tang Dynasty in China. Born in Zhao Commandery (Ningjin County, Hebei Province). His courtesy name was Xi Zhi. He was a Jinshi (official scholar) in the Zhenyuan period. He started out as a scholar, then rose through the ranks to become a Doctor of Imperial Affairs and a Compiler of History. He had a strict and strong-willed disposition, and would never give in to arguments. When he was depressed because he was not given a prominent position, he learned of a mistake made by Prime Minister Li Fengji (758-835) and reprimanded him, leading to his demotion and becoming the governor of Luzhou. He later traveled around the country, and served as a governor of the eastern province of Shannan before dying. Li Huan was the husband of Han Yu's niece and a disciple, so his scholarship and writings were all influenced by Han Yu, and his theory of nature in "The Book of Returning Nature" is important in the history of thought. The gist of it is that humans have nature and emotions, and nature is good, but emotions are what confuse it, and emotions arise when nature is in motion, so it is important to strive for tranquility, which is called returning nature. This idea was the precursor to "The Book of Defining Nature" by Chengzi of the Song dynasty. His works include the 18 volumes of "Collection of Li Wen Gong."

[Keisuke Hikita January 19, 2016]

"History of Chinese Thought" by Yoshio Takeuchi (1936, Iwanami Complete Books) "History of Chinese Philosophy" by Naoki Kano (1953, Iwanami Shoten)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

中国、唐代の学者。趙(ちょう)郡（河北省寧晋(ねいしん)県）の人。字(あざな)は習之(しゅうし)。貞元(ていげん)の進士。校書郎を振り出しに、累進して国子博士、史館脩撰(しゅうせん)となる。性格は厳しく硬骨漢で、論じては絶対に屈しなかった。顕官にあげられないことで鬱々(うつうつ)としていたとき、宰相李逢吉(りほうきつ)（758―835）の過失を知り、彼を面責したため左遷されて廬(ろ)州刺史(さし)となった。のち歴遷して山南東道節度使となって死去した。李翺(りこう)は韓愈(かんゆ)の姪(めい)の婿であり、また弟子でもあるので、その学問・文章はみな韓愈の影響の下にあったが、彼の『復性書』に述べた性説は思想史上重要なものである。その要は、人間には性と情があり、性は善であるが、これを惑わすものが情で、情とは性が動いて起きるものなので静に努めることを重視し、これを復性という。この考えは宋(そう)代程子(ていし)の『定性書』の先駆となった。著作に『李文公集』18巻などがある。

［疋田啓佑　2016年1月19日］

『武内義雄著『中国思想史』（1936・岩波全書）』▽『狩野直喜著『中国哲学史』（1953・岩波書店）』

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