Lee Dongyang

A Chinese writer and politician in the mid-Ming Dynasty. His pen name was Zhi. His title was Xigai. He was originally from Chaling (Hunan Province), but was from Beijing. He was a Jinshi in 1464. He held important posts, eventually becoming Minister of Personnel. In poetry, he inherited the style of the Three Yangs, such as Yang Shiqi, and aimed to restore the country before the Seven Sons of the Former Dynasty, such as Li Mengyang, and broke the stagnation that had lasted for about 100 years. However, despite being the prime minister at the time, he was a loser in reputation because he curryed favor with the eunuch Liu Jin, and his achievements are still not properly recognized, but he was one of the greatest writers of his time, along with Shen Zhou, who was not a member of the public. His poetry was simple and humorous, while respecting elegance. He is especially famous for his Kogafu series of poems about historical events. His works include the "Kairokudo Collection" and the "Kairokudo Shiwa," which enlightened the theory of the restorationists. His biography is found in Volume 181 of the "Ming History."

[Masakazu Fukumoto]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

中国、明(みん)中期の文人、政治家。字(あざな)は之(ひんし)。号は西涯(せいがい)。原籍は茶陵(さりょう)（湖南省）であるが、北京(ペキン)の人。1464年の進士。要職を歴任して吏部尚書に至った。詩では楊士奇(ようしき)ら三楊の台閣(だいかく)体を受け継ぎ、李夢陽(りぼうよう)らの前七子(ぜんしちし)に先だって復古を目ざし、約100年に及ぶ沈滞を破った。しかし時の宰相でありながら宦官(かんがん)劉瑾(りゅうきん)に媚(こ)びたため声価を落とし、その功績はいまなお正当に認められていないが、当時、在野の沈周(しんしゅう)と並んで最大の文人であった。詩は格調を尊びつつも、平明でユーモアに富み、ことに歴史故事を歌った古楽府(こがふ)の連作は有名。著に『懐麓堂(かいろくどう)集』と、復古派の理論を啓発した『懐麓堂詩話』がある。伝は『明史』巻181に記される。

［福本雅一］

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