Ouyang Xiu

A Chinese literary figure from the Song dynasty. His given name, Xiu, can also be written as Xiu. His pen name, Eishuku, was also known by the pen names Suio and Liuyi Jushi. He was from Luling (Jian city, Jiangxi province). He was a Jinshi in 1030 (Tiansheng 8). After receiving the Hanlin Scholarship, he became a Changzi (Vice Prime Minister). He was active as a reformist bureaucrat, and in 1055 (Zhihe 2), he was sent on a diplomatic mission to Khitan, and in 1057 (Kayou 2), he was appointed as Chikokyo (chairman of the civil servant appointment examination). In 1061, he showed his skill in deciding the successor to the throne, and was recommended for Prime Minister, but declined.

Not only was he a capable bureaucrat, but he was also a man of many talents who left a great mark on cultural history. His greatest achievement was completing the literary reform begun by Han Yu and others of the Tang Dynasty through his practice as one of the Eight Great Masters of the Tang and Song Dynasties, and determining the direction of Chinese literary style thereafter. His activities in the new literary style were diverse, but first, in Confucianism, he studied the classics themselves and created a new style by writing "The Meaning of Poetry" and other works. Next, in history, he completed the "New Book of Tang" with Song Qi, and in particular, his "New History of the Five Dynasties," which he wrote on his own, was based on his unique historical perspective and is highly regarded as a literary work. He also collected many characters from inscriptions and inscriptions on ancient bronze vessels, wrote the 10-volume "Jigulu Batubi," and pioneered epigraphy. In literature, he also established the foundations of the Song Dynasty style, and created the poetry critique "Liuyi Shihua" and the essay "Return to the Countryside." The collected works include the 153-volume Collected Writings of Ouyang Wenzhong. Although he was faithful to his official duties, he was not attached to his official rank and spent his leisure time studying, pursuing art, and pursuing hobbies. His life of moderation has been passed down to future generations as a typical example of a literati official.

[Yokoyama Iseo February 17, 2016]

Shimizu Shigeru's translation of "New Edition of Chinese Classics 19: Eight Classics of the Tang and Song Dynasties, Part 1" (1966, Asahi Shimbun Company) ▽ Yokoyama Iseo's translation of "Chinese Classics 31: Eight Classics of the Tang and Song Dynasties, Part 2" (1983, Gakken)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

中国、宋(そう)代の文学者。名の修は脩とも書く。字(あざな)は永叔(えいしゅく)。号は酔翁(すいおう)、六一居士(りくいつこじ)。廬陵(ろりょう)（江西省吉安(きつあん)市）の人。1030年（天聖8）の進士。翰林(かんりん)学士を経て官は参知政事（副宰相）に至った。革新派の官僚として活躍し、1055年（至和2）に契丹(きったん)へ外交使節、1057年（嘉祐2）に知貢挙(ちこうきょ)（官吏任用試験の委員長）、1061年には皇位継承者の決定に手腕を示し、宰相に推薦されたが辞退している。

　彼は有能な官僚であったばかりでなく、多才であり文化史上に大きな足跡を残している。その最大の功績は、唐宋八大家の一人として実践を通じて唐の韓愈(かんゆ)らの始めた文章改革を完成し、以後の中国の文体を決定的に方向づけたことである。新文体による表現活動は多方面にわたるが、まず儒学では経書そのものを研究し、『詩本義』などを著して新風をおこした。次に史学では宋祁(そうき)と『新唐書』を完成し、ことに独力で著した『新五代史』は独自の史眼によっており、文学的にも高く評価されている。彼はまた古代の銅器の銘や碑文の文字を多数収集して『集古録跋尾(ばつび)』10巻を著し、金石学を開拓した。文学でも宋代風の基礎を固め、詩評書『六一(りくいつ)詩話』や随筆『帰田録』を創始している。全集に『欧陽文忠公文集』153巻がある。公務に忠実だが、官位に執着せず、余暇を学問、芸術、趣味に遊び、しかも節度を保った彼の生き方は、文人官僚の一つの典型として、以後の人々に継承された。

［横山伊勢雄　2016年2月17日］

『清水茂訳『新訂中国古典選19　唐宋八家文　上』（1966・朝日新聞社）』▽『横山伊勢雄訳『中国の古典31　唐宋八家文　下』（1983・学習研究社）』

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