論題 再論「江郎才尽」 : 江淹の価値観をめぐって

Abstract

中国六朝時代の代表的文学者江淹（444年-505 年）は、晩年には一つの傑作も書けなくなり、文才が枯渇したと嘲笑された。後世に至り、「江郎才尽（江淹の才能が尽きた）」という成語まで生まれた。古くからこの問題の原因に纏わる神話的な伝説が言い伝えられてきたが、本研究は歴史資料の分析を通して、少年期、青年期、中年期の三つの時期に分け、江淹の「人生当適性為楽(人生は当に性に適ふを楽しみと為すべし)」という価値観が形成されていく過程を追いつつ、「江郎才尽」という問題についてもう一つの視点を提起したい。

Jiang Yan (444-505), a representative poet of the Southern Dynasty of China, couldn't write even a single masterpiece in his later years, and he was ridiculed for running out his talent for writing. After his death, a saying, "Jiang-lang-cai-jin (Jiang Yan's talent has run out)" was born. Through the years, some mythical legends, concerning this problem, have been handed down. In this research, I would like to present a new viewpoint on this problem, through the analysis of his childhood, middle age, adolescence's historical materials, following the process in which his values "people should enjoy their lives in accord with their nature" were formed .