<論説>魏源経世思想考

Abstract

中国近代史は阿片戦争の敗北をもって始まるが、この時期に生存し、中国の内政・外交にわたる危機を世人に訴えて、多くの改革案を明らかにした公羊学者・魏源について考察する。魏源は公羊学のとく「微言大義」の理論を根拠として、変法の必要性をのべる。まず科挙制を改革して、詩文のみに長じ実務にうとい官僚にかわって、才識があって実務に明るい官僚を任命することを提案する。次に経済政策においては、長年にわたって中国財政を困難にしてきた塩政属・漕運・河工・水利の改革を行う。また阿片の密輸に伴う銀流出という現象に対しては、阿片厳禁と銀山の開発により銀貨の安定をはかろうとする。その経済政策の目的は、「実利実功」ということである。対外政策においては、外国の兵器・養兵の長所は率直に認めて、それを取り入れ欧米列強と対抗できるだけの軍事力を養う。貿易においては、従来の中華独断貿易でなくて、合理的な貿易関係の樹立が模索される。この魏源の思想は、中国にあっては洋務・変法論へと継承され、また幕末の日本にも影響を与えている。

Modern Chinese history began with the defeat of the Opium War. Here I will study the political and economic thought of Wei Yüan who, in this crucial period, tried to awaken the people to the internal and external danger of China, and proposed many reforms. He urged the necessity of the reform of the institutions based on a doctrine of "Wei-yen-ta-i" (微言大義 the great principles hidden in esoteric language) which was expounded by Kungyang-hsüeh (公羊学 a school of commentators of Confucius). His reform proposals were as follows. First of all, by the reform of Kó-chü (科挙), the able officials skilled in the administrative works should be substituted for ones proficient only in literature and poetry. Secondly, in economic policy, the salt policy, the navigation policy, the control of Huang-Ho (黄河) and the irrigation which have embarrassed the Chinese finance for a long time should be reformed. Futhermore, the flow of silver resulting from the opiumsmuggling should be remedied by the strict prohibition of opium-smoking and the exploitation of silver mines, then silver currency would be stabilized. The object of this economic policy is "Shih-li shih-kung" (実利実功) In foreign policy, by accepting and adopting the merits of the foreign arms and military systems, military forces enough to counterbalance the western powers should be established. In trade, the reasonable trade relations should be established instead of the existing unreasonable tributary trade. This thought of Wei Yüan's was succeeded by Yang wu-Pien fa (洋務変法) theory and had influence on Japan at the end of Tokugawa dynasty.