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*''Born: [[1682]]/9/25''
*''Born: [[1682]]/9/25''
*''Died: [[1761]]/12/29''
*''Died: [[1761]]/12/29''
*''Other Names'': 具志頭文若 ''(Gushichan Bunjaku)''
*''Japanese/Chinese'': 蔡温 ''(Sai On / Cai Wen)''
*''Japanese/Chinese'': 蔡温 ''(Sai On / Cai Wen)''
Sai On was a Ryukyuan scholar-aristocrat, and among the most prominent and influential government administrators in the history of the [[Ryukyu Kingdom|Ryûkyû Kingdom]]. While serving as a member of the [[Sanshikan]], Sai On implemented numerous policies and reforms, and composed a number of influential treatises on subjects including the [[Confucianism|Confucian]] philosophies of governance, and forestry and agricultural policy.
Sai On was a Ryukyuan scholar-aristocrat, and among the most prominent and influential government administrators in the history of the [[Ryukyu Kingdom|Ryûkyû Kingdom]]. While serving as a member of the [[Sanshikan]], Sai On implemented numerous policies and reforms, and composed a number of influential treatises on subjects including the [[Confucianism|Confucian]] philosophies of governance, and forestry and agricultural policy.
As was typical for members of the Ryukyuan court aristocracy, he was known by several names. Sai On was his Chinese-style name, and Bunjaku his Japanese-style name, while Gushichan ''[[ueekata]]'' was his aristocratic title. He is known today chiefly as Sai On, but also as Gushichan Bunjaku.
==Life and Career==
==Life and Career==
Sai On was born in [[Kumemura]], the son of scholar-bureaucrat Sai Taku (蔡鐸) and his wife Magozei (真呉瑞). He was granted the title of Gushichan ''[[ueekata]]'' 具志頭親方, and in [[1708]] traveled to [[Fuzhou]], where he stayed (at the [[Ryukyu-kan|Ryûkyû-kan]]) and studied for two years.
Sai On was born in [[Kumemura]], the son of scholar-bureaucrat Sai Taku (蔡鐸) and his wife Magozei (真呉瑞), and claimed descent from the original [[36 Min families]] said to have come to Ryûkyû from China and founded Kume in [[1392]]. Sai On was granted the title of Gushichan ''ueekata'' 具志頭親方, and in [[1708]] served as an interpreter on a mission to [[Fuzhou]], where he then remained (at the [[Ryukyu-kan|Ryûkyû-kan]]) and studied for two years.
He became the chief tutor to the Crown Prince in [[1711]], and remained his tutor and advisor when the prince succeeded to the throne as King [[Sho Kei|Shô Kei]] the following year. He was therefore granted a residence in [[Shuri]].
He became the chief tutor (''kokushi'') to the Crown Prince in [[1711]], and remained his tutor and advisor when the prince succeeded to the throne as King [[Sho Kei|Shô Kei]] the following year. He was therefore granted a residence in [[Shuri]] Akahira. He was named to the Sanshikan in [[1728]], and when his eldest son Yoku<!--翼--> married a daughter of King Shô Kei the following year, he was granted an additional residence, over 600 ''[[Japanese Measurements|tsubo]]'' in area, at the same location. He would remain a member of the Sanshikan, and top-ranking Minister of State, for twenty-five years, until his resignation in [[1753]].
<!--尚敬7(1719)年,尚敬王の冊封使渡来の際,評価(冊封使節一行の持ち渡り品の王府一括買い上げ)でもめたが,交渉に当たり無事決着させた。同12年正史『中山世譜』を重修。同16年三司官(本土の家老などに相当する首里王府の要職,定員は3人)となる。同20年他の三司官などと連名で領民向けの道徳経倫の書『御教条』を発布。同22年首里王府を批判する密書が薩摩在番奉行所へ投げ込まれるという事件が起き,首謀者の和文学者平敷屋朝敏,友寄安乗ら15人を処刑。蔡温の施策に対する反感とする見方もある。同23年羽地間切(現在の名護市)の羽地大川改修の命を受け,8月から11月まで現場で指揮に当たった。また用材確保のため山林の保護育成に取り組み,「杣山方式帳」「山奉行所規模帳」を編集,公布した。また同年慶長以来の検地に取りかかっている(～同38年,元文検地と呼ばれる)。尚穆1(1752)年三司官を辞したが隠居は許されず,5年後,冊封を終えてようやく隠居が認められた。著作に『家内物語』『独物語』『自叙伝』など和文の書,国政や儒学的思索を説いた漢文の『図治要伝』『簔翁片言』など多数ある。 島津侵入後の琉球社会の改革に先鞭をつけた向象賢(羽地朝秀)の路線を受けて近世琉球を確立した人物と評されている。経済的には王府の自給体制を高めるため,殖産興業の振興を図り,農業の改良に取り組み,山林の保護育成を図った。また国家経営の理論的支柱に儒教をすえ,士民へも儒教道徳の浸透を図った。のちのちまで「蔡温以後三司官は4人いる」といわれたが,その路線と著作を通して,後代の当路者が国家運営に当たったことを象徴している。<参考文献>真栄田義見『蔡温』,崎浜秀明『蔡温全集』,伊波普猷他『琉球の五偉人』 -->
Sai On's ''Sai On jijoden'' (蔡温自叙伝) is believed to be the only autobiography written during the time of the Ryûkyû Kingdom.<ref>Ch'en, Ta-Tuan. "Investiture of Liu-Ch'iu Kings in the Ch'ing Period." in Fairbank, John King (ed.) ''The Chinese World Order''. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1968. pp150-151.</ref> A number of his other writings survive today, and continue to be considered important treatises on a variety of subjects, including Confucian philosophy and forestry management.
During World War II, Sai On's Shuri Akahira residence was commandeered for use by the Imperial Japanese military, which used it to quarter soldiers, as well as sending sections of the stonework away to help build airfields. The road was widened in the post-war period, destroying further a portion of the property, but some remains of the well and stone wall can still be seen today.
==References==
==References==
*"[http://kotobank.jp/word/%E8%94%A1%E6%B8%A9 Sai On]." ''Asahi Nihon rekishi jinbutsu jiten'' 朝日日本歴史人物事典. Asahi Shimbun-sha.
*"[http://kotobank.jp/word/%E8%94%A1%E6%B8%A9 Sai On]." ''Asahi Nihon rekishi jinbutsu jiten'' 朝日日本歴史人物事典. Asahi Shimbun-sha.
*"[http://ryukyushimpo.jp/news/storyid-41447-storytopic-121.html Sai On]." ''Okinawa Compact Encyclopedia'' 沖縄コンパクト事典. Ryukyu Shimpo, 1 March 2003.
*"[http://ryukyushimpo.jp/news/storyid-41447-storytopic-121.html Sai On]." ''Okinawa Compact Encyclopedia'' 沖縄コンパクト事典. Ryukyu Shimpo, 1 March 2003.
*Plaque on-site at the former site of Sai On's mansion at Shuri Akahira-chô 1-45.
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==External Links==
*[https://maps.google.com/maps?q=%E9%A6%96%E9%87%8C%E8%B5%A4%E5%B9%B3%E7%94%BA%EF%BC%91%EF%BC%8D%EF%BC%94%EF%BC%95&hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=26.22233,127.720656&spn=0.01026,0.021136&sll=26.223548,127.72257&sspn=0.082078,0.169086&t=h&hnear=Japan,+Okinawa-ken,+Naha-shi,+Shuriakahirach%C5%8D,+%EF%BC%91%E4%B8%81%E7%9B%AE%EF%BC%94%EF%BC%95&z=16&layer=c&cbll=26.222285,127.720564&panoid=tx7ngXe5mf16DH9Px_s1nQ&cbp=12,162.59,,0,15.81 Former site, and remains, of Sai On's Shuri residence, at Shuri Akahira-chô 1-45, on Google Maps].
