Shang Yang

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Shang Yang ( Chinese   商鞅 )

Shang Yang ( Chinese  商鞅 ) († 338 v. Chr. ) Was a Chinese statesman and military strategist of the Warring States Period . He is counted among the legalists .

Biography and meaning

Also known as Wei Yang or Gongsun Yang, he first entered the service of Wei State, but then went to Qin . There he led in the years 359-350 BC. Together with Duke Xiao, he carried out a series of legalistic reforms that transformed Qin from a peripheral state into a powerful centralized state. Administration was centralized, land redistributed, weights and measures unified, and idle aristocrats ousted. This made the citizens dependent on the state. Furthermore, the population was divided into groups of ten and five who were mutually liable. In general, the military was promoted and war of aggression declared a state obligation. After defeating Wei, he became chancellor and had the youth brought up strictly. When the ruler died, angry nobles arranged for his execution .

Implemented reforms in the sense of legalism:

  1. Division of the people into groups of up to 10 households, which monitored each other and were collectively liable
  2. Death penalty for disregard
  3. Double taxation for households with more than 2 men
  4. Hierarchical titles for the military
  5. Punishment of private disputes
  6. Forced labor for all with agriculture and silk farming ; Exemption from high grain and silk production; Enslavement of those who indulged in other activities (private scholars, artisans, etc.)
  7. Exclusion of members of ducal families who did not distinguish themselves militarily
  8. State allotment of field, house and clothing

Next series of reforms 10 years later:

  1. Prohibition of father and son or brother living together.
  2. Replacement of feudal officials by state officials.
  3. Land reform with sewerage.
  4. Conversion from property and income tax to land tax.
  5. Standardization of dimensions and weights.

plant

  • Shang Yang: Shangjun Shu: Writings of the Prince of Shang . Ed .: Kai Vogelsang. Alfred Kröner, Stuttgart 2017, ISBN 978-3-520-16801-6 .

literature

  • Sima Qian : The liege lord of Shang. In: Gregor Kneussel (transl.): From the records of the chronicler ( Shiji ). Beijing: Publishing House for Foreign Language Literature, 2015, ISBN 978-7-119-09676-6 , Vol. 2, pp. 317–339.

Web links

swell

  1. ↑ Günther Debon, Werner Speiser: Chinese spiritual world from Confucius to Mao Tse-Tung . Holle, Baden-Baden 1957


personal data
SURNAME Shang Yang
ALTERNATIVE NAMES 商鞅 (Chinese)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Chinese statesman
DATE OF BIRTH 5th century BC BC or 4th century BC Chr.
DATE OF DEATH 338 BC Chr.