Shang Yang facts for kids
For the contemporary Chinese painter, see Shang Yang (artist). For the plant scientist, see Shang Fa Yang.
Shang Yang (Chinese: 商鞅; c. – BC), also known as Wei Yang (Chinese: 衞鞅) and originally surnamed Gongsun, was a Chinese jurist, philosopher, and politician. Born in the Zhou vassal state of Wei during the Warring States period, he was a statesman, chancellor and reformer serving the State of Qin, where his policies laid the administrative, political and economic foundations that strengthened the Qin state and would eventually enable Qin to conquer the other six rival states, unifying China into a centralized rule for the first time in history under the Qin dynasty. Scholars consider it likely that both he and his followers contributed to The Book of Lord Shang, a foundational philosophical work for the school of Chinese legalism.
Biography
Shang Yang was born as the son of a concubine to the ruling family of the minor state Wey (衞). His surname (氏, lineage name) was Gongsun and his personal name Yang. As a member of the Wei family, he was also known as Wei Yang.
At a young age, Yang studied law and obtained a position under Prime Minis
The Qin Dynasty was the fourth dynasty of Ancient China. It came after the fall of the Zhou Dynasty when the Qin armies overtook the capital by military conquest.
Compared to the Zhou Dynasty (which was the longest running dynasty in Ancient China) the Qin era was very short. It only lasted 15 years in total.
However, it had a great impact on Chinese culture in those fifteen years – even the name of the country, “China,” comes from the name Qin!
While the Zhou Dynasty was significant because of the huge number of wars it faced (in the Warring States period, which ran from BC) the Qin Dynasty was instead marked by its return to peace.
The Qin Dynasty brought unity to China in just 15 years where the Zhou Dynasty had failed to across centuries and established a new system of law and order to aid the nation’s cultural development.
This emphasis on law and order was known as “legalism,” and its observance contributed greatly to China’s new era of peace.
The practice of legalism meant that people had to obey the law first and foremost; strict obedience to state laws became the most important part of Chinese society, even more important at the time than being loyal to the em
Shang Yang
Shang Yang (ca. B.C.) was a Chinese statesman and political philosopher. He was one of thefounders of Chinese Legalism and organized the rise to power of the Ch'in dynasty.
The real name of Shang Yang was Kung-sun Yang; he was also known as Wei Yang. He was born in Wei, a state in north-central China. His mother was a concubine of a member of the Wei royal family. In his youth he specialized in criminal law and served as tutor to the Wei princes. He was a favorite of the Wei prime minister, who recommended to the Wei ruler that Shang Yang succeed to the ministry upon his death. This request was denied, and Shang Yang, feeling that he was not appreciated in Wei, journeyed to the western state of Ch'in, which had been seeking men who could offer practical advice on state affairs.
Becoming the confidant of Duke Hsiao, who was just then embarking on a program of military expansion and revitalization of the state, Shang Yang presented him with a comprehensive plan for the accomplishment of these ends. He proposed a complete reform of the political, social, and economic structure of the state. He advocated strengthening the judicial system and the imposition of se
Mar 25, © Ulrich Theobald
Shang Yang 商鞅 (c. BCE) was a high minister at the court of the regional state of Qin 秦 during the Warring States period 戰國 (5th cent BCE). He is known as the earliest legalist thinker. His original name was Wei Yang 衛鞅 or Gongsun Yang 公孫鞅. For his merits in making the state of Qin stronger, Wei Yang was rewarded with the title of Lord of Shang 商君 (with land in Shang, today's Shangzhou 商州, Shaanxi). His political teachings are described in the book Shangjunshu 商君書 that has survived in parts.
Wei Yang was an offspring of the ducal house of Wei 衛 and was a disciple of Shi Jiao 尸佼 (ca. BCE), who explained to him the need to promulgate written laws. In , Wei Yang went to the state of Wei 魏, where he became a retainer of chief counsellor Gongshu Cuo 公叔痤. He became acquainted with the reformist thought of Wu Qi 吳起 and Li Kui 李悝, who advocated the strengthening of the central government and its military. Gongshu Cuo acknowledged the high potential of Wei Shang and recommended him to King Hui 魏惠王 (r. ), but suggested either to use Wei Yang’s skills or to kill him, to prevent other states profiting from his visions.
Yet King Hui did not take his counse
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