Guan Zhong
| Guan Zhong | |
|---|---|
| Chancellor of State Qi | |
| Born | 720 |
| Died | 645 |
| Names | |
| Traditional Chinese | 管仲 |
| Simplified Chinese | 管仲 |
| Pinyin | Guǎn Zhòng |
| Wade–Giles | Kuan Chung |
| Guan Zhong | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chinese | 管仲 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Transcriptions | |
|---|---|
| Standard Mandarin | |
| Hanyu Pinyin | Guǎn Zhòng |
| Wade–Giles | Kuan3 Chung4 |
| IPA | [kwàn ʈʂʊ̂ŋ] |
| Yue: Cantonese | |
| Yale Romanization | Gún Juhng |
| Jyutping | Gun2 Zung6 |
| Southern Min | |
| Tâi-lô | Kńg Tiōng |
| Old Chinese | |
| Baxter-Sagart | *[k]ˤo[n]ʔ N-truŋ-s |
Guan Zhong (Chinese: 管仲; Wade–Giles: Kuan Chung, c. 720–645 BC) was a chancellor and reformer of the State of Qi during the Spring and Autumn period of Chinese history. His given name was Yíwú (夷吾). Zhong was his courtesy name. Recommended by Bao Shuya, he was appointed Prime Minister by Duke Huan of Qi in 685 BC. Through Guan Zhong's reforms and skilful diplomacy Qi became the most powerful of the feudal states and Duke Huan lord protector over the feudal lords. Though knowledge of his reforms is limited, in particular he instituted a famous fiscal policy known as "balancing the light and the heavy", associated with salt and iron monopolies. Though otherwise a diverse work, the Guanzi compilation making use of his name makes similar such recommendations.
Guan Zhong was disparagingly identified with the Legalist school as a result of his administrative reforms, even though actually legalistic philosophy did not develop until hundreds of years later. R. Eno of Indiana University writes that "If one were to trace the origins of Legalism as far back as possible, it might be appropriate to date its beginnings to the prime ministership of Guan Zhong, chief aide to the first of the hegemonic lords of the Spring Autumn period, Duke Huan of Qi (r. 685 - 643)." The reforms of Guan Zhong (720-645 BCE) applied levies and economic specializations at the village level instead of the aristocracy. Shifting administrative responsibility to professional bureaucrats, he might be considered the "chief model" for a "new type of professional bureaucrat and political adviser who came to the fore as the old hereditary officials proved inadequate for the task..."
He was, on the other hand, "at least in most respects" an "ideal Confucan minister". Guan Zhong is reported to have advised Duke Huan: 'Summon the wavering with courtesy and cherish the remote with virtuous conduct. So long as your virtuous conduct and courtesy never falter, there will be no one who does not cherish you.'" When Duke Huan was approached to dethrone the ruling clans of his state, Guan Zhong advised him that he had won their adherence through politeness (li) and trustworthiness (xin).
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