Shang Yang

Shang Yang
Statue of pivotal reformer Shang Yang
Chinese	商鞅
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Shāng Yāng Bopomofo ㄕㄤㄧㄤˇ Gwoyeu Romatzyh Shang Iang Wade–Giles Shang1 Yang1 IPA [ʂáŋ jáŋ] Yue: Cantonese Yale Romanization Sēung Yēung Jyutping Soeng1 Joeng1 Southern Min Tâi-lô Siong Ng Old Chinese Baxter-Sagart *s.taŋ ʔaŋ

Shang Yang (Chinese: 商鞅; pinyin: Shāng Yāng/Yǎng, 390–338 BCE, born Wei Yang Chinese: 衛鞅; pinyin: Wèi Yāng/Yǎng in the State of Wei) was an important Chinese statesman of the State of Qin during the Warring States period. His policies laid the foundation that enabled Qin to conquer all of China, uniting the country for the first time and ushering in the Qin dynasty. He and his followers contributed to the Book of Lord Shang strain of what has modernly been termed Chinese Legalism.

With the support of Duke Xiao of Qin, Shang Yang left his lowly position in Wei (to whose ruling family he had been born, but had yet to obtain a high position in) to become the chief adviser in Qin. There his numerous reforms transformed the peripheral Qin state into a militarily powerful and strongly centralized kingdom. Changes to the state's legal system (which were said to have been built upon Li Kui's Canon of Laws) propelled the Qin to prosperity. Enhancing the administration through an emphasis on , Shang's policies weakened the power of the feudal lords.

He is credited by Han Fei with the creation of two theories;

Believing in the rule of law and considering loyalty to the state above that of the family, Shang introduced two sets of changes to the State of Qin. The first, in 356 BCE, were:

Shang introduced his second set of changes in 350 BCE, which included a new standardized system of land allocation and reforms to taxation.

The vast majority of Yang's reforms were taken from policies instituted elsewhere, such as from Wu Qi of the State of Chu; however, Shang's reforms were more thorough and extreme than those of other states. Under Shang's tenure, Qin quickly caught up with and surpassed the reforms of other states.