Guan Zhong
Encyclopedia
Guǎn Zhòng (c. 720-645 BC) was a politician and statesman 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.
by starting multiple reforms. Politically, he centralized power and divided the state into different villages, each carrying out a specific trade. Instead of relying on the traditional aristocracy for manpower, he applied levies to the village units directly. He also developed a better method for choosing talent to be governors. Under Guan Zhong, Qi shifted administrative responsibility from hereditary aristocrats to professional bureaucrats. He is also credited for creating the first official government sponsored brothel
known as "女市" which funded the government treasury.
Under Guan's guidance several important economic reforms were introduced . He created a uniform tax code and also used state power to encourage the production of Salt and Iron
. Historians usually credit Guan Zhong for introducing state monopolies controlling salt and iron.
During his term of office, the state of Qi became much stronger. The Zuo Zhuan
records that in 660 BC, Guan Zhong urged Duke Huan of Qi to attack the small neighboring State of Xing
which was under attack from Quanrong
nomads. Later, in 652 BC he advised the duke not to ally with a vassal ruler's son who wished to depose his father. Duke Huan often listened to Guan Zhong's sound advice such that his status amongst other Zhou vassal states rose. As a result the duke came to be recognized as the first hegemon or leader of the vassal alliance.
He is listed as the author of the Guanzi encyclopedia, actually a much later (of the late Warring States Period
compilation of works from the scholars of the Jixia Academy.
Guan Zhong advised the Duke of Qi to aid the small neighbouring state of Xing, which was under attack by non-Chinese Rong tribes.
Given name
A given name, in Western contexts often referred to as a first name, is a personal name that specifies and differentiates between members of a group of individuals, especially in a family, all of whose members usually share the same family name...
was Yíwú (夷吾). Zhong was his courtesy name. Recommended by Bao Shuya
Bao Shuya
Bao Shuya : 鲍叔牙) was a famous official of the State of Qi under Duke Huan of Qi during the Spring and Autumn Period. He was a contemporary and friend of Guan Zhong....
, he was appointed Prime Minister by Duke Huan of Qi in 685 BC.
Achievements
Guan Zhong modernized the Qi StateQi (state)
Qi was a powerful state during the Spring and Autumn Period and Period of the Warring States in ancient China. Its capital was Linzi, now part of the modern day city of Zibo in Shandong Province....
by starting multiple reforms. Politically, he centralized power and divided the state into different villages, each carrying out a specific trade. Instead of relying on the traditional aristocracy for manpower, he applied levies to the village units directly. He also developed a better method for choosing talent to be governors. Under Guan Zhong, Qi shifted administrative responsibility from hereditary aristocrats to professional bureaucrats. He is also credited for creating the first official government sponsored brothel
Brothel
Brothels are business establishments where patrons can engage in sexual activities with prostitutes. Brothels are known under a variety of names, including bordello, cathouse, knocking shop, whorehouse, strumpet house, sporting house, house of ill repute, house of prostitution, and bawdy house...
known as "女市" which funded the government treasury.
Under Guan's guidance several important economic reforms were introduced . He created a uniform tax code and also used state power to encourage the production of Salt and Iron
Discourses on Salt and Iron
The Discourses on Salt and Iron was a debate on state policy during the Han Dynasty in China. The previous emperor, Emperor Wu, had reversed the laissez-faire policies of his predecessors imposed a wide variety of state interventions, such as monopolies on salt and iron, price stabilization...
. Historians usually credit Guan Zhong for introducing state monopolies controlling salt and iron.
During his term of office, the state of Qi became much stronger. The Zuo Zhuan
Zuo Zhuan
The Zuo Zhuan , sometimes translated as the Chronicle of Zuo or the Commentary of Zuo, is among the earliest Chinese works of narrative history and covers the period from 722 BCE to 468 BCE. It is one of the most important sources for understanding the history of the Spring and Autumn Period...
records that in 660 BC, Guan Zhong urged Duke Huan of Qi to attack the small neighboring State of Xing
Xing (state)
The State of Xíng was a vassal state of ancient China during the Zhou Dynasty and Spring and Autumn Period , ruled by descendants of the Jí family...
which was under attack from Quanrong
Quanrong
The Quǎnróng , literally "Dog Rong", were an ethnic group active in the north western part of China during the Zhōu and later dynasties. Their language is classified as part of the Tibeto-Burman branch of the Sino-Tibetan languages family....
nomads. Later, in 652 BC he advised the duke not to ally with a vassal ruler's son who wished to depose his father. Duke Huan often listened to Guan Zhong's sound advice such that his status amongst other Zhou vassal states rose. As a result the duke came to be recognized as the first hegemon or leader of the vassal alliance.
He is listed as the author of the Guanzi encyclopedia, actually a much later (of the late Warring States Period
Warring States Period
The Warring States Period , also known as the Era of Warring States, or the Warring Kingdoms period, covers the Iron Age period from about 475 BC to the reunification of China under the Qin Dynasty in 221 BC...
compilation of works from the scholars of the Jixia Academy.
Guan Zhong advised the Duke of Qi to aid the small neighbouring state of Xing, which was under attack by non-Chinese Rong tribes.