In the long river of history, the Warring States period was an era of heroes and stirring ideas. At that time, in order to compete for territory and resources, various vassal states changed their laws one after another to try to become stronger. And in this tide of change, Shang Ying's name is undoubtedly the most dazzling. Although the theory of the weak and the foolish people put forward by him seems quite controversial today, it has its own unique value and significance in the context of that specific era.
Shang Ying, a scholar from the Wei Dynasty, was not reused from the beginning. He had been unsuccessful in the Wei State, but later came to the Qin State, talked with the Qin Xiao Duke for several days, and finally won the trust and support of the monarch. Shang knew that in order for Qin to stand out among the vassal states, it was necessary to adopt a new strategy of statecraft. Therefore, he put forward the theory of the weak and the foolish, and on this basis, he launched a series of practice of changing the law.
The weak people do not mean that the people become weak and can be bullied, but that they should limit their individual strength through policy means and prevent the overall interests of the country from being harmed by their selfish desires. In Shang Ying's view, if the people are too powerful and wealthy, they will breed arrogance and indulgence, and even have the ambition to cut off the dominance. Therefore, he advocated breaking the monopoly of the aristocracy on land and making land a resource under the direct control of the state through measures such as abolishing the well field system and implementing the Qianmo system. In this way, the state can allocate resources as needed to ensure victory in the war and stability of the country.
Fooling the people does not mean making the people ignorant, but through education and propaganda, so that their thoughts and behaviors conform to the interests and norms of the state. Shang Ying promoted Legalist education, emphasizing the importance of the rule of law and order, so that the people could understand the importance of abiding by the law and obeying the state. At the same time, he also restricted the free thought of a hundred schools of thought and prevented social unrest caused by confusion of thought.
In the practice of changing the law in the Qin State, Shang Ying's theory of weak people and foolish people was fully applied. He introduced the Shiwu joint sitting system, which formed a close mutual supervision mechanism among the people. This system allows everyone to become the guardian of the country's stability, effectively reducing internal contradictions and conflicts. At the same time, he emphasized agriculture and suppressed commerce, encouraging agricultural production while restricting commercial activities. This not only ensures the country's food security, but also reduces social mobility and allows people to live more securely on the land.
However, Shang's changes also caused a lot of controversy and opposition. Many scholars thought that his methods were too harsh and that he had suppressed the people too severely. But in Shang Ying's view, only in this way can the long-term peace and stability of the country be realized. He firmly believes that the stability and strength of the country can only be ensured through strict rule of law and order. His persistence and perseverance eventually led to the successful implementation of the reforms, laying the foundation for the rise of the Qin state.
Looking back at history, we will find that although Shang Ying's theory of the weak and the foolish people has the limitations and controversy of its time, it also reflects a profound philosophy of governance. In the process of pursuing a strong country, how to balance the relationship between the country and the people and achieve harmonious coexistence is a question that every ruler needs to think about. The Shang Dynasty's reform laid the foundation for the rise of the Qin state, and also created the conditions for the unification and prosperity of later generations. Although his theories and methods are controversial, his foresight and wisdom are still worthy of our deep reflection and reference.