In the chapters of ancient history, the prosperity of the state is inseparable from the tacit understanding and cooperation between the monarch and the courtier, which often requires the monarch to be wise and the courtiers to be capable. From a historical point of view, an era of prosperity is often accompanied by the emergence of a wise monarch and a virtuous minister. As for the Kangxi, Yongzheng, and Qianlong eras, even if they were not assisted by prominent ministers, they were able to achieve the "prosperous Kangqian era" in the praise of Qing history experts, which may be due to the extraordinary talent of the emperor, or another interpretation of historical evaluation. Next, we will take a look back at 10 famous prime ministers in history, explore their excellence, and see which one you admire the most!
[First, Guan Zhong]
Guan Zhong (c. 723 BC - 645 BC), surnamed Ji, Guan Shi, name Yiwu, character Zhong, and nickname Jing, was an outstanding representative of Legalism in the Spring and Autumn Period and a descendant of King Mu of Zhou. He was not only a famous economist, philosopher, and statesman in ancient China, but also an outstanding military strategist. He is known as "the pioneer of legalism", "the teacher of sages", "the protector of Chinese civilization" and "the first phase of China".
In the thirty-third year of the reign of Duke Qi (698 BC), Guan Zhong began to assist Gongzi Jiao. In the first year of Qi Huan (685 BC), he served as the minister of Qi. During his tenure, Guan Zhong carried out drastic reforms, which greatly increased the national strength of Qi and became the overlord of the Spring and Autumn Period. In the forty-first year of the reign of Emperor Huan of Qi (645 BC), Guan Zhong died.
[Second, Li Si]
Li Si (c. 284 BC - 208 BC), Li Shi, known as Si, the word Tonggu, was a native of Shangcai (now Shangcai, Henan) in the Chu State at the end of the Warring States Period. He was an outstanding politician, writer, and calligrapher during the Qin Dynasty. In the process of unifying the six kingdoms of the Qin Dynasty, Li Si played an important role.
After the Qin State unified the world, Li Si consulted with Wang Juan and Feng Zai, suggested that the Qin king be the emperor, and formulated the relevant etiquette system. After that, he was appointed prime minister. Li Si had a unique vision, opposed the feudal system, insisted on the implementation of the county system, and participated in the formulation of laws to unify the system of rails, writing, weights and measures. His political ideas have had a profound impact on China and the world, laying the foundation for China's political system for more than 2,000 years.
[Third, Xiao He]
Xiao He (257 BC-193 BC), Han nationality, PlaNet Rich people. In his early years, he served as a county official in Qinpei County, and assisted Liu Bang in the uprising at the end of the Qin Dynasty. It can be said that without Xiao He's assistance, it would be difficult for Liu Bang to compete with Xiang Yu, let alone establish the Han Dynasty. With the help of Xiao He, Liu Bang successfully recruited outstanding military talents such as Han Xin. During the Chu-Han War, Xiao He stayed in Guanzhong and provided Liu Bang with solid rear support, so that he could fight Xiang Yu with confidence.
In addition, Xiao He also borrowed from the six laws of the Qin Dynasty and reformulated the legal system, namely the "Nine Chapters of Law". In terms of legal thought, he advocates the rule of inaction and likes the art of Huang Lao. In the eleventh year of the Han Dynasty (196 BC), he assisted Liu Bang in eliminating Han Xin, Yingbu and other princes with different surnames. After Liu Bang's death, he continued to assist Emperor Hui of the Han Dynasty. In the second year of Emperor Hui (193 BC), Xin Wei died in July, and he was nicknamed "Wen Zhonghou".
[Fourth, Zhuge Liang]
Zhuge Liang (181 – October 8, 234), Han nationality, was a native of Yinan County, Linyi City, Shandong Province. He was the prime minister of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms period, an outstanding politician, military strategist, essayist, calligrapher and inventor. He invented the wooden ox flowing horse, Kong Ming lantern, etc., and transformed the repeater, creating the Zhuge repeater, which can fire ten arrows with a single crossbow. In the twelfth year of Jianxing (234), he died in Wuzhangyuan (in present-day Qishan, Baoji).
Zhuge Liang's exploits need not be said, everyone can understand it from "Romance of the Three Kingdoms". Without him, the history of the Three Kingdoms may be completely different, and Liu Bei's story will end early.
[Fifth, Fang Xuanling]
Fang Xuanling (579-648), known as Qiao, was a native of Qizhou in the early Tang Dynasty. In the ninth year of Wude, he participated in the Xuanwumen Change, and made great achievements with Du Ruhui, Changsun Wuji, Wei Chi Jingde, Hou Junji and others. After Li Shimin, Taizong of the Tang Dynasty, ascended the throne, Fang Xuanling served as the Zhongshu Order; Zhenguan was promoted to Shangshu Zuo Servant in February of the third year; Zhenguan was named Liang Guogong in the eleventh year; and was promoted to Sikong in July of the sixteenth year of Zhenguan, and continued to deal with court affairs.
Because Fang Xuanling is good at strategy, and Du Ruhui is good at decisiveness, people praise them as "Fang Xuanling". Later generations regarded them as models of good appearance, and collectively called them "Fang and Du". With the assistance of Fang Xuanling, Li Shimin created a prosperous era of Zhenguan.
[Sixth, Di Renjie]
Di Renjie (630-700), also known as Huaiying, was a native of Taiyuan, Bingzhou (now Taiyuan, Shanxi), and an outstanding politician in the Wuzhou and Zhou dynasties of the Tang Dynasty. In September 691, he was promoted to the rank of vizier, but was soon framed and demoted. However, in 697 he was reappointed prime minister and bluntly advised Wu Zetian to restore Li Xian, the king of Luling, as crown prince, thus ensuring the continuation of the Tang dynasty's social power.
Di Renjie's life played an important role in the era of Wu Zetian, he inherited the legacy of Zhenguan's rule, and opened the prelude to the prosperous era of Kaiyuan. He was upright and upright in his life, and his political achievements were outstanding, especially during the reign of Wu Zetian, who was known for not being afraid of power and power, and became a famous minister of a generation.
[Seventh, Kou Zhun]
Kou Lin (961 - October 24, 1023), whose name is Pingzhong, was of Han nationality and a native of Xiatai (now Weinan, Shaanxi), Huazhou. He was an outstanding politician and poet in the Northern Song Dynasty, served as prime minister three times and was named the Duke of Laiguo, nicknamed Zhongshu. He was a well-known patriotic politician.
Kou Zhun was an honest and honest official, and enjoyed a high reputation among the people of the Central Plains, and even Liaobang deeply admired him. During his decades-long career in the palace, although he rose to the position of prime minister in charge of the state, he never built a private mansion for himself. Kou Zhun's incorruptible and upright character set an example among Chinese officials and has been praised by people for more than a thousand years.
[Eighth, Fan Zhongyan]
Fan Zhongyan (August 29, 989 - May 20, 1052), the Chinese name Xiwen, Han nationality, was a native of Wu County, Suzhou (now Suzhou City). He was an outstanding thinker, politician and writer during the Northern Song Dynasty. In the third year of Qingli (1043), he served as the governor of the government and wrote the "Ten Things of the Edict of the Answering Hand", proposing ten important reform measures.
Although Pham did not hold a formal position as prime minister (his highest official position was deputy prime minister), he still had a prominent reputation as a politician. He was a man of great political and literary achievements. The idea of "worrying about the world first, and enjoying the joy of the world after the world" advocated by him and the discipline of people with lofty ideals have had a profound impact on later generations. In addition, the Fan Thi Yi Zhuang he founded has existed for thousands of years in history.
[Ninth, Wang Anshi]
Wang Anshi (1021-1086), an outstanding figure in the Northern Song Dynasty, was born in Linchuan (now Linchuan District, Fuzhou City, Jiangxi), and was a Han Chinese. He was not only a famous thinker and politician in the Northern Song Dynasty, but also a writer and reformer. In the second year of Xining (1069), Wang Anshi served as the governor of the government, and then was promoted to prime minister in the following year, and began his career of vigorously promoting reforms, that is, the famous "Wang Anshi Reform".
In the field of classics, Wang Anshi was respectfully known as "Tongru" and founded the "Jinggong New School". Philosophically, he used the "Five Elements Theory" to expound the principle of the creation of the universe, which greatly enriched and developed the naïve materialist thought of ancient China. His philosophical proposition "dividing the old with the new" pushed the ancient Chinese dialectic to a new height. In the field of literature, Wang Anshi is also an outstanding representative, known as one of the "Eight Great Masters of the Tang and Song Dynasties".
[Tenth, Zhang Juzheng]
Zhang Juzheng (1525-1582), the name uncle, the name Taiyue, the young name Zhang Baigui, was a Han nationality, born in Jiangling (now Jingzhou, Hubei), the people of the time also called him Zhang Jiangling. He was a statesman and reformer in the mid-to-late Ming Dynasty, serving as the chief assistant to the cabinet during the Wanli period, and assisting the Wanli Emperor Zhu Yijun in initiating the famous "Wanli New Deal".
During his 10-year tenure as head of the cabinet, Zhang Juzheng implemented a series of reform measures. In terms of finance, he cleared the land and implemented the "One Whip Law" to unify taxes and labor in silver, which greatly improved the efficiency and stability of the state finances. Militarily, he appointed famous generals such as Qi Jiguang and Li Chengliang to guard the northern frontier, and at the same time used Ling Yunyi, Yin Zhengmao and others to quell the rebellion in the southwest. In the area of the administration of officials, he carried out a comprehensive examination of the names and facts, and adopted the "examination method" to evaluate officials at all levels, thus ensuring the unimpeded implementation of government decrees and the improvement of administrative efficiency. These reforms made the Ming Dynasty's political system more stable and its national power significantly improved.