Shang Yang

Shang Yang (商鞅; d. 338 BC) was an important statesman of Qin in the Warring States Period of ancient China.

In 361 BC Qin Xiaogong ascended the Qin throne. Shang Yang left his position in the kingdom of Wei to become a minister in Qin, where his changes to the state's legal system, which built upon Li Kui's 'Book of Law', propelled the Qin to prosperity. Qin later conquered China to begin the Qin dynasty.

Shang Yang introduced two sets of changes to the Qin state. The first, in 356 BC, were as follows:

1. Implementation of Li Kui's 'Book of Law', with the addition of a rule providing equal punishment for a person aware of a crime but not informing the government, and the actual perpetrator.
2. The assignment of lands to soldiers based upon military success. The military was also divided in to twenty parts.
3. As manpower was short in the Qin, Shang Yang encouraged the cultivation of new or wastelands, and favoured agriculture over commerce.
4. Shang Yang burnt Confucian books in an effort to curb the philosophy's influence.

Shang Yang introduced his second set of changes in 350 BC.