Guan Zhong (管仲) (c. 720-645 BC) was a chancellor and reformer of the State of Qi 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. Through Guan Zhong's reforms and skilful diplomacy Qi became the most powerful of the feudal states and Duke Huan lord protector over the feudal lords. Though knowledge of his reforms is limited, in particular he instituted a famous fiscal policy known as "balancing the light and the heavy", associated with salt and iron monopolies. Though otherwise a diverse work, the Guanzi compilation making use of his name makes similar such recommendations.
Translator Allyn Rickett considers that, "judging what was said of him in the Zuo zhuan, he could qualify, at least in most respects, as an ideal Confucian minister... Guan Zhong is reported to have advised Duke Huan: 'Summon the wavering with courtesy and cherish the remote with virtuous conduct. So long as your virtuous conduct and courtesy never falter, there will be no one who does not cherish you.'" When Duke Huan was approached to dethrone the ruling clans of his state, Guan Zhong advised him that that he had won their adherence through politeness(li) and trustworthiness(xin).
During the time of Confucius, when his students criticized Guan Zhong as lacking propriety, Confucius said of him that "Through having Guan Zhong as his minister Duke Huan became protector over the feudal lords. He brought unity and order to the entire realm so that even today people enjoy his gifts to them" and that "It was due to Guan Zhong that Duke Huan was able to assemble the feudal lords on numerous occasions without resorting to the use of his war chariots. Such was his goodness!"
Because some of his reforms might be considered purely administrative, (as opposed to Confucianism, which "aspired to produce orderly rule solely through the charismatic excellence of the aristocratic leaders of the state") translator Allyn Ricket writes that later Confucian historians disparagingly identified Guan Zhong with the Legalist school, even though actually legalistic (that is, "Fa" or method-based) philosophy did not develop until hundreds of years later.
《·》: | 昔者管子有言,丘甚善之,曰:『褚小者不可以懷大,綆短者不可以汲深。』 |
Formerly Guanzi used words of which I very much approve. He said, "A small bag cannot be made to contain what is large; a short rope cannot be used to draw water from a deep well." |
《·》: | 管子曰:「見其可說之有證,見其不可惡之有形,賞罰信於所見,雖所不見,其敢為之乎?」 |
《·》: | 故管子文錦也,雖醜登廟。 |
《》: | 鄉使管子幽囚而不出,身死而不反於齊,則亦名不免為辱人賤行矣。 |
《·》: | 河間獻王曰:「管子稱倉廩實,知禮節。」 |
《·》: | 桓公行公去私惡,用管子而為五伯長。 |
《·》: | 管子對曰:「四民者,勿使雜處,雜處則其言哤,其事易。」 |
《》: | 公曰:「昔吾先君桓公,以管子為有力,邑狐與穀,以共宗廟之鮮,賜其忠臣,則是多忠臣者。」 |
《·》: | 管子曰:「道之在天者日也,其在人者心也。」 |
《》: | 然而管子并三行之過,據齊國之政,一匡天下,九合諸侯,為五伯首,名高天下,光照鄰國。 |
《·》: | 君子不惰,真人不怠,無見久貧賤,則據簡之,伊尹酒保,太公屠牛,管子作革,百里奚官奴。 |
《·》: | 大夫曰:「管子云:『國有沃野之饒而民不足於食者,器械不備也。』」 |
《·》: | 管子曰:「四維:一曰禮,二曰義,三曰廉,四曰醜。」 |
《》: | 管子進曰:「君何求乎?」 |
《·》: | 管子云古之四民不得雜處。 |
《》: | 管子有言。 |