SuaveG – The Gentle Path

Chinese mythology, folktales, and literature

centralization

  • The Price of Loyalty: Chao Cuo

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    Juan

    Jing’s Early Reforms Upon ascending the throne in 157 BCE, Emperor Jing of Han inherited his father Emperor Wen’s legacy of benevolent rule – but with pragmatic adjustments. While maintaining low taxation (collecting only half the land tax in his first year), he recognized that some revenue was essential for state function. He also…

  • The iron reformer: Shang Yang [Warring States]

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    Rob

    After the prolonged hegemonic wars of the Spring and Autumn period, the number of vassal states within the Zhou dynasty had significantly decreased. The Zhou royal court, though nominally the supreme ruler of the realm, had become a mere shell of its former self. The vassal states were constantly at war with one another.