The Master said:“I can speak of the rites of the Xia dynasty, but the state of Qi provides insufficient evidence.I studied the rites of the Yin dynasty; remnants still exist in the state of Song.I studied the rites of the Zhou dynasty – they are in use today – so I follow the Zhou.”
Mencius said: “When the world is governed by the Dao, those of lesser virtue serve those of greater virtue, and the less worthy among the virtuous serve the more worthy.But when the world is without the Dao, the small are enslaved by the great, and the weak are dominated by the strong.”
Mencius said: “The Xia, Shang, and Zhou dynasties gained the empire through benevolence, and they lost it when benevolence was abandoned.The rise, fall, survival, or collapse of any state follows the same principle.”
This article details the Tian Clan’s usurpation of the Qi state, a pivotal event marking the transition from the Spring and Autumn period to the Warring States era. It traces the Tian clan’s origins from Prince Chen Wan of Chen to their rise in Qi, where they gained immense popularity by lending grain with…
This article recounts the tragic story of Meng Ben, a mighty warrior of the State of Qin during the Warring States period. It details his rivalry with King Wu of Qin, a monarch obsessed with martial prowess. In 307 BC, Meng Ben incited the king to lift the Dragon-Patterned Red Cauldron, a symbol of…
Duke Wen of Teng asked Mencius: “The people of Qi are building a fortress at Xue, and I am deeply afraid. What should I do?”
This article chronicles the rise of Wei Yang (Shang Yang), the “Iron Reformer” of the Qin state during the Warring States period. It details his recruitment by Duke Xiao of Qin, who sought to transform his backward, humiliated state into a superpower. The narrative highlights Wei Yang’s legendary “Log at the South Gate” test…
This article recounts the story of Zou Ji, a master of persuasive statecraft during the Warring States period. It details how he used the metaphor of a silent lute to rouse the indolent King Wei of Qi from nine years of neglect. As Chancellor, Zou Ji instituted radical reforms and transparency, famously using a…