Ancient China · Statesman

Guan Zhong 管仲

Attested BC 685

Passages: 2
Chapters: 1
Histories: 1

Overview

Guan Zhong was a statesman.

Life and dates

Attested activity

BC 685 管子修之
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 129, passage 26

Career and standing

vassal's vassal 陪臣
Held
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 129, passage 27

Places and affiliations

Polity Qi 齊 · Relation Served
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 129, passage 26

Events and relationships

Established light heavy and nine treasuries
Economic · Reformer
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 129, passage 26
Relation Minister of · Person Duke Huan of Qi (齊桓公)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 129, passage 26

Assessments and attributes

Assessment wealthier than feudal rulers despite lower rank · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 129, passage 27
Item three returns 三歸 · Relation Possessed
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 129, passage 27

References in the histories

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 129Biographies of Money-Makers · 2 passages

其後齊中衰，管子修之，設輕重九府，則桓公以霸，九合諸侯，一匡天下； Later, when Qi fell into decline, Guan Zhong revived it by establishing the system of price regulation and the Nine Treasuries. With this, Duke Huan achieved hegemony, convened the feudal lords nine times, and brought order to the entire realm;

而管氏亦有三歸，位在陪臣，富於列國之君。 And Guan Zhong himself, though he held only the rank of a vassal's vassal, possessed the 'three returns' and amassed wealth exceeding that of the rulers of the feudal states.