CIVILIZATION DOSSIER
Shang Yang商鞅
Reformer of the Qin state, enfeoffed as Lord Shang, deceased.
- DIRECT FIGURES
- 11
- RELATION RECORDS
- 15
- SOURCE WORKS
- 11
RELATIONSHIP COMPASS
Shang Yang, and the people around them.
Open one chapter at a time. Each chapter gives the relationship first, then the source text behind it.
01MENTORSHIPMentorship
Teachers, disciples and transmission
1 figure · 1 record＋
Mentorship
Teachers, disciples and transmission
Gongshu→Shang Yangrecommend
02ALLEGIANCEAllegiance
Rulers, appointments and allegiance
5 figures · 7 records＋
Allegiance
Rulers, appointments and allegiance
Duke Xiao of QinisShang Yang’s ruler
Shang Yang—Gongshuretainer
Shang Yang—King of Qinstrategist
Du You→Shang Yangmention
King Hui of Wei→Shang Yangunused
03CONFLICTConflict
Battles, captures and defeat
6 figures · 6 records＋
Conflict
Battles, captures and defeat
Shang Yang→King Weigo on mission
King Huiwen of Qin→Shang Yangdismember
Shang Yang—King Hui of Weibattle
Shang Yang→King Huicoerce
King Huiwen of Qin→Shang Yangkill
04THE UNSEENMythic acts
Transformation, aid and divine punishment
1 figure · 1 record＋
Mythic acts
Transformation, aid and divine punishment
Fan Chunren→Shang Yangquote
12 key relationships are shown here. The complete record remains below.
In history · Records of the Grand Historian · History of Song · Old Book of Tang
A concubine-born prince of the state of Wei, surnamed Gongsun, served Duke Xiao of Qin in reforms, enfeoffed in Shang, titled Lord Shang. ; Prime Minister of Qin, carried out reforms. ; Minister of Qin, executed, mentioned by Su Qin when persuading Qin.
In fiction · Chronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms · Book of the Later Han · Strategies of the Warring States · New Book of Tang · Book of Han · Huainanzi · Bamboo Annals · The Story of Yue Fei
Reformer of the Qin state, enfeoffed as Lord Shang, deceased.
Across source works
How this figure changes across texts
Works are shown side by side, not as a chronology. No influence between texts is inferred.
- Literature / legend4 profile notes
Chronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms
5 relations5 verified quotations- Duke Xiao of Qin→ ruler-subject →Shang Yang
- Duke Xiao of Qin→ employ →Shang Yang
- Shang Yang→ retainer →Gongshu
- Gongshu→ recommend →Shang Yang
Verified original text · 5
遂拜卫鞅为左庶长
ruler-subject · Chronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, ch. 87
秦孝公嘉卫鞅之功，封为列侯
enfeoff · Chronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, ch. 89
3 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.
- Official history9 profile notes
Book of Han
0 relations0 verified quotations - Official history3 profile notes
Book of the Later Han
0 relations0 verified quotations - Literature / legend1 profile notes
Huainanzi
0 relations0 verified quotations - Official history2 profile notes
Old Book of Tang
0 relations0 verified quotations - Official history12 profile notes
Records of the Grand Historian
6 relations9 verified quotations- Shang Yang→ battle →King Hui of Wei
- King Huiwen of Qin→ dismember →Shang Yang
- Duke Xiao of Qin→ ruler-subject →Shang Yang
- Duke Xiao of Qin→ employ →Shang Yang
Verified original text · 9
与魏战元里
battle · Records of the Grand Historian, 秦本纪
秦惠王车裂商君以徇
dismember · Records of the Grand Historian, 商君列传
7 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.
- Literature / legend1 profile notes
The Story of Yue Fei
0 relations0 verified quotations - Official history3 profile notes
History of Song
1 relations1 verified quotations- Fan Chunren→ quote →Shang Yang
Verified original text · 1
尚法令则称商鞅
quote · History of Song, 范仲淹纯祐纯礼纯粹范纯仁正平传
- Official history2 profile notes
New Book of Tang
1 relations1 verified quotations- Du You→ mention →Shang Yang
Verified original text · 1
商鞅佐秦，以为地利不尽
mention · New Book of Tang, 突厥传上
- Official history8 profile notes
Strategies of the Warring States
7 relations9 verified quotations- Shang Yang→ strategist →King of Qin
- Shang Yang→ go on mission →King Wei
- King Hui of Wei→ unused →Shang Yang
- King Huiwen of Qin→ dismember →Shang Yang
Verified original text · 9
卫鞅谋于秦王曰
strategist · Strategies of the Warring States, 齐／五
卫鞅见魏王曰
go on mission · Strategies of the Warring States, 齐／五
7 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.
- Official history2 profile notes
Bamboo Annals
2 relations2 verified quotations- Duke Xiao of Qin→ employ →Shang Yang
- Shang Yang→ attack →King Hui of Wei
Verified original text · 2
秦封卫鞅于邬
enfeoff · Bamboo Annals, 古本辑校
秦卫鞅伐我西鄙
attack · Bamboo Annals, 今本-魏纪
History vs. fiction
The manner of Shang Yang's death and the place of execution
- novel inventionThe manner of Shang Yang's death and the place of execution
According to the Records of the Grand Historian, in the biography of Shang Yang, it is recorded that Shang Yang fled and was defeated in battle, "Qin sent troops to attack Shang Yang and killed him at Zheng Mianchi. King Hui of Qin executed Shang Yang by dismemberment (cheli) to make an example." However, in the Chronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, Chapter 089, it says that when he was about to raise troops to attack Qin, "he was pursued by Gongsun Jia and captured, then bound and returned," and Duke Huiwen "enumerated his crimes, ordered Shang Yang to be taken to the market and torn apart by five oxen. The people vied to eat his flesh."
Relationship network
Original text (1)
Original text (1)
Original text (1)
Original text (1)
商鞅佐秦，以为地利不尽
Original text (1)
Original text (1)
- dismember← King Huiwen of Qin → Shang Yanghist × litRecords of the Grand Historian, 商君列传Strategies of the Warring States, 秦／一
Original text (2)
- ruler-subject← Duke Xiao of Qin → Shang Yanghist × litChronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, ch. 87Records of the Grand Historian, 商君列传Records of the Grand Historian, 秦本纪Records of the Grand Historian, 范睢蔡泽列传Strategies of the Warring States, 秦／一Strategies of the Warring States, 秦／三Strategies of the Warring States, 魏／一
Original text (7)
遂拜卫鞅为左庶长
孝公既用卫鞅
Original relation: subject · Records of the Grand Historian, 商君列传
卫鞅说孝公变法修刑
Original relation: 变法 · Records of the Grand Historian, 秦本纪
夫公孙鞅之事孝公也，极身无贰虑
Original relation: assist · Records of the Grand Historian, 范睢蔡泽列传
孝公以为相，封之于商
夫商君为孝公平权衡
Original relation: assist · Strategies of the Warring States, 秦／三
西之秦，孝公受而用之
Original relation: 西之秦 · Strategies of the Warring States, 魏／一
- employ← Duke Xiao of Qin → Shang Yanghist × litChronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, ch. 89Records of the Grand Historian, 六国年表Records of the Grand Historian, 秦始皇本纪Strategies of the Warring States, 楚／四Strategies of the Warring States, 秦／一Bamboo Annals, 古本辑校
Original text (6)
秦孝公嘉卫鞅之功，封为列侯
Original relation: enfeoff · Chronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, ch. 89
卫公孙鞅为大良造
商君佐之，内立法度
秦孝公封商君
Original relation: enfeoff lord · Strategies of the Warring States, 楚／四
孝公以为相，封之于商
Original relation: enfeoff lord · Strategies of the Warring States, 秦／一
秦封卫鞅于邬
Original relation: enfeoff · Bamboo Annals, 古本辑校
- retainerShang Yang → Gongshuhist × litChronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, ch. 87Records of the Grand Historian, 商君列传
Original text (2)
鞅遂委身于痤之门
事魏相公叔座为中庶子
Original relation: affair · Records of the Grand Historian, 商君列传
Original text (1)
痤有御庶子…………公孙鞅，愿王以国事听之也
Original text (1)
Original text (1)
若要我班师，除非将河西之地，尽割于秦方可
Original text (1)
Original text (1)
秦卫鞅伐我西鄙