Description
Book SynopsisIn this new translation, The Book of Lord Shang’s intellectual boldness and surprisingly modern-looking ideas shine through, underscoring the text’s vibrant contribution to global political thought.
Trade ReviewNo one in the world is more qualified than Yuri Pines to present this new translation of the infamous The Book of Lord Shang, which has both fascinated and repelled readers throughout Chinese history. Accompanied by a superbly informed study of Lord Shang's place in his political context and the reliability of the text attributed to him, this is sure to be the standard translation for decades to come. -- Paul R. Goldin, author of Confucianism A magisterial study and translation, this new edition of The Book of Lord Shang provides, finally, full access to one of the foundational texts of ancient Chinese political thought. Pines, the leading Western authority in the field, sets the standard of excellence for exploring the intellectual origins of the Chinese imperial state-and even the relevance of Lord Shang's ideas to China's political debates today. -- Martin Kern, author of The Stele Inscriptions of Ch'in Shih-huang: Text and Ritual in Early Chinese Imperial Representation This thorough study and complete translation of The Book of Lord Shang is a major achievement. It will open many avenues for research into early political thought, a long neglected core topic of early Chinese philosophy. -- Carine Defoort, coeditor, The Mozi as an Evolving Text: Different Voices in Early Chinese Thought The Book of Lord Shang is one of the most important texts of political theory in the classical Chinese tradition. Pines does an outstanding job of translating the work in its entirety. He also provides an invaluable introduction to the text, the historical context within which it was written, and the nature of the political theory found therein. A wonderful work that will help this text achieve the prominence that it deserves. -- Michael Puett, coauthor of The Path: What Chinese Philosophers Can Teach Us About the Good Life Pines has rescued an important political and philosophical text from unjustified neglect. His fascinating introduction locates the work within its historical context and intellectual tradition most admirably. Lord Shang's policy recommendations are as bold and uncompromising-even shocking-to readers today as they were to its original audience. A lucid and highly recommended translation. -- Robin D. S. Yates, translator of Five Lost Classics: Tao, Huang-lao, and Yin-yang in Han China
Table of ContentsAcknowledgments Map of the Warring States World Around 350 BCE Part I: Introduction 1. Shang Yang and His Times 2. The Text: History, Dating, Style 3. The Ideology of the Total State 4. The Text's Reception and Impact Part II: The Book of Lord Shang Notes on Translation 1. Revising the Laws 2. Orders to Cultivate Wastelands 3. Agriculture and Warfare 4. Eliminating the Strong with 20. Weakening the People and 5. Explaining the People 6. Calculating the Land 7. Opening the Blocked 8. Speaking of the One 9. Implementing Laws 10. Methods of War 11. Establishing the Roots 12. Military Defense 13. Making Orders Strict 14. Cultivation of Authority 15. Attracting the People 16. Essentials of Punishments 17. Rewards and Punishments 18. Charting the Policies 19. Within the Borders 20. See chapter 4 21. Protecting from Robbers 22. External and Internal 23. Ruler and Ministers 24. Interdicting and Encouraging 25. Attention to Law 26. Fixing Divisions Fragment of "Six Laws" Notes Bibliography Index
