Editing Shang Yang (section)

==Biography==
Shang Yang was born as the son of a concubine to the ruling family of the minor state [[Wey (state)|Wey (衞)]]. His surname (氏, lineage name) was [[Gongsun]] and his personal name Yang. As a member of the Wei family, he was also known as Wei Yang.<ref name="rgh" />

At a young age, Yang studied law and obtained a position under Prime Minister Shuzuo of Wei (魏, not the same as his birth state). With the support of [[Duke Xiao of Qin]], Yang left his lowly position in Wei<ref>pg 79 of ''Classical China''</ref> to become the chief adviser in Qin. His numerous reforms transformed the peripheral Qin state into a militarily powerful and strongly centralized kingdom. Changes to the state's legal system (which were said to have been built upon [[Li Kui (legalist)|Li Kui]]'s ''[[Canon of Laws]]'') propelled the Qin to prosperity. Enhancing the administration through an emphasis on [[meritocracy]], his policies weakened the power of the feudal lords.

In 341 BC, Qin attacked the state of Wei. Yang personally led the Qin army to defeat Wei, and eventually Wei ceded the land west of the [[Yellow River]] to Qin. For his role in the war, Yang received 15 cities in Shang as his personal fief and became known as the lord of Shang (Shang Jun) or Shang Yang.<ref>''[[Bamboo Annals]] Ancient Text, Records of Wei''</ref> According to the ''[[Records of the Grand Historian]]'', with his personal connections while serving in the court of Wei, Shang Yang invited Gongzi Ang, the Wei general, to negotiate a peace treaty. As soon as Ang arrived, he was taken prisoner, and the Qin army attacked, successfully defeating their opponents.<ref name="rgh" />

Gongsun oversaw the construction of [[Xianyang]].<ref>John Man 2008. p. 51. ''Terra Cotta Army''.</ref> [[Mark Edward Lewis]] considered reorganization of the military as potentially responsible for the orderly plan of roads and fields throughout north China. This might be far fetched, but Yang was as much a military reformer as a legal one.<ref>Paul R. Goldin, ''Persistent Misconceptions about Chinese Legalism''. p. 18 [https://www.academia.edu/24999390/Persistent_Misconceptions_about_Chinese_Legalism_]
* Sanctioned Violence in Early China, SUNY Series in Chinese Philosophy and Culture (Albany, 1990), 63</ref>

The Shang Yang school of thought was favoured by [[Emperor Wu of Han]],<ref>Creel 1970, What Is Taoism?, 115</ref> and [[John Keay]] mentions that [[Tang dynasty|Tang]] figure [[Du You]] was drawn to Shang Yang.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=7lBWH2rxRFsC&pg=PA99 Arthur F. Wright 1960. p. 99. ''The Confucian Persuasion'']</ref>