Marquess Wen of Wei

Marquess Wen of Wei (Chinese: 魏文侯; pinyin: Wèi Wén Hóu) (?-396 BCE) was the first Marquess to rule the State of Wei during the Warring States Period of Chinese history (475-220 BCE). Born Jī Sī (Chinese: 姬斯), he was the son of Wèi Huán-zǐ (Chinese: 魏文侯). He became ruler of Wei in 445 BCE and in 424 BCE adopted the title of “Marquess” (Chinese: 侯; pinyin: Hóu). In 403 BCE King Weilie of Zhou (Chinese: 周威烈王; pinyin: Zhōu Wēi liè Wáng) acknowledged Wèi Sī as Marquess Wen of Wei whilst conferring similar titles on the leaders of the former vassal states of Han and Zhao, thereby effectively splitting the State of Jin into three.

Sima Qian praised Marquess Wen of Wei for his eagerness to learn^[1]. The Marquess is said to have often consulted the Confucian scholar Zǐ-xià (Chinese: 子夏) as well as Tiánzǐ Fāng (Chinese: 田子方) and Duàn Gànmù (Chinese: 段干木) amongst others. Marquess Wen of Wei also appointed Legalist philosopher Lǐ Kuǐ (Chinese: 李悝), whose principles for the implementation of political reforms were “to eat one must labor, to receive a salary one must provide meritorious service; those who do not will be punished”. As the State of Wei underwent these reforms it became rich and powerful.

In turn, Marquess Wen conquered the State of Zhongshan (simplified Chinese: 中山国; traditional Chinese: 中山國) whilst General Wú Qĭ (simplified Chinese: 吴起; traditional Chinese: 吳起) attacked and took five cities in what would become Xī Hé Prefecture (Chinese: 西河郡) within the borders of the State of Qin (between the Yellow River and Luo River spanning parts of modern day Shaanxi and Shanxi Provinces). With Xīmén Bào (simplified Chinese: 西门豹; traditional Chinese: 西門豹) installed as magistrate of Ye County (in modern day Hebei Province), Běimén Kě (simplified Chinese: 北门可; traditional Chinese: 北門可) in control of Suān Zǎo (simplified Chinese: 酸枣; traditional Chinese: 酸棗) and Zhái Huáng (simplified Chinese: 翟黄; traditional Chinese: 翟黃) as Senior Minister, Wei underwent political reforms and constructed irrigation systems. As a result Wei became a powerful country during the early Warring States Period.

Life and career

In 446 BCE, the sixth year of the reign of Duke Ai of Jin (simplified Chinese: 晋哀公; traditional Chinese: 晉哀公; pinyin: Jìn Ai Gōng), Wèi Huán-zǐ died and was succeeded by his son Wèi Sī who became Marquess Wen of Wei.

Honoring virtue and propriety

Marquess Wen knew full well that to bring peace and stability to the country he needed to appoint worthy and virtuous officials. He had heard that Confucian scholar Zǐ-xià enjoyed a wide reputation as a worthy individual and went in person to pay his respects to the master. Moved by Marquess Wen’s sincerity, Zĭ-xià came to Xī Hé in Wei. Thereafter the people of Wei benefited greatly from Zĭ-xià’s training of students in Confucian statecraft such that people longed to come to Xīhé. One after another, many new students arrived to study under Zĭ Xià. As a result Wei became a concentrated center of academic study possessing a multitude of talented people. There were many times when Marquess Wen respectfully consulted Zĭ-xià regarding the Confucian Classics and the Confucian arts of rites and music. The scholar was always patient and passed on to his ruler policies of benevolent government that cherished the people whilst providing an analysis of the differences between ancient and (at that time) modern music. He also used musical metaphors and advised Marquess Wen to personally follow the principles of the ancient sage emperors Yáo (simplified Chinese: 尧; traditional Chinese: 堯) and Shùn (Chinese: 舜) by staying close to his virtuous officials, avoiding flatterers, and being prudent with regard to the requirements of the monarchy over his own self-interest.

Appointment of Li Kui

Marquess Wen appointed Lǐ Kuǐ (Chinese: 李悝) as his ministerial assistant responsible for political reform. Lǐ Kuǐ advanced policies of “utmost fertility in education”， implemented a fair grain buying law and established the tenets of “food requires labor, salary requires meritorious service”, “usefulness will be rewarded” and “the monarchy has no patience with rebels”. These became standard government methods in the State of Wei and made it a powerful country in the early Warring States Period (475-220 BCE). The State of Wei’s laws were later codified into the Book of Law (Chinese: 法经; pinyin: Fǎ Jīng).

Wei becomes a hegemon

When war broke out between the states of Han and Zhao, the Han State sent a special ambassador to Wei to ask for military assistance. The envoy said: “We hope that your noble country can lend us troops to attack Zhao”, whereupon Marquess Wen replied “As sovereign I will tell you that the Marquess of Zhao and I are like brothers, therefore I dare not lend you troops to attack his country”. Subsequently, the Zhao state sent an envoy with an identical request for an attack against Han. Again Marquess Wen replied “As sovereign I will tell you that the Marquess of Han and I are like brothers, therefore I dare not lend you troops to attack his country”. As a result neither Han not Zhao received military assistance from Wei and both envoys returned angrily to their capitals. Not long afterwards they discovered that Marquess Wen had already mediated in the dispute and thereafter both Zhao and Han were made to pay separate tribute to Wei. Later, during the Song Dynasty, Sima Guang remarked: “As a result, Wei became the strongest of the Jin vassal states with both Han and Zhao unable to match it militarily”^[2].

Seizure of Xihe

The military commander Wú Qĭ (simplified Chinese: 吴起; traditional Chinese: 吳起) threw his support behind the State of Wei when he heard that Marquess Wen was a wise and able leader. Marquess Wen asked Lǐ Kuǐ for his opinion of Wú Qĭ and was told: “He avidly seeks fame and glory and is a womanizer, having said that, if you put him at the head of an attack force, even Sima Rangju would not be his equal”. On hearing this Marquess Wen made Wú Qĭ a general in his army and asked him to lead his troops into the State of Qin and seize five cities. General Wú Qĭ subsequently occupied Qin territory to the east of the Luo River for the four years between 409 and 406 BCE thereby expanding the State of Wei along its western borders. Marquess Wen then established the Xī Hé Prefecture consisting of the five captured cities.

Governing the city of Ye

Marquess Wen appointed Xīmén Bào (simplified Chinese: 西门豹; traditional Chinese: 西門豹) as magistrate of Ye County but he did not want the post. The Marquess persuaded him to take the job by saying: “Worthy minister, you should not miss this opportunity; you can definitely achieve great things in politics and become famous throughout China!” Xīmén Bào took up his post then immediately summoned a group of local elders to learn about the frequent disasters suffered as a result of the nearby Zhang River flooding. He was told that as a result of collusion between witches and local officials, every year a maiden had to be sacrificed to appease the river god Hé Bó (Chinese: 河伯) on the occasion of his taking a wife to obviate floods. Xīmén Bào dismissed the story as superstitious nonsense and said it was a ruse to cheat people out of their money and property. After outlawing the sinister practice of sacrifice to the river god, Xīmén Bào mobilized manpower to cut twelve drainage canals to channel the waters of the Zhang River. Thereafter there were no more floods and instead of suffering damage from the river, the fields were irrigated by it.

Overthrow of Zhongshan

Marquess Wen wanted to take control of the State of Zhongshan but in order to attack, he needed access through the State of Zhao. The rulers of Zhao at first refused the Marquess’ request but when the Zhao Chancellor heard he said: “If Wei attack Zhongshan and they are defeated, they are bound to have lost a significant portion of their resources and will become a weak country. If on the other hand they annihilate Zhongshan, the new territory will be bisected by our country and it will be difficult for Wei to remain in control of it for any significant period.” On hearing this the Zhao ruler Zhào Xiàn-zǐ (simplified Chinese: 赵献子; traditional Chinese: 趙獻子) agreed to allow the Wei army to pass through the Zhao State.
At this time, amongst Minister of War Zhai Huang’s (Chinese: 翟璜) entourage there was an individual called Yue Yang (simplified Chinese: 乐羊; traditional Chinese: 樂羊) who advocated an immediate attack on Zhongshan. Even though his son had been killed in Zhongshan because of Yue Yang’s son Yue Shu simplified Chinese: 乐舒; traditional Chinese: 樂舒, Zhai Huang knew that Yue Yang was a talented field commander and gave the matter considerable thought. He then told Marquess Wen: “If my lord wishes to obtain the territory of Zhongshan then your minister recommends that Yue Yang leads the army”. When the other civil and military ministers heard of this proposal they opposed it strongly, believing that Yue Yang would surrender but Zhai Huang guaranteed on his own and his family’s lives that Yue Yang would not betray Wei. Marquess Wen visited Yue Yang then the two of them along with Wu Qi led an army to attack Zhongshan.
Yue Yang laid siege to the capital of Zhongshan for three years, during which time Duke Wu of Zongshan captured Yue Yang’s son Yue Shu, killed him then cooked the body and sent the minced remains to Yue Yang. Sitting under his tent, the general ate an entire bowl full. On seeing this Marquess Wen said: “Because of me General Yang has had to eat the flesh of his own son. If he can do that, whose body would he not eat?”
The state of Zhongshan was eliminated in 406 BCE, the twenty-fifth year of Marquis Wen’s reign. When Yue Yang returned to Wei he couldn’t help but develop a somewhat arrogant manner due to his achievements. When Marquis Wen found out he summoned the general to his palace and showed him some disparaging letters he had received. A tense Yue Yang kowtowed to his lord and said: “This is not to your minister’s credit, it is to your credit”. The Marquess rewarded Yue Yang by giving him Lingshou County (in modern day Hebei Province) but never again used the general in an important position.

Creation of the three Marquessates

In 424 BCE, the tenth year of the reign of Duke You of Jin (simplified Chinese: 晋幽公; traditional Chinese: 晉幽公; pinyin: Jīn Yōu Gōng), Marquess Wen adopted his title on his own initiative and declared 424 BCE as the first year of his own reign. Nineteen years later in 405 BCE, during the reign of Duke Lie of Jin (Chinese: 晉烈公s=晋烈公; pinyin: Jīn Liè Gōng), an internal revolt broke out in the State of Qi around the town of Tianhui in Linqiu County (modern day Juancheng County in Shangdong Province). The rebels asked the three Jin vassals Wei, Zhou and Han for assistance so Marquess Wen appointed Zhai Jue to lead an allied army and attack the Qi controlled section of the Great Wall of China. After capturing the Qi ruler, Duke Kang (simplified Chinese: 齐康公; traditional Chinese: 齊康公; pinyin: Qí Kāng Gōng), the rulers of the three Jin vassals had an audience with the Zhou Emperor whereupon Duke Kang requested the emperor to dub the Wei, Han and Zhao leaders Marquesses. In 403 BCE, the thirteenth year of the reign of Duke Lei of Jin, the Nine Tripod Cauldrons (Chinese: 九鼎; pinyin: Jĭu Dĭng) were struck in the presence of the Zhou Emperor who then formally acknowledged that the leaders of Han, Zhao and Wei were no longer vassals of Jin but rulers in their own right with the title of ‘Marquess” and the equals of the Marquess of Jin. This effectively was the formal beginning of the Warring States Period^[3].

Death

Marquess Wen died in 396 BCE. On his deathbed he summoned Wu Qi, Xīmén Bào and Běimén Kě amongst others and entrusted his son Prince of Wei to their care. After Marquess Wen died, his son Marquess Wu of Wei became ruler of Wei.

References

• Sima Qian, Records of the Grand Historian

External links

• Rulers of the warring states