During the Spring and Autumn Period, the Lu State and the Qi State were originally two major vassal states of equal strength. The state of Lu was blessed with fertile land and an ancient clan system, while the state of Qi was remote and lacked resources, so it did not have an advantage. However, what is surprising is that in just a few decades, the state of Qi rose rapidly through a series of reforms and became the overlord of the Central Plains, while the state of Lu gradually weakened in internal strife and was finally suppressed by the state of Qi.
Why does the state of Lu have unique agricultural resources, but it cannot compete with the state of Qi? What are the key forces behind the rise of Qi? This turning point is not only due to the difference in the geographical location of the two countries, but also due to the deep differences in the political and employment systems of the two countries. The state of Lu insisted on conservatism, while the state of Qi chose bold change, and this confrontation between tradition and innovation led the fate of the two countries in completely different directions.
1. The starting point of the two countries: the same foundation, different choices
During the Western Zhou Dynasty, both Qi and Lu were made princes, and the starting point was almost the same. The feudal lord of Qi was Jiang Taigong, who was enshrined in the barren land along the coast for his merits. The state of Lu, on the other hand, was ruled by the descendants of Zhou Gongdan and was granted fertile land in the Central Plains. At first, both countries were valued by Zhou Tianzi, especially the Lu State, which was more prominent in the eyes of Zhou Tianzi because of Zhou Gongdan's important contribution in establishing the Zhou Dynasty system. In contrast, although the state of Qi was located on the coast and was geographically remote, Jiang Taigong's fiefdom also had unique strategic significance.
The territory of Qi is rugged, the land is barren, the population is sparse, and the development of agriculture is very difficult. For such a difficult environment, Jiang Taigong was not intimidated by the predicament, but saw the advantage of Qi State's proximity to the sea. He realized that if he relied only on the traditional agrarian economy, the Qi state was destined to stagnate forever. Therefore, he chose a different path of development - taking advantage of Qi's geographical advantage close to the sea to develop a trade economy with fish and salt as the core. This transformation allowed the state of Qi to gradually get rid of its dependence on agriculture and embark on a unique road to becoming a rich country.
At the same time, Lu is completely different. As the fiefdom of Zhou Gongdan, Lu is located in the Central Plains, with fertile land and good natural resources, and a very solid agricultural foundation. With these unique conditions, Lu does not have much pressure to explore other development paths. The rulers of the Lu state preferred to stick to the traditional agricultural economic model, and enshrined the Zhou court's ritual system and cultural system as the standard. With abundant food and agricultural income, the early development of the Lu State was also relatively smooth, and even occupied an important position in the Central Plains for a time.
The different choices between the two countries did not show significant differences at first. The agrarian society of Lu was stable and prosperous, while the Qi state gradually accumulated wealth by relying on the fish and salt trade. But this is only a superficial balance, and the hidden crisis behind it is quietly accumulating. Although Qi had a difficult start, its future-oriented innovation model laid the groundwork for its later take-off; The conservatism of Lu's dependence on agriculture is also destined to face great challenges in the changes of the times.
2. The reform of Guan Zhong and the rise of the Qi State
In the 7th century BC, the state of Qi ushered in a key figure in history - Duke Huan of Qi. Duke Qi Huan was not a traditional king, but possessed extraordinary political foresight and a bold spirit of change. Under his rule, the state of Qi began unprecedented reforms. And the key person in all this is his prime minister - Guan Zhong.
The encounter between Duke Huan of Qi and Guan Zhong was a major turning point in the history of the Qi State. After Duke Huan of Qi succeeded to the throne at that time, there was an urgent need to find a new direction for the development of Qi. At this time, although the Qi State had initially established a fish and salt trade economy during the period of Jiang Taigong, it was still powerless compared to the surrounding powerful vassal states. Qi Huan realized that in order for Qi to stand out, profound internal reforms were necessary.
As the prime minister of the Qi State, Guan Zhong proposed a series of bold reform measures with his outstanding political wisdom. First of all, he pushed the economic development of the country of Qi to a new height. Through the implementation of the salt and iron monopoly system, Guan Zhong firmly held the state's control over the resources in his hands. Salt and iron, as the two most important materials at that time, were monopolized, providing huge financial revenue for the Qi State. This monopoly system not only increased the wealth of the state treasury, but also provided a solid economic foundation for the armament and social development of the Qi state.
In addition, Guan Zhong also implemented the policy of "Guanshan Hai", which unified the management of Qi's rich mountain resources, so that the wealth produced by it belonged to the state. In this way, the state of Qi gradually got rid of the constraints of the agricultural economy and moved towards a diversified development path. Linzi, the capital of the country, quickly became one of the most prosperous cities at that time due to the implementation of this series of policies. Merchants, craftsmen, and farmers from all over the country gathered in Linzi, and economic activities were extremely active, and the whole country of Qi presented a thriving scene.
In addition to economic reforms, Guan Zhong has also made innovations in political employment. Unlike the Lu State, which strictly follows the hereditary system, Guan Zhong put forward the concept of "respecting the virtuous and meritorious". He broke the restrictions of aristocratic lineage and promoted capable people with different surnames, so that talents could fully display their talents in the Qi State. This policy greatly enhanced the national strength and competitiveness of Qi, and also laid a solid foundation for Qi's rise as a hegemon.
Guan Zhong's reforms are not only economic and political, but also focus on people's livelihood issues. Through the implementation of the social security system, Guan Zhong helps poor people to improve their lives, so that the fruits of the country's prosperity can benefit more people. This inclusive policy has made the society more stable and provided a guarantee for the country's long-term peace and stability.
The cooperation between Duke Huan of Qi and Guan Zhong enabled the state of Qi to rise in a short period of time and become one of the most powerful vassal states at that time. And Qi Huan Gong himself is also respected as the head of the "Spring and Autumn Five Tyrants" because of his outstanding political skills. Guan Zhong's reforms not only changed the fate of the Qi state, but also provided valuable experience for the later Chinese concept of governance. The idea of "enriching the country and strengthening the army" put forward by him has been continuously inherited and carried forward in the history since then.
The rise of Qi depends not only on the right time and place, but also on the power of people and reform. Through Guan Zhong's reforms, the state of Qi got rid of its early predicament and embarked on a road to becoming a strong country. And all this is in stark contrast to the conservatism of the Lu State.
3. The conservatism and internal friction of the Lu State
In the 8th and 7th centuries B.C., the brilliance of the Lu Kingdom gradually dimmed. Although the state of Lu once had abundant land and a relatively solid agricultural economic foundation, its stubborn adherence to Zhou rites gradually became a shackle that restricted development. Lu has always adhered to the etiquette law of the Zhou Dynasty, taking bloodline and hereditary as the foundation of employing people, and refusing to accept talents with different surnames. This system may have been able to maintain the stability of the country in the early Western Zhou Dynasty, but in the Spring and Autumn Period, the political system of the Lu State gradually became rigid and conservative, unable to adapt to the needs of the new era.
The political structure of the state of Lu was centered on the Shiqing Shilu system, which stipulated that only aristocratic families could hold high-ranking officials, and the positions were hereditary. The rise of the three aristocratic families of the Jisun clan, the Mengsun clan and the Shusun clan greatly weakened the authority of Lu Jun. The power of the three nobles (i.e., the three nobles) grew day by day, and they not only held the real power of the Lu State, but also often used the power in their hands to engage in internal fighting and compete for control of the Lu State. Against this backdrop, the rulers of the state of Lu were caught in a dilemma, they could neither completely suppress the power of the Three Huans nor effectively coordinate the country's resources to deal with external threats.
This internal power struggle took a heavy toll on the state of Lu. Whenever the state of Lu faced an invasion by a foreign enemy, Lu Jun could not effectively organize the power of the state, because the three huans often went their own way and had their own thoughts. For the sake of their own interests, they often collude with foreign countries, and sometimes even directly betray the interests of the Lu State. This kind of internal friction has weakened the political and military strength of the Lu State, and the national strength has been declining day by day. At this time, although the state of Lu still maintained the appearance of a powerful country in the Central Plains on the surface, it had actually been torn apart by internal struggles.
The aristocrats of the Lu State clung to the traditional system of etiquette and music, regarded it as the core of the country's governance, and were unwilling to carry out any kind of reform. This conservative thinking is also reflected in the cultural and social life of the Lu State. Unlike the Qi State, the ruling class of the Lu State always believed that relying on the ritual system left by their ancestors could lead to long-term peace and stability. However, as the surrounding vassal states carried out reforms one after another, the system that the Lu State relied on gradually became backward and weak. The internal friction and conservatism of the Lu State doomed it to be unable to seize the opportunity of change in the Spring and Autumn Period, and was gradually surpassed by a more flexible and pragmatic state.
During the most intense period of the Sanhuan infighting, Lu's external defense was almost paralyzed. Faced with the threat of foreign enemies such as Qi and Chu, Lu was unable to organize effective resistance. In the history of the Lu State, the power struggles of the three nobles of the Jisun, Mengsun, and Shusun clans lasted for several generations, and the balance of power between them was often broken, and often temporarily suspended due to the intervention of foreign enemies. Such endless infighting not only weakened the country's strength, but also made Lu gradually lose its right to speak on the international stage.
Fourth, the intensification of Qilu differentiation: the confrontation between tradition and change
In the 7th century BC, the development trajectories of the two countries gradually diverged. Under the reform of Duke Huan of Qi and Guan Zhong, the State of Qi has become the overlord of the Spring and Autumn Period and embarked on a path of rapid rise. In stark contrast, the state of Lu still adhered to the tradition of Zhou rites, refused to reform, and became the "old school" in the Spring and Autumn period. This confrontation between tradition and change ultimately led the two countries to different destinies.
The rise of Qi was not only due to Guan Zhong's economic reforms, but also because Qi's political system was more flexible and able to accommodate talents from different classes and regions. Under the leadership of Duke Huan of Qi, the state of Qi embraced many exiles and talented people from other countries, and appointed talented people in an eclectic manner. This open and inclusive political environment has made Qi a place where talents gather and formed a strong national strength. The military power of Qi also increased rapidly during this time, and with the economic prosperity, Qi was able to continuously expand its army and enhance its external deterrence.
In contrast to the bold reforms of the Qi State, the Lu State appeared to be resting on its laurels. Although the state has a profound cultural heritage and a strong agricultural foundation, its unprogressive political and economic system has gradually become a bottleneck for the country's development. With the passage of time, the state of Lu gradually lost its advantage in the pattern of the Spring and Autumn period of hegemony. Through a series of military and political means, the Qi state continued to expand its influence in the north, while the Lu state was unable to extricate itself from the quagmire of internal strife and aristocratic struggle for power. The rise of Qi gradually made Lu feel the pressure from the northern powers, but in the face of Qi's aggressiveness, Lu lacked the means to deal with it.
When the national strength of the Qi State gradually became stronger, the Lu State not only failed to reform in time, but became more and more clinging to the system of its ancestors. The polarization between the two countries is becoming more and more obvious. Relying on economic pluralism and political inclusiveness, Qi gradually established its hegemony, while Lu still relied on the traditional economic model based on agriculture and was gradually marginalized in the pattern of the Spring and Autumn period for hegemony. The political, economic, and military power of Qi became stronger, while the state of Lu appeared weak.
The hegemony of the Qi State started from the Lu State. Under the leadership of Duke Huan of Qi, the relationship between Qi and Lu gradually underwent qualitative changes. The two countries, which were originally of equal strength, had a fundamental reversal in their status with the reform and rise of Qi and the conservative decline of Lu. Duke Huan of Qi repeatedly exerted pressure on the state of Lu through diplomatic means, and finally forced the state of Lu to accept the leadership of the state of Qi. The State of Lu gradually lost its right to speak on the stage of the Spring and Autumn Period for hegemony, and finally became a victim of the hegemony of the State of Qi.
This confrontation between tradition and change is not only a comparison of the fates of the two countries, but also a microcosm of the cultural and political changes in the Central Plains throughout the Spring and Autumn Period. The state of Qi has managed to stand out with its flexible political and economic system, while the state of Lu has gradually been eliminated by the torrent of history because of its overly conservative system.