The Book of Lord Shang, also known as Shangzi, consists of 26 chapters. It is one of the representative works of the Legalist school during the Warring States Period and is a collection of works by Shang Yang, a household name in China, and his followers. The Book of Lord Shang focuses on the theories and specific measures of the reforms implemented by Shang Yang and his school in the Qin State at that time. The Book of Lord Shang discusses a large number of policies to keep the people ignorant and the views of Legalist scholars who deprived the people of their human rights in order to consolidate the emperor’s regime. For example, the Book of Lord Shang believes that the relationship between the state and the people is contradictory. If the people are strong, the state will be weak. Therefore, if you want the state to be strong, you must weaken the people. [1] A state that can defeat a strong enemy and dominate the world must subdue its people. [2] Only by making the people ignorant, simple and honest can the people not easily form a strong force to fight against the state and the monarch. Only in this way can the state be easily governed and the monarch’s position be consolidated. The Book of Lord Shang believes that human nature is evil and that the evil of human beings must be recognized. In order to govern the state, evil must be used to control good in order to make the state strong. [4] The Book of Lord Shang advocates heavy punishment and light rewards. He believes that if the monarch increases punishment and reduces rewards, it means that he cares about the people, and the people will fight hard for the rewards; if he increases rewards and reduces punishment, it means that he does not care about the people, and the people will not fight hard for the rewards.
《商君书》也称《商子》，现存26篇，是战国时期法家学派的代表作之一，是中国家喻户晓的人物商鞅及其后学的著作汇编。《商君书》着重论述商鞅一派在当时秦国施行的变法理论和具体措施。《商君书》论述了大量愚民政策以及法家士子为帝王稳固政权，剥夺百姓人权的观点。例如：《商君书》中认为国家与人民是矛盾的关系。人民强大，则国家虚弱。所以想要国家强大，则必须削弱人民。[1]能够战胜强敌、称霸天下的国家，必须制服本国的人民。[2]只有使人民愚昧无知、朴实忠厚，人民才不易结成强大的力量来对抗国家和君主，这样国家才会容易治理，君主的地位才会牢固。《商君书》中认为人性本恶，必须承认人之恶性，治理国家要以恶治善才能使国家强大。[4]《商君书》中主张重刑轻赏，他认为加重刑罚，减少奖赏，是君主爱护民众，民众就会拼命争夺奖赏；增加奖赏，减轻刑罚，是君主不爱护民众，民众就不会为奖赏而拼死奋斗。
《古代寓言·黄金万两》
齐人有东郭敬者，犹多愿，愿有万金。其徒请赒焉，不与，曰：“吾将以求封也” 。其徒怒而去之宋，曰：“此爱于无也，故不如以先与之有也。”
——《商子》
Ten Thousand Taels of Gold
In the state of Qi there was one Mr. Dongguo Chang who was a man ambitions. Among other things, he wanted to possess ten thousand tales of gold.
A student of his, knowing of this ambition, asked to be favoured with a small sum, for he was very poor.
Mr. Dongguo Chang refused to grant his request. “I need all my money to buy myself a post in the government,” he said.
His student became angry and left for the state of Song. Before he went he said to the teacher, “Since I shall have no share in the fortunes that you are coveting, I’d better seek them elsewhere. Maybe I can come by them earlier than you do.”
Shang Zi
