Duke Xiao of Qin

Duke Xiao of Qin
秦孝公
Reign361–338 BC
PredecessorDuke Xian of Qin
SuccessorKing Huiwen of Qin
Born381 BC
Died338 BC
IssueKing Huiwen of Qin
Ji, Lord Yan
Names
Ying Quliang (嬴渠梁)
Posthumous name
Duke Xiao (孝公)
or
King Ping (平王)
HouseYing
DynastyQin
FatherDuke Xian of Qin

Duke Xiao of Qin (Chinese: 秦孝公; pinyin: Qín Xiào Gōng; 381–338 BC), personal name Ying Quliang, was the ruler of the Qin state from 361 to 338 BC. Duke Xiao is best known for employing the Legalist statesman Shang Yang[1] from the Wey state and authorizing him to conduct a series of ground breaking political, military and economic reforms in Qin. Although the reforms were controversial and drew violent opposition from many Qin politicians, Duke Xiao supported Shang Yang fully and the reforms did help to transform Qin into a dominant superpower among the Seven Warring States.

  1. ^ [1] Archived 2012-07-09 at archive.today Harvard University reference page for a 2006 class called Moral Reasoning; includes a useful map