Making Orders Strict

AnonymousBashu Publishing House · ChinaJul 2024

4.2

Word count: 1K words
Chapters: 2

Summary

Strictly enforce laws and orders. "Shangjun Shu: Jin Ling": "When orders are strictly enforced, governance does not lag; when laws are impartial, officials have no wickedness." One edition has "Chi Ling." One theory holds that "Jin Ling" means strengthening laws and orders so they cannot be infringed upon. See Jiang Lihong, "Shangjun Shu Zhui Zhi: Jin Ling."

Editor's review

This book is an edited edition of the "Jin Ling" chapter of the "Shangjun Shu," published by Bashu Publishing House in 2024 and attributed to an unknown author. Interpretations of the chapter title "Jin Ling" have long differed: some say it means strictly enforcing laws and orders, while others say it means strengthening laws and orders so they cannot be infringed upon; Jiang Lihong's "Shangjun Shu Zhui Zhi" offers a dedicated analysis of this. This edited edition presents this short chapter on its own, making it easier for readers to focus on the Legalist core propositions regarding the authority of laws and orders and clean governance. The line "When orders are strictly enforced, governance does not lag; when laws are impartial, officials have no wickedness" embodies early Legalist thinking on the relationship among the rigidity of laws, enforcement efficiency, and restraint of officials, and is an important slice for understanding the political logic of the "Shangjun Shu." This book is suitable as thematic material for studying Legalist thought; reading it alongside other chapters of the "Shangjun Shu" and relevant chapters of the "Han Feizi" can deepen understanding of pre-Qin concepts of rule by law. Readers should first grasp the ambiguity of the chapter title before entering the main text, pay attention to distinguishing the original text, old annotations, and the editor's conclusions, and avoid treating one school's view as settled.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Researchers of pre-Qin Legalist thought and the "Shangjun Shu"
Students in the history of ancient Chinese political thought
Literature and history enthusiasts who need thematic study of Legalist sources
Readers doing extended reading for relevant university courses

Not a good fit for

General readers hoping to read general histories or overviews of intellectual history
People uninterested in classical Chinese and textual criticism terminology
Readers who only want the story-like content of Shang Yang's reforms

Reading tips

First read relevant introductions to the "Shangjun Shu" to understand the place of the Jin Ling chapter in the whole book and the controversies surrounding it.
Focus on comparing different commentators' explanations of "Jin Ling," and note Jiang Lihong's approach to analysis.
Read alongside chapters of the "Han Feizi" that discuss the authority of laws and orders, and compare similarities and differences within Legalist thought.
After reading a chapter, summarize its core propositions in your own words, then return to the original text to check whether your understanding is accurate.

About the publisher

Bashu Publishing House China · Founded in 1983

Bashu Publishing House is a publisher centered on collating and publishing classical Chinese cultural texts, with its main publishing areas covering classical literature, Eastern philosophy, ancient poetry, and educational classics. Its library currently holds 1,075 titles, including representative works such as Dream of the Red Chamber, the Preface to the Orchid Pavilion Gathering, Renjian Cihua, and Out to the Frontier, involving authors such as Cao Xueqin, Wang Xizhi, Wang Guowei, Wang Changling, Liu Xie, and Yan Yu. These reflect the publisher's focus on literary classics, poetry criticism, and philosophical readings. Its publishing character lies in working around ancient texts and canonical works, with attention to textual collation and presentation. Public information on its more detailed publishing background and series plans is limited; this introduction is based only on the library's book information.

版权信息
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FAQ

What exactly does "Jin Ling" mean?

There are currently two main interpretations: one holds that "Jin Ling" means strictly enforcing laws and orders so that government affairs do not stagnate; the other holds that it means strengthening laws and orders so they cannot be infringed upon. Some editions have "Chi Ling." Jiang Lihong's "Shangjun Shu Zhui Zhi: Jin Ling" discusses these issues in detail. Readers should not insist on one theory, but should judge comprehensively in light of the original context and various commentaries.

Is this book suitable for beginners?

It is not very suitable for complete beginners. This is an edited edition of a thematic source and involves editions, textual criticism, and disagreements among commentators, requiring some foundation in classical Chinese and intellectual history. If you are new to Legalism, it is advisable to first read selected annotated editions of the "Shangjun Shu" or relevant chapters of textbooks on Chinese political thought, establish a framework, and then enter this book; the results will be more obvious.

Do I need to read the entire "Shangjun Shu" before reading this chapter?

You do not need to read the whole book, but you should first understand the overall propositions and chapter structure of the "Shangjun Shu." The Jin Ling chapter is relatively short and focused, and can be studied on its own; however, its concepts are related to ideas such as agriculture and war, and rewards and punishments, so reading it with other chapters can prevent isolated understanding. It is advisable to read at least the introduction and one or two representative chapters before entering this chapter.

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About the author

Anonymous Author

Anonymous is not a real personal name but a general Chinese designation for authors whose names are unknown, lost, or unsigned. Neither nationality nor dates of birth and death can be verified, and available public information is limited, so the works attributed to this name are the only basis for description. The collection holds 2,078 works under Anonymous, spanning medicine, classics, historical readings, ancient poetry, classical literature, and philosophy. Representative works include The Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon: Lingshu, Mencius, The Book of Documents, Nineteen Old Poems, Complete Song Ci, and The Peacock Flies Southeast. Most of these works took shape through long transmission and editing, emerging either from collective folk creation or from authors whose names were lost over time. In ancient China, the Book of Songs, the Great Learning, and many popular storybooks and plays were signed Anonymous because their authors could not be traced. Anonymous works cross the classics, histories, philosophical writings, medical texts, and poetry; their subjects are broad, and their styles vary from archaic simplicity to clear naturalness, making them important and influential sources for understanding ancient Chinese thought, medicine, and literature.