POLITICIAN

Shang Yang

390 BC - 338 BC

Photo of Shang Yang

Icon of person Shang Yang

Shang Yang (Chinese: 商鞅; c. 390 – 338 BC), also known as Wei Yang (Chinese: 衞鞅) and originally surnamed Gongsun, was a statesman, chancellor and reformer of the State of Qin. Born in the Zhou vassal state of Wey during the Warring States period, he took up office in the Qin state, where his policies laid the administrative, political and economic foundations that would eventually enable Qin to conquer the other six rival states, unifying China into a centralized rule for the first time in history under the Qin dynasty. Read more on Wikipedia

Since 2007, the English Wikipedia page of Shang Yang has received more than 602,301 page views. His biography is available in 44 different languages on Wikipedia (up from 41 in 2019). Shang Yang is the 995th most popular politician (up from 1,325th in 2019), the 63rd most popular biography from China (up from 87th in 2019) and the 36th most popular Chinese Politician.

Shang Yang was a Chinese statesman and philosopher who advocated for a rigid, authoritarian system of government. He is most famous for his work in developing the "Legalism" philosophy.

Memorability Metrics

  • 600k

    Page Views (PV)

  • 69.81

    Historical Popularity Index (HPI)

  • 44

    Languages Editions (L)

  • 6.04

    Effective Languages (L*)

  • 2.96

    Coefficient of Variation (CV)

Among POLITICIANS

Among politicians, Shang Yang ranks 995 out of 19,576. Before him are Carol II of Romania, Béla Kun, Grigory Potemkin, Wilhelm Frick, Stephen III of Moldavia, and Abd el-Krim. After him are Louis II of Italy, Pepin of Herstal, Queen Seondeok of Silla, Leonid Kravchuk, Constans II, and Andronikos II Palaiologos.

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Contemporaries

Among people born in 390 BC, Shang Yang ranks 2. Before him is Lysippos. After him are Vyasa, Lycurgus of Athens, Hypereides, Hakor, Peucestas, Hieronymus of Cardia, Alexander V of Macedon, Tiberius Coruncanius, Manius Curius Dentatus, and Dinostratus. Among people deceased in 338 BC, Shang Yang ranks 2. Before him is Isocrates. After him are Artaxerxes III, Duke Xiao of Qin, and Archidamus III.

Others Born in 390 BC

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Others Deceased in 338 BC

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In China

Among people born in China, Shang Yang ranks 63 out of 1,610. Before him are Li Si (-280), Xiang Yu (-232), Gao Xingjian (1940), Han Fei (-280), Xuande Emperor (1399), and Guangxu Emperor (1871). After him are Zhang Fei (167), Jiang Qing (1914), Liu Shaoqi (1898), Chongzhen Emperor (1611), Emperor Yao (-2324), and Xun Kuang (-313).

Others born in China

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Among POLITICIANS In China

Among politicians born in China, Shang Yang ranks 36. Before him are Emperor Gaozu of Tang (566), Sima Yi (179), Li Si (-280), Xiang Yu (-232), Xuande Emperor (1399), and Guangxu Emperor (1871). After him are Jiang Qing (1914), Liu Shaoqi (1898), Chongzhen Emperor (1611), Emperor Yao (-2324), 5th Dalai Lama (1617), and Emperor Taizu of Song (927).

Chinese born Politicians

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