Guan Zhong

Also known as Guan Yiwu · Guan Jingzhong · Zi Zhong

Guan Zhong, personal name Yiwu, posthumously titled Jing, came from Yingshang. The Shiji relates that as a young man he traded with Bao Shuya and often took the larger share, which Bao forgave, knowing him poor. In the succession struggle in Qi he served Prince Jiu against Prince Xiaobai; when Xiaobai became Duke Huan and Jiu was killed, Guan Zhong was jailed until Bao recommended him to run the state. He promoted trade and stored wealth to make Qi rich and strong, enabling Duke Huan to gather the lords nine times and set the realm in order, fighting the Shanrong in the north and rebuking Chu for withholding tribute. After his death the duke trusted Yi Ya and Shu Diao, and at Huan's own death his sons fought over the succession. The Guanzi bears his name but was largely written later. In the Analects Confucius says that without Guan Zhong they would all be wearing their hair loose and robes fastened on the left like barbarians.