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There are plentiful far-reaching reform movements in Chinese history, including economic, political and cultural impacts. It seems that a reform movement accompanies every change in the dynasty. There are different purposes for every reform movement for instance, enhancing majesty, relieving social conflicts and boosting economic development.

Shang Yang's Reform

Background

The Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period were the transitional periods which experienced collapse of the feudalism system and the establishment of a centralized system . During this period, the use of iron farming tools and the gradual promotion of cattle farming led to that original state ownership of land gradually replaced by private ownership of land. Also, it caused two opposite classes----landlords and farmers.

As increase of the economic strength of the emerging landlord class, they require the political rights and it has caused changes in social position. Therefore, they have demanded political reforms, the development of feudal economy, and the establishment of rule of landlord class. Therefore Countries have started reform movements, such as the Li Yi reform in Wei State and the Wu Qi Reform in Chu State. In order to strengthen the power of the Qin State, Shang Yang started to reform in many aspects.

Measurement

Shang Yang's image

There are two stages, which have different measurements in the reform.

First stage

1. Strict rule of law, all citizens whether aristocrats or commoners are equal. Even the emperor did not have privilege.
2. Rewarding social rank or releasing from slavery, by farming or success in war. Slaves can get rid of slave status through military exploit.
3. Dividing household into groups of five or ten. Each group response for behaviors of every member and directly controlled by local government which governors were nominated by emperor.

Second stage

1. Abolishing well-field system, admitting private ownership and allowing free trade off. Buying and selling agricultural are permitted.
2. Implementing county class administration system.
3. Moving capital to Xianyang and built palace.
4. Unifying weights and measures. The weight and measures of the country has been standardized.

Influence

The influence of Shang Yang Reform on Qin and Qin Dynasty is very far-reaching. Shang Yang's reform is a successful reform in ancient China, not only for Qin and Qin dynasty but also entire Chinese history, especially in law aspect . He made Qin become a powerful country and laid the foundation for the future reunification of the six countries, and determined the systematic change in legal system.

After the Shang Yang reform, it established the private ownership of land; politically, it has abolished the old system of bloodlines, improving country system. In addition, the construction of a centralized system has begun; militaryly, it has rewarded military power and achieved purpose of strong military which has greatly improved the combat effectiveness of the military and developed into the most powerful country in the later period of the Warring States. It has created favorable conditions for Qin's next strategic development and is beneficial for unifying the country later.

Reform of Xiaowen emperor

Background

The Xianbei is an ancient northern nation in Chinese history. The Tuoba Department is a branch of the Xianbei in the eastern part of the Daxinganling Mountains. The Tuoba Department continued to move south. In the Western Jin Dynasty, Tuoba department was enfeoffed a land, called Dai, which was rewards of helping emperor of Jin to fight against non-Chinese usurpers in 307. But soon, they were destroyed the Former Qin Dynasty.

After the Battle of Feishui, the former Qin ruled the disintegration, Tuoba department reestablish their country and change the name to Northern Wei. They unified the North in 439. At that time, the Northern Wei Dynasty monarchs had attached great importance to the study of Han culture. Emperor Xiaowen was deeply influenced by the Han culture.

Around the middle period of the Northern Wei Dynasty, although the national contradictions have been gradually eased, due to the excessive exploitation and oppression of the ruling class, the class contradictions have become increasingly sharp. The peasant uprising broke out every year. In 471, Tuoba Hong became the Emperor named Xiaowen. Xiaowen emperor was rose up by his grandmother Empress Feng. He learned much knowledge of Han during his childhood. Since then, the peasant uprising has continued to increase, and the brutal suppression of the court has not only failed to calm the people's uprising, but has stimulated more contradictions and struggles. In order to alleviate social contradictions and ethnic contradictions, Emperor Xiaowen successively carried out a series of reforms, known as the reform of Emperor Xiaowen. He aimed to develop Xianbei’s economy, culture, society, politics and power strength.

Measurement

1. Official system: “officials were provided with salaries and the descendants of the tribal chiefs were fixed as lineages and became candidates for appointment as officials.”
2. Moving capital to Luoyang: in 494, Emperor Xiaowen moved their capital from Pingcheng to Luoyang.
3. Changing last names to Han last name.
4. Learning Han language to integrating nationals especially between Han and Xianbei.

Influence

The reformation measures implemented by Emperor Xiaowen are conducive to easing class contradictions and playing a positive role in the recovery and development of the social economy. Because the Xianbei people did not have a high cultural literacy, and did not have independent political reform ideas, resulting in blindly copying the previous Han regime policy, it also inherited this gate system that has seriously affected social development. “The system was extended from Wei Jin to the Northern and Southern Dynasties until the Sui Dynasty established the imperial examination system. One of the reasons for the success of Emperor Xiaowen’s reform was that most of the Hu people were able to speak Chinese and wear Hanfu. They could only speak Hu language and wear Hufu. This reform only accelerated the process of customizing the customs. After reform, the control of emperor Xiaowen had been enhanced and he also contributed in integrating Han and Xianbei people.

The reforms of Wang Anshi

Background

The financial deficit forced the government to increase taxes. In addition, there were a variety of taxes, which imposes a heavy burden on the people. Moreover, people suffered from wars and frequent natural disasters. There are constant complaints. The peasants have resisted for living.

At the same time, the intrusion of foreign enemies brought enormous survival pressure to Northern Song. After the establishing of the Northern Song Dynasty, it was not peaceful which caused many wars around frontier especially in northeastern and northwestern. Due to the political corruption in the Northern Song Dynasty and the weakness of the military, although it cost huge amounts of financial and human resources, it often ended in failure.

After the Song Emperor Shenzong took the throne, it seems that the Great Song Dynasty is flourishing; it actually contained contradictions and problems. Due to the serious land annexation phenomenon, a large number of peasants lost their land. It eventually resulted in a sharp drop in fiscal revenue. There was a rare fiscal deficit since the establishing of the country. Fiscal deficit in 1064 is 15,726,002. Under this circumstance, Wang Anshi tried to launch a reform to relieve it. Wang Anshi attempted to set a Confucian system to solve the fiscal deficit problem.