The history of Warring States is quite complicated for students when they learn Chinese in China. Before they came to study Mandarin in China, some of them have already heard about the famous reformation held by Wu Qi in Chu State. Recently, they learnt about this history story.
In the period of King Dao of Chu State, Wu Qi in Wei State went to Chu State and was appointed by the King Dao of Chu to reform the politics, economy and military of Chu State. Some students who learn Chinese in China read about the history and quite interested in it so that they looked up some historical materials and consulted their Chinese culture teacher.
From the historical records, the students who study Chinese in China learnt that Wu Qi was born in Zuoshi, Wei State (the present Cao County, Shandong Province). He was the outstanding strategist in ancient China and wrote the book named Wu Qi’s The Art of War. He used to be the general of Wei State when Wen Hou was the king of Wei. He also made great contributions in battles. After the death of Wen Hou, he was crowded out of the court by the official of Wu Hou named Wang Cuo. He was forced to leave Wei and throw himself into the lap of Chu State.
The Chinese culture teacher told the students who learn Mandarin in China that Chu was the state which has the largest territory among the seven states in Warring States period, but whose state power was weak. After the enthronement of King Dao, he decided to wipe out the old forces, reform the politics of Chu State and develop the state vigorously. Hence, he appointed Wu Qi to be the highest official and implement reformation. Before the students came to learn Chinese in China, they have learnt some details from the Chinese historical books.
Firstly, to limit and suppress the aristocracy and concentrate all the power to the king: as long as the hereditary aristocracy which has been the third hereditary generation, the title and salary should be cancelled and the offspring can’t inherit any more.
Secondly, to re-arrange the political institutions: talentless, useless and unnecessary officials should be reduced.
Thirdly, to save money, rearrange the finance and reward the people who have military exploit: the saved money by reducing the salary of old aristocracies should be used to cultivate soldiers. The book found about the history found by the students who study Mandarin in China says, “厉甲兵以时争于天下”. The Chinese culture teacher explained the students that the words mean that build up a powerful military force to be commanded by the king so that Chu can compete with other states.
Fourthly, to establish the capital of Chu State and strengthen the defense of the state capital city: to heighten the walls of the capital city from 3.5 meters to 7 meters in order to strengthen the defense capability of capital city.
After learning all the main strategies of Wu Qi’s reformation, students looked up some other historical materials about the situation of Chu State when they learn Chinese in China. They found that the reformation really had effects.
Some of the students who study Chinese in China concluded the effects. It stroke the old aristocracies of Chu State, enhanced the central authority, developed the power of feudal landlords so that the state power of Chu State was once prosperous. The historical book for students to learn Chinese in China describes the situation of Chu State like this, “南平百越，北并陈蔡” and “却三晋， 西伐秦”, which caused the panic of other states.
However, the reformation had just been implemented for one year, the King Dao died. The old aristocracies killed Wu Qi in the former house of King Dao. Because some of the arrows which used to kill Wu Qi shoot the body of King Dao, King Su of Chu punished the old aristocracies in the name of harming for the body of the earlier king.
Many aristocracies were killed by King Su so that the power of feudal leaders was greatly reduced.