The Concept of"Sage King"and the Historical-Cultural Construction of Qin's Unification
The unification of the six states by Qin not only involved military conquest but also ideological subjugation.Following the reforms of Shang Yang,the military actions were accompanied by Qin's cultural criticism of Zhou,and this process was known as the transition process from the Zhou politics to the Qin politics.Shang Yang's reforms established a national policy of"striving for strength",aiming to shape Qin's culture through military conquest.During the reign of King Zhuangxiang of Qin,unification was the primary challenge faced by Qin.In order to resolve the hostility of the eastern six states caused by the policy of"striving for strength",the Qin court needed to reconsider its cultural approach.Political figures from two different eras seized upon the concept of"Sage King"and reinterpreted it.The Shangjunshu portrayed the ruler of Qin as a"Sage King"who emphasized strict laws over virtue;and subsequently,Lüshi Chunqiu depicted him as a"Sage King"capable of both governing and warfare.Shang Yang's version of"Sage King"was a denial of the sage figure in the Zhou dynasty,while Lü Buwei's interpretation of"Sage King"was a complement to Shang Yang's.Through the continuous interpretation of"Sage King",Qin established a political culture centered around the concept of"Sage King",which provided the historical positioning and value interpretation for its unification and constructed a cultural model for imperial conquest.
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