Study On Wu Qi

Wu Qi is familiar to descendants for the reform movement over which he presided in the early Warring States period. He is a representative figure among numerous contemporary statesmen, aristocrats and intellectuals, whereas he performed unique style of conduct. Thus, by the case study on Wu Qi, either his personality and political activities could be deeply understood, or the broad perspective on both various aspects of Wu Qi age and the group he belongs to will be taken. Under traditional narrative of character and research paradigm, what is difficult to obtain is profound experience about individuals due to their complicated socialization. Therefore, the traditional method of historical study and theory of gender roles, sociology, psychology, and cultural anthropology will be combined in order to acquire a character image in multi-dimension and profound comprehension for historical facts by re-division, rearrangement and reorganizing of historical text.Thanks to the faithful record by historians, the brilliancy and dark of Wu Qi's behavior, thought and personality still could be found. His official career began with killing his wife to appeal for the position of general, and it was condemned all the time. People mostly denounced his lust for reputation, but seldom treated this issue from gender roles point of view. The patterns of gender roles orientation like"man superiority and woman inferiority"(男尊女卑),"husband superiority and wife inferiority"(夫尊妇卑), had formed in the pre-Qin period. Due to the differences of culture and custom, the distribution of gender roles varied from country to country during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods. However, owing to the pattern of gender roles orientation and political interests'disturbance, Wu Qi escaped accusation. Women initiatively accepted and acted their gender roles in the process of continuous discipline on body. Social control over their bodies became convenient, so the death of Wu Qi's wife turns into some sort of necessity in certain circumstance.Wu Qi reform was driven by the frequent wars in the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, and the change of economic structure and influence of other kingdoms'reforms accelerated the course of reform. Wu Qi reform gained distinct effect in a short time. However, on account of the misstep of policy, Wu Qi reform's ultimate purpose had not achieved from the aspect of"long duration". In the larger sense, Wu Qi reform irreversibly impelled the transformation of Warring States period society and ancient China's rapid change towards a centralized bureaucratized country.For seeking the way of managing states, Wu Qi once leant from Confucian scholars, and participated in and presided over reform in the kingdoms of Chu and Wei afterwards. Therefore both Confucian and Legalist thoughts brought him great impacts on deeds and thought. As a member of Shi (士, intellectual), Wu Qi's success was closely linked to his identity. The social impact on Wu Qi was far beyond thought and behavior, which involved the development of personality and mentality as well. His psychological change may explain his behavior and choice better.Wu Qi also made great contributions to the development and inheritance of academic of the pre-Qin period. Zuo Zhuan (《左传》,Zuo's commentary on Spring and Autumn Annals) was written by Zuo Qiuming, and Wu Qi edited the book to make it mature. Wu Qi played a key role in the transmission of Zuo Zhuan. Wu Zi (《吴子》) reflects the deeds and thought of Wu Qi, but it was not written by himself. This book was formed in the late Warring States period, which was compiled based on Wu's deeds and thought by someone posterior to Wu Qi.