Paper Summary:

This paper examines the various reforms of the pre-eminent eleventh-century statesman from China: Wang An-Shi. The paper is written in the form of an encyclopedia entry and discusses his changes to the bureaucracy - including his demand for greater morality and improved professional conduct - as well as how he sought to help small business owners (merchants) and farmers.

From the Paper:

"Wang An-Shi set about reforming China in a number of ways. Firstly, the bureaucracy was taken to task for its lack of loyalty, its disregard for financial probity and integrity, and for its curious disinterest in personal honor. Wang also took the time - so far as he was able - to strengthen the army, believing that both improved moral conduct among the mandarins and a strong state were essential to long-term success and stability. All in all, while mostly pragmatic and utilitarian, Wang appeared to privilege moral improvement as the ultimate goal of government reform - and as the ultimate guarantor of strong government."

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