“Ruthless efficiency, institutional strength, expansionist. Rewards military merit, punishes dissent. Centralized bureaucracy eliminates feudal aristocracy.”
Biography 傳
Lu Buwei was a wealthy merchant who rose to become Chancellor of Qin and regent for the young king who would become Qin Shi Huang. His life exemplifies the Warring States tradition of talent mobility — a merchant could become the most powerful man in China. As chancellor, Lu Buwei sponsored the compilation of the Lüshi Chunqiu (Spring and Autumn Annals of Mr. Lü), an encyclopedic text synthesizing all major philosophical schools. He is also historically (if controversially) believed to have been the biological father of Qin Shi Huang. After the king came of age, Lu Buwei fell from power and was forced to commit suicide.