Bao Shuya (; d.644 BC) was a Chinese businessman and politician of the

State of Qi Qi, or Ch'i in Wade–Giles romanization, was a state of the Zhou dynasty-era in ancient China, variously reckoned as a march, duchy, and independent kingdom. Its capital was Linzi, located in present-day Shandong. Qi was founded shortly ...

under

Duke Huan of Qi Duke Huan of Qi (; died 643 BC), personal name Xiǎobái (小白), was the ruler of the State of Qi from 685 to 643 BC. Living during the chaotic Spring and Autumn period, as the Zhou dynasty's former vassal states fought each other for supremacy ...

during the

Spring and Autumn period The Spring and Autumn period was a period in Chinese history from approximately 770 to 476 BC (or according to some authorities until 403 BC) which corresponds roughly to the first half of the Eastern Zhou period. The period's name derives fr ...

in China. He was a contemporary and friend of

Guan Zhong Guan Zhong (; c. 720–645 BC) was a Chinese philosopher and politician. He served as chancellor and was a reformer of the State of Qi during the Spring and Autumn period of Chinese history. His given name was Yiwu (). ''Zhong'' was his court ...

. Though an able administrator in his own right, Bao is best known for his friendship with Guan, and for persuading

to put aside personal enmities and elevate Guan Zhong to the post of

Chancellor Chancellor ( la, cancellarius) is a title of various official positions in the governments of many nations. The original chancellors were the of Roman courts of justice—ushers, who sat at the or lattice work screens of a basilica or law cou ...

. As an official he was renowned as a judge of character and talent, with Guan Zhong himself commenting that "My parents gave birth to me, but it is Bao who knows me best."

Life

Bao Shuya was a native of Yingshang, in modern-day

Anhui Province Anhui , (; formerly romanized as Anhwei) is a landlocked province of the People's Republic of China, part of the East China region. Its provincial capital and largest city is Hefei. The province is located across the basins of the Yangtze River ...

, as was Guan Zhong. Bao Shuya's family was relatively wealthy, compared to Guan Zhong; nonetheless the two became fast friends from youth, and Bao admired his friend's talent. Before entering politics the two often took part in business ventures together.''Shi Ji, Chapter 62 "Biography of Guan and Yan"''

The Princes' Rivalry

The two friends later entered politics as the tutors to two princes of Qi; Guan Zhong tutored Prince Jiu, while Bao Shuya tutored Prince Xiaobai (who would later become Duke Huan of Qi). The reigning duke of Qi at the time,

Duke Xiang of Qi Duke Xiang of Qi (; died 686 BC) was from 697 to 686 BC the fourteenth recorded ruler of the State of Qi, a major power during the Spring and Autumn period of ancient China. His personal name was Lü Zhu'er (呂諸兒), ancestral name Jiang ( � ...

, was a dissolute ruler; foreseeing chaos and fearing for the prince's safety, Bao fled with Xiaobai to the neighbouring state of Ju. (Guan Zhong, in turn, fled with prince Jiu to the

State of Lu Lu (, c. 1042–249 BC) was a vassal state during the Zhou dynasty of ancient China located around modern Shandong province. Founded in the 11th century BC, its rulers were from a cadet branch of the House of Ji (姬) that ruled the Zhou dyn ...

). Eventually Duke Xiang of Qi was killed by one of his ministers, who declared himself duke but was in turn murdered, leaving a power vacuum in Qi; this situation turned the princes, and by extension their tutors, into rivals for the throne. Bao Shuya successfully escorted Prince Xiaobai back to Qi before Prince Jiu, and the newly installed duke eventually pressured Lu into killing Prince Jiu and sending Guan Zhong back to Qi.''Zuo Zhuan, 10th year of Duke Zhaung of Lu''

Bao Shuya's Recommendation

With Guan Zhong's repatriation the two friends were reunited, but the duke bore a grudge against Guan. During the journey back to Qi, Guan had attempted to assassinate the prince, loosing an arrow which hit his belt buckle; because of this the duke wanted to execute Guan. At the same time he intended to elevate Bao, his tutor and guardian, to the post of Chancellor. Bao, however, defended his friend staunchly, persuading his master first to spare Guan's life and then to elevate Guan over Bao as the Chancellor. At the same time he convinced Guan to shift his loyalty to the new duke and serve him whole-heartedly.

Guan Zhong's Dissuasion

In 645 BC, as Guan Zhong had fallen seriously ill, Duke Huan consulted him to find a successor to the Chancellorship. When Duke Huan recommended Bao Shuya, Guan Zhong spoke against it, on the grounds that Bao Shuya was too honest, upright and unyielding. Guan Zhong stated that Bao Shuya held himself to very exacting standards, but also expected others to do the same; this meant it would be difficult for him to work with the rest of the court. Bao Shuya outlived his friend by a year.

Impact

Chinese culture Chinese culture () is one of the world's oldest cultures, originating thousands of years ago. The culture prevails across a large geographical region in East Asia and is extremely diverse and varying, with customs and traditions varying grea ...

Bao Shuya is known mainly for his loyalty to his friend, as well as his open-mindedness and tolerance and his judgement of ability; Guan Zhong's political career and the subsequent power of the state of Qi arguably began from Bao's belief in his friend's talent, which he stood by firmly. The

Shiji ''Records of the Grand Historian'', also known by its Chinese name ''Shiji'', is a monumental history of China that is the first of China's 24 dynastic histories. The ''Records'' was written in the early 1st century by the ancient Chinese hist ...

records a quote from Guan regarding his lifelong friend and supporter:

When Bao and I did business together I would take more profits for myself; he did not deem me greedy, but understood my poverty; when I came up with business ideas that incurred losses he did not deem me foolish, but put it down to business fluctuations. When I asked for audiences with lords thrice and was thrice rejected he did not deem me useless, but put it down to lack of opportunity; when I fled from battle thrice he did not deem me cowardly, but understood I had an ailing mother at home. When Prince Jiu was killed I was jailed and disgraced, and endured it; he did not deem me shameless, but knew I had greater ambitions. My parents gave birth to me, but it is Bao who knows me best!

Subsequently, Sima Qian himself commented:

Talented people like Guan Zhong are not rare in the world. Rare are the people like Bao Shuya who can recognise talent.

Popular culture

Bao Shuya is one of the 32 historical figures who appear as special characters in the video game ''

Romance of the Three Kingdoms XI ''Romance of the Three Kingdoms XI'', also known as ''Sangokushi 11'' (三國志11), is the 11th installment in the ''Romance of the Three Kingdoms'' (''Sangokushi'') grand strategy game series by Koei. The game was released for the PC on March ...

'' by

Koei Koei Co., Ltd. was a Japanese video game publisher, developer, and distributor founded in 1978. The company is known for its ''Dynasty Warriors'' games based on the novel ''Romance of the Three Kingdoms'', as well as simulation games based on p ...

References

External links

Translation of Guan Zhong's biography
from the ''

'', detailing his friendship with Bao Shuya {{DEFAULTSORT:Bao, Shuya 644 BC deaths Year of birth unknown Chinese chancellors Chinese merchants Zhou dynasty politicians