道不拾遗 — “Road not picking up lost items”

Shang Yang, originally named Wei Yang, was from the State of Wei and a statesman during the Warring States period. He served as the prime minister of Qin during Duke Xiao's reign and was granted fifteen fiefs in the Shang region for his outstanding achievements, hence known as Shang Yang.

He formulated a series of new laws, abolishing the old laws that protected aristocratic privileges. This is known in history as Shang Yang's Reforms. He firmly advocated for equality before the law for everyone, stating that anyone who contributed to the state should be rewarded. He encouraged farming and weaving, exempting those with high production from corvée labor. He believed that the hereditary system of the aristocracy should be abolished, and different ranks of nobility should be granted based on military merit. Law enforcement should be strict, impartial, and based purely on the law.

Shang Yang's reforms faced opposition from the aristocratic class, but with the support of Duke Xiao of Qin, the reforms were quickly implemented. A year later, due to Shang Yang's active promotion of the reforms, the productivity of the common people improved, army discipline became strict, and folk customs grew simpler and more honest. People did not take things casually, doors were not locked at night, and lost articles were not picked up from the street. The State of Qin grew stronger day by day, and other feudal lords held Qin in awe.