秦孝公 / Duke Xiao of Qin
秦孝公 / Duke Xiao of Qin appears in 《资治通鉴·周纪》13丨 公孙鞅苛刻变法惹杀身（1） as the 秦国 ruler who gives 公孙鞅 / 商鞅 decisive trust before the first major reform push. The episode presents his role as political authorization: without the ruler’s backing, Shang Yang’s attack on noble privilege, household structure, and inherited status could not become state law.
The source also shows Qin Xiao Gong choosing between incompatible reform theories. 甘龙 warns that governing through old custom avoids popular alarm, while Shang Yang argues for reform without popular deliberation in pursuit of state strength. Qin Xiao Gong decides for Shang Yang and appoints him 左庶长, making the appointment a threshold in 商鞅变法.
《资治通鉴·周纪》17丨韩昭侯和申不害 keeps Qin Xiao Gong as the ruling frame for Shang Yang’s second reform round. The episode focuses on 公孙鞅 / 商鞅, but the move to 咸阳, 分居令, and administrative standardization all continue the state project Qin Xiao Gong enabled.
《资治通鉴·周纪》18丨中国历史上第一例人头税 gives Qin Xiao Gong a formal-status turn. The source reads “王致伯于秦” as Zhou recognition that makes him senior among the lords, while noting that he sends 公子少官 with troops to 逢泽 rather than attending the ceremony himself.
Connections
- 秦国 - polity he rules in the episode.
- 公孙鞅 / 商鞅 - reformer he empowers.
- 甘龙 - conservative opponent whose argument Qin Xiao Gong rejects.
- 太子嬴驷 - crown prince whose later violation of the new law tests reform authority.
- Shang Yang Reforms / 商鞅变法, Reform Without Popular Deliberation / 不与民虑始, Military Merit Rank System / 军功爵制, and 徙木立信 / Moving the Log to Build Trust - institutional branch enabled by his support.
- 咸阳, Household Separation Law / 分居令, and Qin Administrative Standardization / 秦国行政标准化 - Zhouji 17 second-reform branch under his ruling frame.
- 人头税, Zhou Hegemon Recognition / 周室霸权承认, 公子少官, and 逢泽 - Zhouji 18 fiscal and hegemon-recognition branch.