Statecraft as a living body: responding to crisis and (dis)order in the Lüshi Chunqiu

The Lüshi Chunqiu (LSCQ), composed around 239 BCE under the guidance of LÜ Buwei (d. 235 BCE), serves as a philosophical manual for effective governance and social order. Compiled during the transformative end of the Warring States period (c. 475–221 BCE)—a time marked by war, conflict, and instability—the text reflects the ambitions of an emerging empire, offering crucial insights into the roles and responsibilities of the state, its people, and, in particular, its rulers and officials in ruling (zhi治) a unified society.
In an era when crises (wei 危) were not just potential threats but lived realities, the LSCQ demonstrates a profound awareness of the fragility of social order, emphasizing its essential role in the survival and flourishing of the state and its people. By valuing life (sheng 生) and likening social order to the human body (shen 身 or yirenzhishen 一人之身), the text highlights the dynamic governance required for an expanding state—emphasizing unity, cohesion, interdependence, and cooperation informed by an understanding of human life. Drawing from a rich tapestry of ancient philosophical traditions, the LSCQ navigates the complexities of human life and advocates for a vision of social order oriented toward long-term survival, peace, and prosperity. This chapter examines the relationship between social order and human life as articulated in the LSCQ, highlighting its significance in conceptualizing and addressing crises during the rise of an empire in ancient China.