ExclusiveYi Yin | Governing a great nation is like cooking a small dish.

As we discussed in the previous episode, Shang Tang overthrew the Xia dynasty, ruled by a luxurious tyrant, and established the Shang dynasty, the first empire that was documented directly by characters of the Oracle Bone scripts in the history of China. Shang Tang was the first person that rebelled against the king and replaced the huge empire by force in Chinese history. He was also one of the most virtuous monarchs in history, largely because of the assistance of Yi Ying, a remarkable minister with excellent diplomatic strategies and military skills. Today I want to share the story of Yi Ying, the first prime minister of the Shang dynasty, who served for about 50 years and assisted a total of 5 emperors of the Shang dynasty. He was also the first prime minister from a poor background. The earliest story of Yi Ying can be found in Lu Shi Chun Qiu, also called Lü's Spring and Autumn, which came into being in 239 BC. It is said that his mother lived in the village by the Yishui River, making a living by picking mulberry leaves and raising silkworms. Before giving birth to Yi Ying, she had a dream, and a spirit told her, when you see water coming out of stone mortar, just run eastward, don't look back. The next day, she really saw water coming out of stone mortar, so she ran eastward about 20 miles. Then she couldn't help looking back to see what really happened. As she saw her village had been engulfed by floods, she turned into a hollow mulberry. Luckily, another mulberry leaf picker from You Shen, a small feudal state, saw a baby in a hollow mulberry and consecrated it to the lord of You Shen. The lord then ordered his cook servant to raise the boy. This legend tells the origin of Yi Ying. As he was born by the Yishui River, he was named Yi, while Ying was an official title given by Shangtang later. He was also known as Aheng. Yi Ying was intelligent and diligent. While learning cooking from his father, he learned many other things, including the way of ruling during Emperor Yao and Emperor Shun. He mastered the cooking techniques and deeply understood the way of governing a country. You may be familiar about the three visits to the cottage by Liu Bei in order to invite Zhuge Liang to be his counselor. Emperor Shangtang was also a beloved humane ruler and had been trying his best to search for talents as well. Thus, when Shangtang heard that Yi Ying was a wise man, he tried several times to recruit him. Each time he brought jade, drapery, horse and many other things as gifts for the lord of You Shen, hoping that he would allow Yi Ying to live, but the lord rejected. At last, Shangtang married the princess of You Shen and demanded Yi Ying as part of dowry. Of course, there exist different accounts of how Shangtang recruited Yi Ying. When Yi Ying came to the court of the Shang dynasty, he impressed Shangtang with his inspiring idea of comparing cooking to the management of a country. He said that governing a country was the same as cooking a dish. It won't be good if you put too much salt or too little salt. The seasoning you add should be modest. Ruling a dynasty, you cannot be too fast nor too slow. Only by grasping the sequence of order for everything can you manage all things in order. In this way, you will be a good king, ruling well and warmly welcomed by your people. Many years later, as we know, Lao Tzu also said something like, governing a country is like cooking a small dish. Shangtang nominated Yi Ying as his prime minister and respected him as an honored master. Yi Ying was the first teacher in China who had been recorded in oracle bone inscriptions. Yi Ying was also the inventor of the decoction of traditional Chinese medicine, which was to add a variety of Chinese herbs to boiling water. The decoction was very flexible and could take many kinds of Chinese herbs. He emphasized the allocation of herbs and the sequence of boiling. Which herb was the first one to be added to water? Should the fire be big or small? How much time is needed to boil the medicine? It was a great contribution to the traditional Chinese medicine by combining cooking and medical techniques. In Han Shu Yi Wen Zhi, there is Tang Ye Jing Fa, which is believed to be written by Yi Ying. After Tang died, his heir Tai Ding had already died. So his young brother Wai Bing was crowned. Emperor Wai Bing died three years later. His younger brother Zhong Ren received the throne. Four years later, Emperor Zhong Ren died. And Yi Ying then enthroned Tai Jia, the eldest son of Tai Ding and Tang's eldest grandson. Emperor Tai Jia was the fourth emperor of the Shang dynasty. After Emperor Tai Jia had reigned for three years, he became more and more obsessed with power and enjoying a luxurious life. What's more, he started to ignore Yi Ying's honest suggestions. Therefore, Yi Ying, as the respectable teacher of previous emperors and the current regent, banished him to guard the mausoleum of King Tang of Shang. For three years, Yi Ying acted as regent, reigned the empire well as a real monarch. At the same time, he kept sending intelligent scholars to tell Emperor Tai Jia stories of Emperor Tang about how those brave ancestors conquered countless obstacles and built this prosperous empire. Emperor Tai Jia was moved and came to regret his transgressions and lay the blame upon himself. He started to help civilians nearby and decided to inherit his ancestor's kingdom in the right way. Hearing his decent behaviors, Yi Ying welcomed Emperor Tai Jia back and returned him the power. And Yi Ying stayed as the minister. Afterwards, Tai Jia became a brilliant monarch that brought his people better lives and peace. Yi Ying saw this to be praiseworthy and accordingly he composed the Lessons of Tai Jia, celebrating Tai Jia and referring to him as a great ancestor. When Emperor Tai Jia died, his son Wa Ding took the throne. It was during the reign of Emperor Wa Ding that Yi Ying died at the age of 100 years old and was buried beside the tomb of the Emperor Tang to honor his great contribution to the Shang dynasty. The Shang dynasty is thought to have lasted from 1600 BC to 1100 BC. The cycle of the founding of a dynasty by a great emperor and ending a dynasty with the ousting of an evil emperor continued with the Shang dynasty. The final tyrannical emperor of the Shang is commonly called Emperor Zhou, who killed his own son, tortured and murdered his ministers, and was overly influenced by his concubine Da Ji, who was possessed by an evil nine-tailed fox spirit. But Emperor Zhou is a controversial figure in history with mixed reviews. We're looking to that next time. Sarah's History of China. See you soon!