In ancient China, it was Guan Zhong, a famous official of the State of Qi in the Spring and Autumn Period, who first explicitly put forward "people-oriented".

Guan Zhong is an outstanding politician and thinker who helped Qi Huangong to conquer the world. Guan Zi, which was compiled by Liu Xiang in the Western Han Dynasty, compiled many thoughts and opinions of Guan Zhong, and recorded Guan Zhong's comments on Qi Huangong's statement of overlord's career.

There is a passage that says: "The husband is the overlord, and people are the foundation. The rule of this country is solid, and the chaos is dangerous. " The reason why the cause of overlord has a good start is also based on the people; This book can only be consolidated if it is straightened out, and it will be in danger if it is messed up.

Although Guan Zhong was the first person in history to put forward "people-oriented" and the way of governing the country, the "people-oriented" put forward by those ancient politicians in history is essentially different from the "people-oriented" put forward today.

this is because, firstly, in ancient times, people-oriented thought was regarded as a means to win the hearts of the people, preserve the country and secure the throne, and it was a technique of "governing the people" and "governing the people"; Second, the people-oriented thought in ancient China attached importance to the people and was close to the people, but at the same time it tended to fear and be ignorant of the people, and even regarded the people as ignorant "mobs" or "cattle and sheep" driven by kings, which was completely contrary to the democratic spirit mentioned today.

Extended information:

Guan Zhong (about 723 BC-645 BC) was born in Yingshang (now Yingshang County, Anhui Province), and her surname was Guan Shi. China was a famous economist, philosopher, politician and strategist in ancient times, a representative figure of Legalism in the Spring and Autumn Period, and a descendant of Zhou Muwang.

In the thirty-third year of Xi Gong (698 BC), Qi began to assist Gong Zijiu. In the first year of Qi Huangong (685 BC), he was recommended by Bao Shuya as the national minister and was honored as "Guanzhong". During his tenure, he made great reforms at home and made Qiang Bing rich. Respecting the king and conquering foreigners, nine princes and conquering the world helped Qi Huangong become the first of the five tyrants in the Spring and Autumn Period.

Qi Huangong died in the forty-first year (645 BC). The late Buddha was called "Guan Zi" and was praised as "the pioneer of Legalism", "the teacher of saints", "the protector of Chinese civilization" and "the first phase of China". The book Guanzi, written by Guan Zhong, is actually a title of later generations.

Baidu encyclopedia-Guanzhong