A Wealthy State and a Strong Army

The title of Wealth and Power derives from the Chinese phrase fuguo qiangbing (富国强兵), “a wealthy state and a strong army.” This saying, which originates in the ancient Chinese philosophical school of Legalism, reemerged in modern China as a mantra for reformers. Fuguo qiangbing, often shortened to fuqiang (富强, “wealth and power”), reverberates through the words of China’s modern leaders, who, disillusioned with China’s progress under a rigid Confucian system, began looking to new models.

1
2
3