Zi Chan (d. 522 BCE), whose clan name was Gongsun, given name Qiao, and style name Zichan (also Zimei), was born into an aristocratic family as the grandson of Duke Mu of Zheng. During the Spring and Autumn Period, the son of a prince was called Gongsun, hence he was also known as Gongsun Qiao. He served as a high minister of the State of Zheng during the Spring and Autumn Period and was an outstanding statesman, diplomat, thinker, and reformer.
From a young age, Zi Chan (a renowned statesman of Zheng State) displayed exceptional strategic insight. In 565 BCE, Zi Guo and Zi Er led troops to attack the State of Cai, achieving a great victory and capturing Gongzi Xie, the Minister of War of Cai, causing widespread celebration throughout Zheng State. Only Zi Chan believed this victory would bring disaster to Zheng. Because Cai, as a vassal of Chu, being attacked would inevitably provoke Chu's retaliation, leaving Zheng without peace for four to five years. Later, events unfolded exactly as Zi Chan had predicted.
Two years later, a political rebellion broke out in the State of Zheng. Zisi (the chief minister) and Ziguo (the minister of war) were both killed at the time, and Duke Jian of Zheng was taken hostage and held at the Northern Palace. Upon hearing of his father's murder, Zixi (Zisi's son) panicked, rushing to mourn the body and pursue the culprits, but the rioters had already fled into the Northern Palace. With no other option, Zixi returned home to muster troops, only to find his household in chaos. Meanwhile, Zichan (a capable statesman and son of Ziguo) remained calm and composed, quickly gathering his retainers and subordinates, personally leading seventeen chariots to attack the Northern Palace. With the support of the people, Zichan soon quelled the rebellion.
Thereafter, Zi Kong, who became the chief minister, was killed by the state's people for his arbitrary and autocratic rule. Zi Zhan then became chief minister, and Zi Chan (a distinguished statesman of Zheng State) was appointed as Junior Minister, allowing his political talents to fully unfold. In 551 BCE, the State of Jin, acting as the leader of the alliance, ordered Zheng to pay a tributary visit and questioned why Zheng had followed Chu. Zi Chan responded promptly, listing numerous facts about Zheng's annual tributes and unwavering service to Jin, along with its respectful conduct. He then explained that although Zheng sometimes had to "be disloyal to Jin and side with Chu," this was because Jin had failed to fulfill its duty of protecting smaller states. He sternly concluded that if Jin could not relieve the hardships of smaller states and only pursued its own interests, those smaller states would inevitably become Jin's enemies. Upon hearing Zi Chan's words, the Duke of Jin, knowing he was in the wrong, ceased to blame Zheng.
Zi Chan (a renowned statesman of Zheng State) was well-versed in Zhou Li (ritual propriety), possessed extensive knowledge, and had profound literary cultivation. In diplomatic settings, leveraging his insight into the conditions of various states, he responded with elegance and wit to multiple criticisms during many difficult diplomatic incidents, engaging great powers with propriety and etiquette to defend the interests of the weak Zheng State, earning respect from all the feudal lords. Later, Confucius commented, "The Record says: 'Words are sufficient to express one's will, and refinement is sufficient to complete the words.' If one does not speak, who will know his will? If words lack refinement, they will not travel far."
The outstanding abilities demonstrated by Zi Chan (a renowned statesman of Zheng State) earned him the attention of Zi Pi, a powerful figure in Zheng. At that time, the "Seven Mu" (the seven major clans) of Zheng took turns governing the state, and Zi Pi, as the patriarch of the Han clan, commanded great respect. In 543 BCE, after the assassination of another chief minister, Bo You, Zi Pi was appointed to the position and, recognizing Zi Chan's talents, entrusted him with governance. Zi Chan's administration followed the historical trend and implemented a series of reforms in Zheng. He reorganized the land system, acknowledged the legality of private land, and levied military taxes on landowners; he promulgated penal laws and cast them on a bronze tripod, creating China's earliest codified law. Adopting a governing strategy of "balancing leniency with severity," he advocated for preserving the "village schools" and heeding the opinions of the people.
In employing people, Zi Chan (Prime Minister of Zheng State) was skilled at using each person's strengths. Feng Jianzi (a capable official) could make decisive judgments, Zi Taishu (a refined noble) was elegant and cultured, Gongsun Hui (a skilled diplomat) excelled in foreign affairs and eloquence, and Bi Chen (a thoughtful strategist) was good at planning. Whenever Zheng State had major political activities with other states, Zi Chan would first consult Ziyu (Gongsun Hui) about the affairs of neighboring states and send him to participate in negotiations. Then he would ride in a carriage with Bi Chen to the countryside, allowing him to quietly contemplate what was feasible and what was not. Afterward, he would inform Feng Jianzi of the plans and have him make the final decisions. Once everything was prepared, he would dispatch Zi Taishu to carry out the tasks and receive guests from various states. Because of his adept use of talent, Zi Chan achieved outstanding success in both domestic governance and foreign relations.
Zi Chan (a renowned statesman of Zheng State) emphasized both Li (Propriety) education and virtuous governance, while avoiding impractical grandiosity; he valued legal systems and reforming old institutions, without making new laws appear harsh or severe; he maneuvered skillfully on the diplomatic stage, preserving endangered states and aiding the weak, yet never pursued only profit. His achievements, character, and ideas were greatly admired by Confucius, serving as a model of the Junzi (Exemplary Person) in Confucius's mind. Confucius's teachings on Li and Ren (Benevolence) shared common ground with Zi Chan's thought, and his view that "the Way of Heaven is distant, while the Way of man is near" coincided with Confucius's attitude of "respecting ghosts and spirits while keeping them at a distance." When Zi Chan died, Confucius received the news and said tearfully, "He was a man of Ren (Benevolence) passed down from antiquity." As a contemporary, Confucius gave Zi Chan the highest praise: "Zi Chan is a beneficent ruler to the people and broadly learned in scholarship; Yan Zi (a loyal minister of Qi State) is a loyal minister to the people and respectful and diligent in conduct; therefore I treat both as elder brothers." "The Master said of Zi Chan that he had four aspects of the Junzi's Way: he was respectful in his conduct, reverent in serving his superiors, beneficent in nourishing the people, and righteous in employing them."