The "Shangjun shu," also known as the "Writings of the Prince of Shang," is a significant text of Chinese tradition that is over 2000 years old. Often referred to as the "Machiavelli" of ancient China, this work provides profound insights into the rationalization of political order. It has had a lasting impact on Chinese state thinking and still offers relevant concepts for political discussion in China today. The ideas regarding statecraft and its enforcement contributed to the establishment of a unified empire and remain significant into modern times. Kai Vogelsang has translated the text into German for the first time in its entirety and provides a readable history of power and violence in ancient China in his introduction. Numerous commentaries help make the ancient Chinese text understandable for modern readers.