Wang Mang was one of the most powerful figures of his time. As ruler of China from 9 to 23 CE, he preached the values ​​of Confucianism to his people. However, Wang Mang was not a complete Confucian himself. In some aspects of his life, notably during his rise to power and his demise, Wang Mang went against the core values ​​of Confucianism, as well as the values ​​and teaching of Li, Yi and Chunzi, but his radical reforms, including banning slavery and redistributing land, indicate that he followed and cared about Ren's values. Wang Mang's rise to power, through murder and possible betrayal, did not follow Yi's Confucian values ​​and fundamental Confucian ethical beliefs. Wang Mang was born in 45 BC into a wealthy family. From a young age, he was a well-known scholar and vigorously practiced Confucianism. As a young man, Wang Mang used his family's influence to become regent to many short-lived emperors. After the death and (probably murder) of the current king, Wang Mang seized power from the Liu family, which had ruled for years. The fundamental goal of Confucianism is to create ethical behaviors. Wang Mang's abrupt overreach and aggression constituted a violation of this ethical standard. In his violent overthrow, Wang Mang ignores the Confucian value of Yi, which calls for good judgment and teaches good and evil. Yi, in particular, “can demand that people give up their personal advantages to do what is right.” Wang Mang chooses to ignore what is right in order to obtain "personal benefits", and thus ignores the law of Yi. Another important aspect of Confucianism concerns the five fundamental relationships. These relationships served as a broader model for society: "If fathers are father and son... middle of paper ...... Rowitz. Flight. 2. Detroit: Charles Scribner's Sons, 2005. 444-449. Student resources in context. Internet. April 27, 2014. Li, Chenyang. “Confucian Perspectives.” Encyclopedia of Science, Technology and Ethics. Ed. Carl Mitcham. Flight. 1. Detroit: Macmillan Reference USA, 2005. 405-410. Student resources in context. Internet. April 27, 2014. Wang Mang Facts. »Wang Mang Facts. Accessed April 29, 2014. http://biography.yourdictionary.com/wang-mang.Dash, Mike. "Emperor Wang Mang: China's first socialist?" » Smithsonian. December 9, 2011. Accessed April 29, 2014. http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/emperor-wang-mang-chinas-first-socialist-2402977/?no-ist.Koller, John M. "Confucianism." In Oriental Philosophies, 263-83. New York: Scribner, 1970. Powell, Jim. “The philosophies and religions of China. » In Eastern Philosophy for Beginners, 91-95. New York: Writers and Readers, 2000.