Did you know?
In 81 BCE, China's court held a great debate over salt
Emperor Wu of Han had made salt and iron state monopolies. After his death, Confucian scholars and government ministers argued at court over whether to abolish them. The record of the debate, the Discourses on Salt and Iron, compiled by Huan Kuan, is still read as one of the earliest arguments over the state's role in the economy.
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For school projects and reports. Teachers often prefer the original sources too: see the list below.
The Salt Almanac. (2026, November 8). In 81 bce, china's court held a great debate over salt. https://saltalmanac.com/did-you-know/discourses-salt-iron
“In 81 BCE, China's court held a great debate over salt.” The Salt Almanac, 8 Nov. 2026, saltalmanac.com/did-you-know/discourses-salt-iron. Accessed [today's date].
“In 81 BCE, China's court held a great debate over salt.” The Salt Almanac. Last modified November 8, 2026. https://saltalmanac.com/did-you-know/discourses-salt-iron.
Original sources
- Wikipedia. Discourses on Salt and Iron. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Discourses_on_Salt_and_Iron