Guiguzi · Hezong Lianheng

Author: None
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-04-01
Features: The immediate influence of The Guiguzi was to cultivate figures who played significant roles on the stage of the Warring States period, such as Su Qin, Zhang Yi, and Pang Juan. At a critical juncture in the mid-to-late Warring States period, when "dominance through alliances leads to Qin's empire, while dominance through individual states leads to Chu's rule," the fellow students Su Qin and Zhang Yi, trained under the same master, employed the strategic flexibility and eloquence taught by The Guiguzi to outmaneuver each other, highlight their strengths, and expose the weaknesses of their opponents. Su Qin, who advocated for the vertical alliance (hegemonic alliance) with Zhao at its core, engaged in a fierce debate with Zhang Yi, who promoted the horizontal alliance (alliance of states) with Qin at its core, in a verbal duel over the six states. They tailored their persuasion to different audiences, aligning with their desires, pointing out the benefits and harms, reasoning with logic, and appealing to emotions. By persuading the feudal lords and maneuvering between alliances, they demonstrated the power of life and the value of existence. On the turbulent stage of the Warring States period, they staged a series of gripping historical dramas, becoming influential figures of the time.