Tube

Author: Guan Zhong (Warring States Period)
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 1997-03-01
Features: The Guan Zi consists of eighty-six chapters, with ten lost to history, leaving a total of seventy-six chapters in existence. Later scholars believe it was not the work of a single author from a single period, as it contains texts from the Warring States, Qin, and Han dynasties. It gathers a collection of thoughts and theories from the "Guan Zhong School." Its content is vast and profound, primarily centered on Legalist and Taoist ideas, while also incorporating Confucian, Military, Diplomatic, Agricultural, and Yin-Yang school philosophies. It also touches on topics such as astronomy, ethics, geography, and education. Among the pre-Qin philosophers, The Guan Zi stands out as the most extensive and unparalleled. It can be said that The Guan Zi is one of the most significant heterogeneous works from the pre-Qin period. Due to its important position in the Hundred Schools of Thought, later generations regarded its ideas as secrets.
Limited by space, this book selects seventeen chapters from The Guan Zi, covering two aspects: one is to present Guan Zhong's ideological viewpoints, and the other is to highlight its historical and contemporary significance. For example, Xiao Kuang reflects Guan Zhong's economic theories of "taxing based on land quality" and "dividing the four classes of society." Mu Min embodies Guan Zhong's socio-economic thought that "when granaries are full, people know etiquette; when clothing and food are sufficient, people understand honor and shame." Chapters such as Mu Min, Xing Shi, Quan Xiu, and Li Zheng discuss the governance of the state from different perspectives. Xiao Kuang and others frequently address military organization. Ne Yi proposes the philosophical idea that "the laws of heaven and the changes of the human heart are intertwined." Additionally, Ren Fa and Fa Jin primarily reflect Legalist thought, while Zhou He embodies Yin-Yang school ideas, and so on.
During the translation and annotation process, this book references previous research findings, employing accurate, vivid, easy-to-understand, and elegant language. The purpose is to enable more people, including middle school students, to conveniently explore the wisdom and essence of classical Chinese culture through this annotated edition.