Li Zongwu - Complete Guide to Thick Skin and Black Mouth Eloquence

Author: Li Zongwu Original/Tianye
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-03-01
Features: Li Zongwu's The Thick Black School is sometimes referred to by some as the "odd book under heaven." Since its publication, it has gone through nearly a century of vicissitudes, and it can be said that opinions are divided, with both praise and criticism. Although it has its flaws, it has survived to this day, indicating that it holds certain value and influence. This book was written during the Warlord Era, when the country was weak, warlords fought for power, the political situation was turbulent, and the people lived in hardship. Many righteous and talented individuals were exploring paths to enrich the nation and strengthen the people. Mr. Li Zongwu wrote The Thick Black School out of extreme intellectual frustration and a sense of being unable to serve the country. Through analyzing the various manipulative tactics used by the feudal ruling class internally to fight for power and profit, it satirized the corruption of the Nationalist government at the time and the outrageous behavior of its officials. Using the technique of saying the opposite in plain language, it exposed the dark of the official world, striking a wake-up call. The most important aspect of The Thick Black School is that it laid bare all the outdated and trivial elements of the cultural psychology behind China's millennia of imperial rule. Some scholars have evaluated the thick black theory as an "archaeological report on the corrupt culture and decadent human nature of the Han ethnic group." This book, by the translator, cites a vast amount of classic materials from ancient and modern times, comprehensively introducing and elaborating on Li Zongwu's The Thick Black School, with a focus on the ways of living and dealing under Chinese cultural psychology. It provides a detailed analysis of various interpersonal skills and ways of handling situations, offering some reference value for people in today's highly competitive social environment to adapt to complex and ever-changing interpersonal relationships and adjust their mindset. However, the book also discusses some content that extensively talks about "small people."