Guiguzi

Guiguzi

Guiguzi, also known as maneuver strategy. It is an important work of Wang Xu, a master of stratagem in the Warring States period.

The book focuses on tactics and techniques of speech and debate. There are fourteen chapters in Gui Gu Zi, among which the thirteenth and fourteenth chapters (Zhuanwan and bianran) are lost. (twenty one and seventeen)

There are many examples in the book, such as Confucian Zi Gong and Zongheng Su Qin Zhang Yi.

Creative background

During the spring and Autumn period and the Warring States period, the Zhou Dynasty declined and had no actual control ability. Due to the different social and economic conditions, the wars among the Central Plains countries became increasingly fierce. According to the statistical materials compiled by Xu zhuoyun, in the 259 years from 722 BC to 464 BC, there was no war in only 38 years. The competition among different countries has also indirectly driven the development of economy and culture, so a new social class has emerged, that is, intellectuals. They come from all aspects of society. Although their status is low, many of them are knowledgeable and talented people. Some of them are scholars who are familiar with astronomy, calendar, geography and other knowledge, and some of them are outstanding political and military talents. Its representatives, such as Confucius, Mencius, Mozi, Zhuangzi, Xunzi, Han Feizi, Shang Yang, Shen Buhai, Xu Xing, Chen Xiang, Su Qin, Zhang Yi, are all famous thinkers, politicians, militarists or scientists.

Because of their different origins and positions, they put forward different political opinions and demands in solving or answering practical problems. They wrote books and argued endlessly, and a hundred schools of thought contend, forming many schools of thought, such as Confucianism, Taoism, Mohism, Legalism, Yinyang school, famous school, political strategist, miscellaneous school, peasant school, novelist and so on. Gui Gu Zi was a political strategist at that time, and also a teacher of Zhang Yi and Su Qin, who were active in the diplomatic arena. He was commonly known as "Mr. Gui Gu". Both biographies of Su Qin and biographies of Zhang Yi in historical records said that they "learned from Mr. Guigu" and "all learned from Mr. Guigu". Guiguzi lived in seclusion in Guigu and got its name from the land. Inspired by the frequent diplomatic activities in the Warring States period and the enthusiastic "contention of a hundred schools of thought", he once traveled eastward to Qi, Wei and other countries, where he taught apprentices. And he left his precious speech in Qi. According to the records of the Warring States period Zongheng Jiashu unearthed from Mawangdui Han tomb in Changsha in 1973, Su Qin was in the same era with Yanzhao king, while Zhang Yi was in the same era with Huiwen king. Su Qin's activities were 20 or 30 years later than Zhang Yi's. They studied lobbying techniques at Mr. Guigu's office one after another. Later, they became famous diplomatic activists and made great achievements in the annexation war. All these created conditions for the completion of Guiguzi.

Philosophical thought

The reason why the thought and theory of Guiguzi is unique in the Warring States period is not only because of his unique vertical and horizontal theory, but also because he promoted his thought and theory to the height of philosophy based on the theory of "Tao".

In the literature of the pre Qin period, the concepts of "heaven" and "humanity" were often mentioned. The "Tao" was regarded as the origin of the universe and Yin and Yang as the cause of all things. "Tao is the mystery of all things" (Chapter 62). The "mystery" here has the meaning of shade and concealment, that is, Tao is the hiding place of all things and the shelter for their growth. "Tao gives birth to one, two, three and all things. All things have negative Yin and hold Yang, and Chong Qi is harmony. " (Chapter 42) Tao is the origin of all things in the universe. It produces the primitive mixed Qi, and then produces the Yin and Yang Qi. The Yin and Yang Qi produce the neutralization Qi. The Yin and Yang Qi and the neutralization Qi produced by their interaction produce all things. All things have Yin and Yang, which impact each other and penetrate into harmony. Later Zhuangzi also inherited this idea: "Fu Zhao was born in the dark, ethics in the invisible, spirit in the Tao, form in the essence, and all things in the form of each other The sky has to be high, the earth has to be wide, the sun and the moon have to travel, and everything has to be prosperous. (zhibeiyou) 13] if there is no "Tao" in heaven, it is not high; if there is no "Tao" in earth, it is not wide; if there is no "Tao" in sun and moon, it is not good; if there is no "Tao" in all things, it is not prosperous; everything in the world is determined by "Tao".

From the perspective of ontology, we can say that it is the origin of the universe. Ji, Gangji, "yiqiji" is the Gangji of Tao, which is the general principle of all things produced by Tao. Then he said, "the creation of things and the birth of heaven are all inclusive and invisible. Qi is formed before heaven and earth. It's called the gods that don't see its shape or know its name. Therefore, the source of the gods is to cultivate the five Qi by virtue. The mind can get one, but it has its own skills. " The first is the beginning of transforming everything. He thinks that "Tao generates one" and attaches great importance to the role of "one", which is consistent with Lao Zhuang's "Tao". From this, we can get the model of universe formation in Guiguzi, that is, Tao generates one, one transforms Qi, Qi generates heaven and earth, and then there are all things.

Tao Hongjing's note says: "the Tao is made of yin and Yang, and all things are created by it, and heaven and earth are created by it. It is tolerant and generous, and its form is not seen. As for the Qi of cultivation, it is made of heaven and earth first, and can't be questioned by appearance or name. It's made of wonderful things, so it's called the spirit." therefore, the Tao in Guiguzi is invisible and nameless, It can't be perceived. In the chapter of Yinfu Jing, it is said that "Shendao is mixed with purity, and the theory of change is infinite." it is said that Shenmiao is mixed with purity and unpredictable. In the chapter of reaction, there is also a related description that "the ancient greatness is born with invisibility".

In Guiguzi, another characteristic of Tao is that it is careful and delicate, "that is, it is necessary to maneuver, which is important to Zhou; that is, it is necessary to close, which is important to MI.". The value of meticulousness is micro, and it pursues Tao "(maneuver). The key to maneuver lies in detail, and the key to harmony lies in secrecy. Detailed and secret, in harmony with Tao. "Therefore, it is necessary to plan carefully" (Mo Pian). To introduce the category of "Tao" into the strategy of lobbying, we must be careful and secret. Pay attention to the details, from the micro point of view, pay attention to the smallest changes of things, so as not to lead to disaster. The above introduction of "Gui Gu Zi? Di Xi" mentions that "Xi" has a gap. The whole chapter of "Di Xi" is about the prevention of small things, "the danger of things is also known by the sages, only to protect its use.". Because of the said things, tactful, to understand the subtle. At the end of autumn, it is the root of Taishan.

So the meaning here is that the sage uses the natural inaction to deal with the income, and the observation of words is consistent with the specific things. Paying attention to observation is to understand things; reducing distractions is to keep on acting. After reducing distractions and paying attention to observation, if things still can't work, the sage will not strengthen his defense. The emphasis on "Inaction" is sometimes reflected in Guiguzi, which holds that strategy is "inaction and wisdom is valued" ("chapter of strategy"), the real person "inaction and wisdom is considered", the sage "inaction and morality", "always do everything and listen to everything", and the cultivation of ambition "inaction and wisdom, quiet the five viscera, and connect the six Fu organs" (Yinfu Jing); "Men are virtuous and unworthy; wise and foolish; brave and timid; benevolence and righteousness are poor. They can maneuver, they can close, they can advance, they can retreat, they can be cheap, they can be valuable; they can do nothing to herd. " (maneuver).

On the basis of Tao's "Inaction", Guiguzi applies the idea of "indisputable" to the political country and military strategy, which is most intensively reflected in Mo: "the so-called principal who has become more and more successful will accumulate virtue, but the people will not know the benefits. It is also good to accumulate, but the people do not know why it is, and the gods in the world are better than others. He who wins every day always fights without fighting and without cost, but the people don't know why to obey and fear, and the world is better than the gods. " Those who are always successful in political affairs accumulate good governance, and people live and work in peace and contentment. They don't know who has given them benefits. People do good governance, and they don't know why. Those who command wars and often win do not usually strive for anything or spend resources. The common people do not know why they submit to them or why they are afraid of them. So people all over the world compare him to Ming.

Guiguzi? Zhishupian is simple and comprehensive, but there are only a few sentences, which also express the view of conforming to the four seasons of heaven and earth. "Holding pivot" refers to "spring, summer, autumn harvest, winter storage, heaven is also, can't do and reverse.". Those who go against will be defeated even if they succeed. Therefore, you also have a Tianshu. You are born, raised and stored. You can't do it any more. Against it, though it is prosperous, it will decline. This is also the outline of heaven and man. " (4) this reflects the ancient Chinese thought of "correspondence between man and nature" and "unity of man and nature": man and nature are an organic unity. The way of nature is to grow in spring, flourish in summer, harvest in autumn and hide in winter. All people in nature should follow this fundamental law, and those who violate it will perish.

Original works

Maneuver first

If Guangdong is ancient, the sage is the first of all living beings in the world. To observe the opening and closing of yin and Yang, to name things, to know the door of survival and death, to plan the end of all kinds, to understand the principle of human mind, to see the change of my Yan, and to guard its door. Therefore, the sage in the world, since ancient times and today, the road is also one.

There are endless changes. Each has its own way, either yin or yang, or soft or rigid, or open or close, or gallop or open. Therefore, the sages guard their doors, examine their orders, measure their powers and abilities, and correct their skills.

They are virtuous and unworthy; wise and foolish; brave and timid; benevolent and righteous; poor. They can maneuver, they can close, they can advance, they can retreat, they can be cheap, they can be valuable; they can do nothing to herd.

Whether there is or not depends on whether it is true or not, and whether it is true or not depends on whether it is true or not. On the contrary, in order to get the actual meaning. We need to maneuver in order to make profits. It can be opened or closed. It's the same with the feeling. It's different to be honest when you close the door. Whether it can be or not, we should try out its stratagem and find out its similarities and differences. Separation and reunion should be followed first. That is, if you want to maneuver, you should pay attention to Zhou;

Chinese PinYin : Gui Gu Zi