Huang Shigong

Huang Shigong was a recluse of the Qin-Han transition whose real name and dates are difficult to verify, and public information about him is limited. Also known as the Old Man of Yishang and the Divine Man of Xiapi, tradition holds that he tested Zhang Liang three times at the Yishang bridge in Xiapi before giving him military texts; Zhang Liang later helped Liu Bang found the Han dynasty. The Sanlüe, traditionally attributed to Huang Shigong, is one of the Seven Military Classics and discusses statecraft and warfare, while the Su Shu, also ascribed to him, focuses on self-cultivation, conduct in society, and strategy. His story appears mainly in the "Hereditary House of Marquis Li" chapter of the Records of the Grand Historian. Later editions and reading guides built around these two works span military studies, Eastern philosophy, and inspirational personal development, giving him a lasting place in traditional military and moral thought.