Inner Bond
Tags
Summary
Editor's review
Who it's for
A good fit for
- Readers of history and literature interested in pre-Qin thinkers and the Horizontal and Vertical Alliance school
- Readers hoping to understand interpersonal communication and the art of persuasion through classical strategy
- Students of classical Chinese who need to study the original text of Guiguzi
- Professionals in management, negotiation, and public relations who wish to draw on traditional wisdom
Not a good fit for
- Casual readers expecting light stories or popular inspirational fare
- Readers seeking systematic modern training in psychology or communication studies
- Beginners lacking a foundation in classical Chinese who are unwilling to use annotations
Reading tips
- Read through the whole chapter first, then work through it paragraph by paragraph with annotations to grasp the precise meaning of core concepts such as nei and jian.
- Read it alongside other chapters of Guiguzi, such as "Baihe" (Opening and Closing) and "Chuai" (Fathoming), to grasp the thread of its thought.
- Connect the reading to the historical background of Warring States persuasion, and avoid applying strategic techniques out of context.
- After reading, write reflective notes on one or two real-life communication scenarios to test your understanding.
About the publisher
Bashu Publishing House is a publisher centered on collating and publishing classical Chinese cultural texts, with its main publishing areas covering classical literature, Eastern philosophy, ancient poetry, and educational classics. Its library currently holds 1,075 titles, including representative works such as Dream of the Red Chamber, the Preface to the Orchid Pavilion Gathering, Renjian Cihua, and Out to the Frontier, involving authors such as Cao Xueqin, Wang Xizhi, Wang Guowei, Wang Changling, Liu Xie, and Yan Yu. These reflect the publisher's focus on literary classics, poetry criticism, and philosophical readings. Its publishing character lies in working around ancient texts and canonical works, with attention to textual collation and presentation. Public information on its more detailed publishing background and series plans is limited; this introduction is based only on the library's book information.
Contents
- 版权信息
- 内揵第三
FAQ
What do nei and jian mean in "Neijian"?
Do I need to read other chapters of Guiguzi before "Neijian"?
Is this chapter useful for modern people in handling interpersonal relationships?
Comments
Find this book
This site is an index: you start “Search all sources” in your browser, and the entries it lists all point to third-party sites; please judge their availability yourself.
About the author
Guiguzi, whose personal name is Wang Xu, is traditionally said to have come from the state of Chu during the Warring States period; the dates of his birth and death are unknown. He is regarded as the founder of the School of Vertical and Horizontal Alliances and as a thinker, strategist, and educator. Because public records are limited, his early life and career cannot be reliably established, and later ages have held differing views about the man and his book. Tradition holds that Su Qin and Zhang Yi were his students, a widely circulated account that may be noted as one version. His works, including Guiguzi and The Seven Techniques of the Yin Talisman of the Classic of Basic Matters, deal with persuasion, decision-making, the reading of human intentions, and flexible response to changing circumstances. Their language is concise and their meaning subtle, combining philosophical reflection with practical strategy. The book spans military affairs, Eastern philosophy, and social culture, and is known for offering brief but penetrating guidance on conduct and achievement. It has had a lasting influence on later traditions of diplomacy and strategy, military thought, and inspirational writing.
