On Decision

GuiguziBashu Publishing House · ChinaJun 2024

4.2

Word count: 371 words
Chapters: 2

Summary

The sage has five ways of bringing affairs to completion: some are handled by open virtue, some by hidden cunning, some by trust and sincerity, some by concealment, some by plain constancy.

Editor's review

Jue Pian draws from Guiguzi the passage "the sage has five ways of bringing affairs to completion," sketching a spectrum of strategies through open virtue, hidden cunning, trust and sincerity, concealment, and plain constancy. The 2024 Bashu Publishing House edition makes this classical text accessible to modern readers. Its value lies not in offering ready-made answers but in presenting a cool dissection of human feelings and situational forces: the same goal may be achieved through open display, forbearance, sincerity, veiled sharpness, or an ordinary posture, the key being to weigh the times and circumstances. Concise in length, it rewards repeated reading; each pass allows readers to reconsider it in light of their own situation. One should set aside the curious mindset of a "manual of intrigue" and treat it as a text in traditional thought on judgment and proportion; readers unfamiliar with classical Chinese may first read for the general sense, then go sentence by sentence with annotations, sensing the boundaries and shifts among the five methods.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers interested in pre-Qin thinkers and classical strategic thought
Professionals who hope to grasp the sense of measure in handling affairs through a traditional text
Those who enjoy close reading of short chapters and are willing to chew over classical passages repeatedly
Readers who need a classical volume to dip into at leisure and provoke thought

Not a good fit for

Readers expecting light stories or casual entertainment
Those entirely unwilling to engage with classical Chinese and wanting only plain-language summaries
Readers who treat the book as a crash-course tool of intrigue

Reading tips

First read through once to grasp the general sense of the "five methods," then read closely sentence by sentence against the annotations
After finishing each method of completing affairs, make a brief note connecting it to a real-life scenario
It need not be read in one sitting; it can be read closely in five sessions, focusing on one method each time
After reading, try to restate in your own words the differences among the five methods and the situations to which they apply

About the publisher

Bashu Publishing House China · Founded in 1983

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.

版权信息
决篇第十一

FAQ

Can I read Jue Pian without any foundation in classical Chinese?

You can get started with the help of annotations and translation. It is advisable to first grasp the general sense of each paragraph, then return to the original sentence by sentence; you need not insist on pinning down every character. The text is not long, and a few passes will familiarize you with its manner of expression; the point is to sense the differences among the five ways of completing affairs.

Are "open virtue" and "hidden cunning" teaching people to play tricks?

The original material places the two side by side as ways by which the sage completes affairs, emphasizing responses under different circumstances. One should not read them simply as praise or blame, but observe how the author distinguishes the boundaries between open display and forbearance, and sense the measure involved in context.

Does this book need to be read in order from beginning to end?

It can be read in order, and it also suits close reading chapter by chapter. The five methods are relatively independent; concentrating on one at a time and reflecting on its meaning and applicable scenarios is easier to digest than reading straight through. After finishing, you can compare them across the board to form an overall understanding.

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About the author

Guiguzi Author · Chinese

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.