A Treasury of Wisdom
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Summary
Editor's review
From an editorial perspective, the value of this book lies in its practicality that transcends eras. It does not teach treachery but is a methodology integrating the analysis of human nature and insight into the nature of things. The cases cover politics, military affairs, diplomacy, justice, and even daily life, demonstrating the flexible application of wisdom in different situations. Feng Menglong's comments are especially brilliant, often pinpointing the key in just a few words and elevating specific cases into universal principles. When reading, one should note the differences between the historical context and contemporary values, yet the thinking on problem analysis, strategy formulation, and the art of communication remains highly inspiring.
This edition by Guwuxuan Publishing House has been collated on the basis of the original text, making it more suitable for modern readers. For readers who wish to improve their critical thinking and enrich their worldly wisdom, this is a classical essence worth repeated savoring. It is more like a Chinese-style 'case study library'; its value lies not in providing standard answers but in training the ability to think from multiple angles and adapt on the spot.
Who it's for
A good fit for
- History enthusiasts interested in ancient Chinese wisdom and strategy culture
- Managers and professionals hoping to draw inspiration for management, communication, and decision-making from historical cases
- Story lovers who enjoy reading short, pithy historical stories and parables rich in philosophy
- Scholars and students studying traditional culture, classical literature, or the works of Feng Menglong
Not a good fit for
- Readers seeking modern, systematized, and theorized success literature or management studies
- Readers who have significant difficulty reading classical Chinese and are unwilling to use translations or annotations
Reading tips
- It is advisable not to read straight through but to begin with core sections such as 'Supreme Wisdom,' 'Clear Wisdom,' and 'Discernment' according to one's interests or needs, and to appreciate the intent behind the classification
- When reading, focus on the comments introduced by 'Fengzi says' and consider the angle of the commentary in relation to the story, as this is often the key to understanding Feng Menglong's view of wisdom
- One may associate the cases in the book with similar situations in modern life and engage in thought training across time and space, but care should be taken to identify values that are out of keeping with the present
About the publisher
Based in Suzhou, Guwuxuan Publishing House publishes in fields including Eastern philosophy, literary appreciation and foreign literature, as well as essays and philosophical readers. Judging from its catalog, the press carries Chinese classics such as A New Account of the Tales of the World, Reminiscences of Tao'an, Instructions for Practical Living and Discourses on Salt and Iron, while also offering Chinese translations of foreign literature including The Myth of Sisyphus, Rashomon, The Temple of the Golden Pavilion and Tagore's poetry collections. Its authors and translators include Liu Yiqing, Zhang Dai, Wang Shouren, Albert Camus, Ryunosuke Akutagawa, Yukio Mishima, Li Yumin and Chen Dewen. The press is characterized by giving equal weight to Chinese and foreign classics, combining the organization of traditional texts with the introduction of foreign literature. As public information is limited, this profile is based only on the books in our catalog.
Contents
- 版权信息
- 出版说明
- 智囊自叙
- 上智部总叙
- 卷一 见大
- 卷二 远犹
- 卷三 通简
- 卷四 迎刃
- 明智部总叙
- 卷五 知微
- 卷六 亿中
- 卷七 剖疑
- 卷八 经务
- 察智部总叙
- 卷九 得情
- 卷十 诘奸
- 胆智部总叙
- 卷十一 威克
- 卷十二 识断
- 术智部总叙
- 卷十三 委蛇
- 卷十四 谬数
- 卷十五 权奇
- 捷智部总叙
- 卷十六 灵变
- 卷十七 应卒
- 卷十八 敏悟
- 语智部总叙
- 卷十九 辩才
- 卷二十 善言
- 兵智部总叙
- 卷二十一 不战
- 卷二十二 制胜
- 卷二十三 诡道
- 卷二十四 武案
- 闺智部总叙
- 卷二十五 贤哲
- 卷二十六 雄略
- 杂智部总叙
- 卷二十七 狡黠
- 卷二十八 小慧
FAQ
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About the author
Feng Menglong (1574–1646), courtesy name Youlong and style name Mohan Zhai Zhuren, was a native of Changzhou in Suzhou Prefecture (present-day Suzhou, Jiangsu). A Ming dynasty writer and dramatist, he devoted his life to collecting and editing popular literature. He compiled Yushi Mingyan, Jingshi Tongyan, and Xingshi Hengyan, known collectively as the "Three Words," which became representative anthologies of vernacular short stories. He also compiled Qingshi and Gujin Tangui, revised Xin Lieguo Zhi and Pingyao Zhuan, and served as magistrate of Shouning County in Fujian. His works draw on urban life and folk legends, employ lively vernacular language, and focus on human nature and social manners, exerting a lasting influence on later vernacular fiction and drama. The library holds 200 of his works, spanning classical literature and social fiction.
