A Bag of Wisdom
Tags
Summary
Editor's review
From an editorial perspective, the book's contemporary value lies in its practicality and intellectual depth, which transcend its era. The wisdom cases in the book—whether the deception in warfare of Sun Bin or the humorous remonstrance of Dongfang Shuo—all at their core offer profound analysis of human nature, power, and the logic of decision-making. For modern readers it is by no means a simple guide to Machiavellian scheming but more like a multifaceted prism that helps us understand motives and strategic choices in complex situations. Its classical Chinese narration poses a certain threshold, but the language is concise and the stories vivid; with annotations in good editions, the reading process itself is a training of the mind. It reminds us that true wisdom often comes from reflection on history and empathy for human nature—especially precious in an age of information overload but shallow thinking.
Who it's for
A good fit for
- Readers with a strong interest in historical strategy and insight into human nature
- Professionals seeking management wisdom and decision-making ideas from classical cases
- Literature lovers who enjoy concise classical Chinese and vivid stories and seek deep reading
- Scholars in the social sciences who need to understand traditional Chinese wisdom and cultural psychology
Not a good fit for
- Readers expecting light, casual modern stories and resistant to reading classical Chinese
- Those seeking clear, directly applicable steps or techniques for modern success
Reading tips
- Start with a vernacular translation or a heavily annotated edition: read the stories through first, then savor the finesse of the original text
- Need not read in order; choose areas of interest according to the "sections" (such as "military wisdom" or "women's wisdom")
- While reading, try to understand cases in their historical context and consider how their core logic serves as metaphor or inspiration for modern situations
About the publisher
Founded in 1994, Democracy and Construction Press organizes its publishing around economic management, the humanities and history, and united front culture, while also covering foreign literature and classic works. Among the 732 titles in the collection are translations of foreign classics such as The Brothers Karamazov and On War, fantasy literature such as The Lord of the Rings Trilogy: Illustrated Collector's Edition, and modern literary masterpieces including Lao She's Four Generations Under One Roof and Camel Xiangzi · The Problem of Nothing, and Lu Xun's Call to Arms. Translators Geng Jizhi and Wang Jinhua, together with authors such as J. R. R. Tolkien and Carl von Clausewitz, form the resource base for its combination of scholarly translation and general reading. As public information is limited, this description focuses on the publishing profile reflected in the titles held in the collection.
Contents
- 版权信息
- 出版说明
- 自序（译文）
- 第一部 上等的智慧
- 总序
- 见大卷
- 远犹卷
- 通简卷
- 迎刃卷
- 第二部 思维的智慧
- 总序
- 知微卷
- 亿中卷
- 剖疑卷
- 经务卷
- 第三部 调查的智慧
- 总序
- 得情卷
- 诘奸卷
- 第四部 胆量与智慧
- 总序
- 威克卷
- 识断卷
- 第五部 敏捷的智慧
- 总序
- 灵变卷
- 应卒卷
- 敏悟卷
- 第六部 策略的智慧
- 总序
- 委蛇卷
- 谬数卷
- 权奇卷
- 第七部 语言的智慧
- 总序
- 辩才卷
- 善言卷
FAQ
What is the difference between Wisdom of the Ancients and The Thirty-Six Stratagems?
Is the classical Chinese in this book difficult?
Is the wisdom in this book still applicable in modern society?
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
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.
Zhishu is an author about whom little public information is available; four works are held under this name in the collection, spanning Chinese and Western subjects. From Meditations to Liaofan's Four Lessons, and from Wit and Wisdom to The Riddle Book Hidden in the Forbidden City, the selections touch on Western philosophy, Eastern philosophy, historical reading, and fortune-telling, suggesting a broad range of interests. These works are mostly compilations, translations, or retellings of classic texts aimed at general readers, with an emphasis on making philosophical and historical material easier to approach. The style leans toward popularization and storytelling rather than rigorous academic argument, seeking to bring traditional classics and philosophical topics closer to everyday reading. As birth and death dates, nationality, and具体 personal experience are unrecorded, a detailed biography cannot be given; readers may regard Zhishu as a Chinese compiler and popularizer known for organizing and interpreting classic works.
