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管子

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Text ID
KR3c0001
Date
-400–-240
Dynasty
周

Guǎnzǐ 管子

Master Guǎn attributed to 管仲 (Guǎn Zhòng, d. 645 BCE, 周, 撰); commentary by 房玄齡 (Fáng Xuánlíng, 578–648, 唐, 注)

About the work

A 24-juan, originally 86-篇 (received form 76 篇 with 10 lost) classical text traditionally attributed to Guǎn Zhòng, the Spring-and-Autumn Chancellor of Qí. The received text is universally regarded as a Warring States compilation, drawing on Guǎn Zhòng’s reputation across diverse philosophical schools (legalist, militarist, Daoist-syncretist, economic, ritual). The work is foundational to Chinese economic, administrative, and political thought, with the Qīng zhòng 輕重 chapters being among the earliest extant pre-modern works on price-currency theory and state monopoly. Standard premodern commentary by Fáng Xuánlíng (early Táng).

The Kanripo classification places this in Fǎjiā (Legalists) — reflecting the SKQS classification — though the Guǎnzǐ’s actual contents range broadly across Warring States philosophical schools. The work is one of the principal Warring States zǐ-text compilations.

Abstract

The Guǎnzǐ is one of the most consequential Warring States zǐ-text compilations. Composition window: ca. 400–240 BCE (Warring States compilation incorporating earlier materials). The frontmatter brackets to ca. -400 to -240.

The bibliographic record: Hàn shū yìwén zhì (管子 86 篇, Dào jiā); Suí shū jīngjí zhì (Fáng Xuánlíng commentary); SKQS Zǐbù — Fǎjiā lèi. Companion in this corpus: Guǎnzǐ bǔ zhù (KR3c0002, by Liú Jì 劉績).

Translations and research

  • W. Allyn Rickett, Guanzi: Political, Economic, and Philosophical Essays from Early China, 2 vols., Princeton UP, 1985–1998. The standard complete English translation.
  • Lewis Maverick (and later co-translators), Economic Dialogues in Ancient China, 1954 — partial translation focused on the economic chapters.
  • Standard modern Chinese editions integrate Wáng Niàn-sūn’s Guǎn-zǐ jí jié and contemporary scholarship.

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