Guǐ gǔ zǐ 鬼谷子
Master Ghost-Valley
attributed to 鬼谷子 (Guǐ gǔ zǐ)
The Guǐ gǔ zǐ is a short pre-Qīn / Hàn rhetorical-diplomatic treatise on political persuasion — nominally attributed to the legendary teacher of the Warring-States diplomats Sū Qín and Zhāng Yí. The text expounds the arts of bài hé 捭闔 (opening and closing), fǎn yìng 反應 (responsive reaction), and related techniques of persuasion-by-contextual-calibration. Preserved as DZ 1025 / CT 1025 (Tài xuán bù 太玄部).
Dating. Core text Warring-States to early Hàn; received recension Hàn. Dynasty: 戰國-漢.
Translations and research
- Broschat, Michael. “Guiguzi: A Textual Study and Translation.” PhD dissertation, University of Washington, 1985.
- Kǒng Lìhuān 孔立煥. Guǐ gǔ zǐ xué lùn 鬼谷子學論. Modern critical study.