Guanzi (text)

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Chinese legalism
Figures Guan Zhong Marquess Wen of Wei Li Kui Duke Xiao of Qin Shang Yang Shen Buhai Wu Qi Shen Dao Zhang Yi Han Fei Li Si Qin Shi Huang
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Relevant texts Guanzi The Book of Lord Shang Shenzi (both books) Han Feizi Wuzi Wei Liaozi Annals of Lü Buwei Huang-Lao
Relevant articles Rectification of names Wu wei Discourses on Salt and Iron Criticize Lin, Criticize Confucius
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The Guanzi (Chinese: 管子) is an anonymously written, foundational Chinese political and philosophical text. Compiled in the early Han dynasty, earlier versions potentially date back to the late Warring states period. At over 135,000 characters, it is one of the longest early Chinese philosophical texts. It covers broad subject matter, notably including price regulation of commodities via the concept of "light and heavy" (轻重). Despite its later dating, it is arguably one of the most representative texts of the concepts of political economy that developed during the Spring and Autumn period.^[1] Ming dynasty agricultural scientist Xu Guangqi still frequently cited the Guanzi and the Xunzi.^[2]

Along with the Daoistic Neiye, the Guanzi contains chapters like "Straight Thinking" and "Pure Heart" (chuan 13, essays 36-38; "Xin Shu" parts one and two, and "Pai Xin"), which K. C. Hsiao took as "clarifications of Huang-Lao ("Yellow Emperor Daoist") tenets." Although Liu Xin viewed the work as "Legalist" (Fajia), the Guanzi was still listed as Daoist in the Book of Han's Journal of Literature Chapter 30, which lists texts like Shen Buhai, Shen Dao and Han Feizi as 'Legalist'. The Guanzi was not listed as 'Legalist' until the Book of Sui's Journal of Writings.^[3][4] Guo Moruo proposed that the chapters were written by school of names thinkers, but evidence for this is lacking.^[5]

Most chapters of the text deal with government and the art of rulership. Although prominent in Taiwan, translator W. Allyn Rickett dissented from the traditional Confucian view of the text as Legalist, judging it to present a view much closer to that of the late Warring States period's "realistic" Confucian Xunzi than either the "highly idealistic Confucianism of Mencius" or the "Draconian Legalism" of Shang Yang. The Guanzi shares with other "Legalist" texts the view that power is independent of morality, emphasizing techniques (Shu) of government, but still advocates "law" (Fa) as an adjunct to Confucian Li.