Sun Bin (about 630 BC ~ 593 BC) was born in the state of Chu (now Shashi, Jingzhou). In 60 1 year BC, he served as Lingyin (Chu Xiang) of Chu State, assisted Chu Zhuangwang parishioners, reduced or postponed the punishment, developed the economy, and made remarkable achievements. Mencius wrote in [1] that "Sun Shuai went to sea" and was famous for his talent. He presided over the construction of Shaobei (now Anfengtang), which improved agricultural production conditions and enhanced national strength. Sima Qian listed him as the first person in Historical Records and Biography of Officials.
Shuo Yuan, written by Liu Xiang in the Western Han Dynasty. Liu Xiang, a Confucian scholar, writer and bibliographer in the Western Han Dynasty, was the secretary of the school. This book is some historical stories and legends from the pre-Qin Dynasty to the Western Han Dynasty edited by the Royal Library and folk books when he was at school, with the author's comments. It gives full play to the political thoughts and moral concepts of Confucianism and has a certain philosophical nature. After the original twenty volumes, there are only five volumes left, most of which are lost. After song dynasty and retrieval, there are 20 volumes, each with its own title. The titles of the 20 volumes are Jun Dao, Chen Shu, Jian Ben, Li Jie, Gui De, Fu En, Zheng Li, Zun Xian, Jian Zheng, Jing Shen, Shan Shuo, Shi Feng, Machiavelli and Zhi Zhi Zhi. The historical legends from pre-Qin dynasty to Han dynasty are classified and discussed in order to clarify Confucian political thoughts and ethical concepts. Generally, the first rule or the first number is the outline of a volume, and the main idea of this volume is stated by quoting the previous remarks. Here are a lot of historical examples to prove it. Item also compiled a book "New Preface", which is similar in nature.
Due to the extensive materials in the book, a large number of historical materials have been collected, which provides a lot of convenience for people to explore history. Some historical events recorded in the book can be mutually confirmed with the existing classics; Some annotations are different from Historical Records, Zuo Zhuan, Mandarin, Warring States Policy, Xunzi, Hanfeizi, Guanzi, Yanzi Chunqiu, Shilu Chunqiu and Huainanzi, which are sufficient references for people who want to get to the bottom of it. Some ancient books have been lost, but one or two are preserved in Shuo Yuan, which is especially precious. For example, Shi Kuang said in "A Gentleman's Way": "A gentleman's way is pure and inaction, and its service lies in fraternity, tending to benevolence, broadening eyes and ears, observing all parties, not indulging in selfish desires, not being tied to the left and right, being far-sighted, being independent, saving performance appraisal repeatedly, and being a courtier. This person is also a gentleman. " There are six novelists in Shi Kuang's Han Shu Yi Wen Zhi, which has long been lost. Shi Kuang's argument is suspected to come from six Shi Kuang. You can find many such examples.