Creation background
The Warring States Policy, also known as the National Policy, is said to have been compiled by historians or military strategists from various countries during the Warring States Period. Its main content is to record the activities and words of strategists lobbying princes and monarchs during the Warring States period, as well as their political and military views and various struggle strategies when they debated and refuted each other.
There are many textual researches on the author of Warring States Policy. Luo Genze, Jin Dejian and others called Kuai Tong a strategist in the early years of the Western Han Dynasty. They persuaded Fan Yangling to surrender to the rebels in Chen Sheng and suggested that Han Xin (? ~ BC 196) captured Qi, and advised Han Xin to betray Liu Bang (BC 2 10 ~ BC 188) and stand on his own feet. Emperor Hui of Han Dynasty (256 BC ~ BC 195) was the guest of honor of the Prime Minister, and wrote 8 1 meaningful articles. This also provides a new way of thinking. Many places in the book are the same as or similar to the Warring States Policy, but the style is different. It mainly records Su Qin's life story, which is probably a compilation of the book mentioned by Perilla in Han Shu Literature and Art Annals. However, the last part of the book is also a compilation of various lobbying stories, most of which, like the Warring States Policy, are the last year of the book.
The Warring States Policy compiled by Liu Xiang has a total of 33 articles in 12 countries, and it is an ancient version. However, because it is mixed with intrigue, it is rejected by Confucianism, so few people read it and it is easy to be broken. In the Song Dynasty, Ceng Gong supplemented it. The Warring States Policy compiled by him is a modern version, which supplemented the number of articles in the ancient edition of Liu Xiang.
Abbreviation of works
This edition of The Warring States Policy consists of 33 articles and 486 chapters. The Western Zhou Dynasty has 1 article, divided into 17 chapters. Eastern Zhou Policy 1 article, divided into 22 chapters; 5 articles of Qin Ce, divided into 64 chapters; Qi Ce has 6 articles, divided into 57 chapters; Chu Ce has 4 articles, divided into 52 chapters; Zhao Ce has 4 articles, divided into 66 chapters; Wei Ce has 4 articles, divided into 8 1 chapter; 3 articles by Han Ce, divided into 69 chapters; Yan Ce has 3 articles, divided into 34 chapters; Song Weice has 1 article, divided into 14 chapters; Zhongshan policy 1 chapter, divided into1chapter. This was compiled by Wu Shidao, a native of Dongyang, according to the revised edition of Ceng Gong in the second year of Taiding in Yuan Dynasty (65,438+0325). Wu Shidao's revised edition of Warring States Policy has been handed down to this day. Another poet, Bao Biao, changed the order of the original book and made a new annotation. His best friend Jin has the revised edition of Warring States Policy. The silk book of the Western Han Dynasty unearthed in Mawangdui, Changsha, Hunan Province, records the current affairs of the Warring States Period and is called the Warring States Letters. Its content is similar to that of the Warring States policy, which can make up for the mistakes and shortcomings of the current Warring States policy.
Most of the articles in the Warring States Policy reflect the people-oriented thought. As an ancient book more than 2000 years ago, it is quite valuable. Zhao raised the status of "people" above the monarch in Zhao Wen Qi Guo's envoy. Zou Ji satirized Shangshu, saying that because he listened to the opinions of the people, his advisers (Shangshu) won the title of "Long live the people" because of their "burning coupons" and "city righteousness", so he could regard the snowy area as a "cave" to avoid inevitable death. There is an article in "Zhongshan Policy", "Wang Zhao stops the people and builds troops", which shows the people's hearts from the opposite side. He refused to go. He said: "Today, Qin defeated Zhao Jun in Changping, so it failed to use its shock and fear to destroy it and release it in fear. I raise orphans and raise young children to benefit the masses, manicure benefits its strength, and Zengcheng benefits its solidity. As for Ping Yuanjun, I let my wife and concubines sew between the ranks. I went to Qi Xin wholeheartedly.
"Warring States Policy" praises heroes such as Chivalrous Man and Gao Shi who advocate justice, despise princes and dare to resist violence. For example, in the face of the "trend" that Qi Xuanwang didn't want to enter the front, he not only dared to denounce "Wang Qian", but also publicly declared that "a gentleman is expensive, but a king is not expensive" and that "the head of a king is never like the ridge of the dead" (Qi Ce IV) I could not bear to be a subject of the Qin Dynasty (Zhao Ce III). Jing Ke, Nie Zheng and other figures advocate justice, take evil as the enemy, avenge the abused, and have the courage to dedicate themselves. There are also some people who "help the weak and help the poor" against aggression, such as persuading Yanzhao to send troops to save Wei, remonstrating Wang Wei and Qin to attack South Korea, and "giving everything" to convince the King of Chu to avoid war.
The Warring States Policy embodies the idea of attaching importance to talents, cherishing talents and advocating intelligence. Qi Xuanwang adopted Wang Dou's opinion that "ruling the country with five senses" (Qi Ce Si); Qin Xiaogong took Shang Yang as the stage to carry out political reform. One year, he said that "the road is clean, the people do not take it lightly, the soldiers are strong, and the ministers are afraid" ("Qin Ce Yi"). "The Warring States Policy" not only praised these talents who had great influence in history, but also praised some people who could make "strange ideas and different wisdom" in some things or have special skills in some aspects, regardless of their origins. For example, Yao Jia is the son of a janitor in Liang State. He steals things. Because he was good at diplomacy, the king of Qin appointed him as a diplomat. He lifted the crisis of the four countries' attack for Qin. Another example is perilla, which is called King Chu (Chu Ce III) and Han Ming Jianchun Shen Jun (Chu Ce IV).
Recite on time
These ideological contents of the Warring States Policy are inseparable from its artistry. The main manifestations of artistry are:
(1) The argument is clear, the method is thorough and the logic is strong. For example, in the article "Zhuang Xin on Lucky Minister" ("Chu Ce IV"), Wang Xiang began to indulge in debauchery and refused Zhuang Xin's advice, which eventually led to the disaster of national subjugation. This is to show the central argument of this book with facts: only seeking immediate pleasure and losing vigilance will inevitably lead to future troubles. Then an empirical demonstration is carried out to confirm the inevitability and necessity of this demonstration. On the contrary, we use the concrete image of metaphor as an argument to convince Wang Xiang. From tiny dragonflies in biology to bigger orioles, from orioles to bigger orioles. At ordinary times, these insects and birds fly freely and enjoy themselves, thinking that there will be no disaster without fighting with people. As everyone knows, just when they were complacent, there was a hidden murder next to them, and finally they couldn't help but die. Ignorance. Then he cited Cai's personnel in the incident to contact him. From creatures to humans, from small to large, one layer is deeper and deeper, and one step is urgent and profound, which makes Wang Xiang have to change color and tremble. Vivid metaphors and strict natural logical reasoning make the argument particularly powerful and convincing. There are many typical strategic papers like this in the Warring States Policy. For example, Lou Ruan and Yu Qing discussed how to cede territory to Qin (Zhao Cesan), Su Qin and Lian talked about Zhao (Zhao Ceer), Zhang Yi and Lian Heng talked about Qin (Qin Ceyi) and Sima Cuo talked about cutting Chu (Qin Ceyi). I know the situation like the back of my hand; Weighing the gains and losses, the size is better.
(two) a vivid description of complex historical events, complete structure, twists and turns, lively and interesting, strong story. Open a book "Warring States Policy", 497 articles, almost every article is a story. For the story of "Nie Zheng stabbed Han Jing to death" (Han Ce II), first write the feud between Chen Han Yansui and Prime Minister Han Jing. Yansui wants someone who can avenge himself. Nie Zheng rejected Sui's request. The story is full of ups and downs. The author also wrote the story of Nie's mother's death, nostalgia and assassination. The story seems to be coming to an end, but his death leads to another character-Nie. The ruler of North Korea did not hesitate to offer a reward to those who searched for the body, and Nie also did not hesitate to announce that he committed suicide under the body. It also echoed the harmony. The last paragraph is the reaction of the eastern countries to the story and the author's comments, and it is also a praise for the two protagonists. The story has a beginning and an end, ups and downs, clear events and tacit understanding with each other. It forms an artistic whole with strong storytelling. Others like Jing Ke stabbing the King of Qin (Yance III), Lv Buwei Qin Xiang (Qince V), Su Qin preventing Meng Changjun from entering Qin (Qice III), Shenzi suing Wang Xiang for three policies (Chuce II) and the medicine of immortality.
(3) Depicting historical figures with different personalities. For example, Su Qin and Yi Cheung are both eloquent counselors. In order to pursue "wealth and beauty", repeated deception is their constant feature. But Su Qin's efforts and self-confidence are different from Zhang Yi's malice and scoundrel. The former is somewhat sympathetic, while the latter is just disgusting. Jing Ke and Nie Zheng are brave men who have a sense of duty above family loyalty, but Jing Ke is very calm. Obviously, it is different from Nie Zheng's filial piety, loyalty, frankness and daring to make decisions. Others, such as Zou Ji, who is calm and keen and good at observation and analysis, Lu Zhonglian, who is good at solving problems without asking for anything in return, who is good at using contradictions to solve problems, and the image of the empress dowager Qin, are vividly portrayed in the Warring States Policy and are well known to readers.
(4) The Warring States Policy is fluent and sharp in language and spicy in style. He is good at skillfully inserting fables into the text to illustrate abstract truth and expound his own arguments. It is a model of argumentative writing. Many of these fables and metaphors later became famous allusions, such as gilding the lily, wanting to be a fox, wanting to be a tiger, being scared by a bow, doing the opposite and fighting for a clam.
Key knowledge points
The Warring States Policy has high historical value, especially the ancient edition compiled by Liu Xiang, which once occupied a very important historical position in the ancient history of China. "The Warring States Policy" is a 245-year-long historical record from Chu to Han after the Spring and Autumn Annals. If we count from the year of Chu-Han Uprising, that is, from the first year of Qin Ershi (209 years ago), it is just right. Han, Zhao and Wei were divided into Jin. After Zuo Zhuan and Guoyu, and before Chu Chunqiu and Qin Chu, the historical gap of 245 years was mainly filled by the Warring States policy, and many precious historical materials were preserved, such as the situation of the two countries, namely, the king of the Western Zhou Dynasty and the king of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty, and Chu Youwang was the king of spring.