Abuse of Names as a Herald of Tyranny The first ever political coup in the long ancient history of China was heralded by an incident in court involving abuse of names. According to the Records of the Grand Historian (史记), not long after Qin Er Shi, the youngest son of the First Emperor of Qin, succeeded the throne by killing his eldest brother, one of his scheming ministers, who helped […]
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Zhuang Zi: Inner Chapters
Zhuang Zi on Way of Nature A man without toes went to see KongZi (孔子), who criticized him and said, “You were careless, and the damage [to your feet] has already been done, it is too late to seek help now.” The man replied, “I was ignorant and acted recklessly, and so lost my feet. But I come today, because there is something more precious than my two feet that […]
Read moreParting Poems
I had read this Chinese poem by Bai juyi (白居易) many years ago, but it hit me hard when I stumbled upon it returning from a trip visiting my aging parents. How many thoughts and emotions are packed in these few lines! 离离原上草， 一岁一枯荣。 野火烧不尽， 春风吹又生。 远芳侵古道， 晴翠接荒城。 又送王孙去， 萋萋满别情. My literal translation: Abounding with grass is the meadow. Per annum it ever withers and flourishes. Fire of the wild cannot utterly […]
Read more“Thirty-Six Stratagems” by Anonymous
[Original Chinese Title: 三十六計 | 三十六计] Machiavelli’s “The Prince” pales in comparison with this Chinese classic on cunning and duplicitous maneuverings in war and politics. “Thirty-Six Stratagems” was grounded in ancient Chinese philosophy and tested through many thousand years of political intrigue and warfare in Chinese history, and therefore has more depth and breadth, in my opinion, than Machiavelli’s work, which was based mostly on his own interpretations of cause […]
Read more“The Art of War” by Sun Wu
[Original Chinese Title: 孫子兵法 | 孙子兵法] An absolutely brilliant treatise on military philosophy, strategy and tactics! I find the principles herein applicable to all areas of life, as many things are often likened to war, e.g., war against disease, business as war, etc. This book is a must-read for leaders of all levels, from heads of states to project managers, to achieve personal and organizational excellence in a competitive environment. […]
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