Appendix: Summary of Pre-Qin Texts Cited in This Article

An Analysis of 'Shen' and 'Zhi' in the Core Passage of Guanzi: Neiye, and an Inquiry into Pre-Qin Philosophy of Mind and Human Nature

This article offers a deep reading of the core passage in the Guanzi: Neiye — 'That which can transform a single thing is called shen (spirit); that which can adapt to a single affair is called zhi (wisdom)' — systematically tracing the philosophical categories of shen, zhi, jing, qi, and dao in the pre-Qin era, elucidating their pivotal role in the cultivation of mind and character and in the Way of inner sageliness and outer kingliness, striving to recover the original intent of the ancients.

Xuanji Editorial Board February 7, 2026 31 min read PDF Markdown

Guanzi (including the chapters Neiye, Xin shu shang, Xin shu xia, Bai xin, Mu min, Xing shi, and Da kuang)
Laozi (Daodejing)
Zhuangzi (including the chapters Qi wu lun, Yang sheng zhu, Ren jian shi, Da zong shi, Ying di wang, Tian di, Tian dao, Tian xia, Zai you, Ke yi, Pian mu, Qu qie, Zhi bei you, and Shan mu)
Lunyu (Analects) (including the chapters Xue er, Wei zheng, Yong ye, Shu er, Zi han, Xiang dang, Yan Yuan, Zi lu, Xian wen, Wei Ling Gong, Ji shi, and Yang huo)
Yijing and Yi zhuan (Book of Changes and its Commentaries) (including Xici shang, Xici xia, Kun gua: Wen yan, and Kun gua: Tuan zhuan)
Shangshu (Book of Documents) (including Yao dian, Da Yu mo, Tai shi, and Kang gao)
Xunzi (including the chapters Tian lun, Xiu shen, and Jie bi)
Sunzi bingfa (Art of War) (including Ji pian and Xu shi pian)
Zuozhuan (Zuo Commentary) (including entries under the 31st year of Duke Xiang and the 13th year of Duke Cheng)
Guoyu (Discourses of the States) (including Qi yu)
Huangdi sijing (Four Classics of the Yellow Emperor) (including Jing fa, Shi da jing, and Dao yuan)
Daxue (Great Learning)
Zhongyong (Doctrine of the Mean)
Shijing (Book of Odes)
Mengzi (Mencius)
Lushi chunqiu (Spring and Autumn Annals of Master Lu) (including the chapter Gui gong)
Shiji (Records of the Grand Historian) (including Guan Yan lie zhuan and Tian Jingzhong Wan shi jia)
Hanshu: Yi wen zhi (Book of Han: Treatise on Literature)

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By the Xuanji Editorial Board