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鬼谷子

Guǐgǔzǐ
proper noun

Meanings

  1. 1 Guiguzi, 'the Master of Ghost Valley', legendary Warring States teacher of the strategists Su Qin and Zhang Yi
  2. 2 the Guiguzi, a book on persuasion and strategy attributed to him

Examples

HSK 5
传说鬼谷子是苏秦和张仪的老师。
Chuánshuō Guǐgǔzǐ shì Sū Qín hé Zhāng Yí de lǎoshī.
Legend has it that Guiguzi was the teacher of Su Qin and Zhang Yi.
HSK 5
《鬼谷子》是一部讲怎样说服别人的书。
《 Guǐgǔzǐ 》 shì yí bù jiǎng zěnyàng shuōfú biéren de shū.
The Guiguzi is a book about how to persuade others.

Tips

history
He is said to have lived as a hermit in 鬼谷 'Ghost Valley', hence the name, and tradition gives his real name as 王诩. Later legend adds the rival generals 孙膑 and 庞涓 to his students, and he is honored as the founding master of the 纵横家 'School of Diplomacy'.
usage
The book opens with the chapter 捭阖 'opening and closing', on when to draw a person out and when to stay closed, which gives the idiom 纵横捭阖 for deft political maneuvering.

Stroke Order

鬼 guǐ
谷 gǔ
子 zǐ