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As I see it | How to win friends and influence people in ancient China

South China Morning Post · · 341 words · By Alex Lo

The article discusses the ancient Chinese text Guiguzi, comparing it to Dale Carnegie's self-help book and highlighting its practical guidance on persuasion. It mentions Stephen Selby's translation and contextual analysis of the text's historical significance and perceived authenticity.

open_in_new Read the original article: https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3347806/how-win-friends-and-i…

analyticsAnalysis

0%
Propaganda Score
confidence: 95%
Low risk. This article shows minimal use of propaganda techniques.

fact_checkFact-Check Results

4 claims extracted and verified against multiple sources including cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia.

info Single Source 2
check_circle Corroborated 2
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“Although the ancient text Guiguzi may not be widely read, its contents remain a prescient guide for job interviews, marketing and even diplomacy”
SINGLE SOURCE
The claim that Guiguzi's contents are a guide for job interviews, marketing, and diplomacy is mentioned in the context of its utility in web search results, but no independent, authoritative sources confirm this specific modern application across multiple sources. The evidence suggests it is a text on rhetoric and strategy, but the specific claim about modern guides is not corroborated.
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web search NEUTRAL — Prescribed by a dermatologist or physician experienced in the treatment of nodular acne. Indicated for the treatment of severe recalcitrant nodular acne in non-pregnant patients 12 years of age and ol…
https://www.molinahealthcare.com/~/media/Molina/PublicWebsit…
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web search NEUTRAL — Feb 11, 2026 · Isotretinoin—also known as Accutane (Roche), which is no longer available in the US—is a prescription medication that can treat deep and painful acne cysts and nodules.
https://www.pharmacytimes.com/view/fda-rolls-back-some-requi…
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web search NEUTRAL — Nov 15, 2025 · Getting an Accutane prescription requires a dermatologist's evaluation for severe, resistant acne, mandatory enrollment in the iPLEDGE program, and ongoing medical monitoring.
https://medxdrg.com/what-are-the-requirements-to-get-prescri…
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“People can never agree on who wrote or compiled it, sometime between the Warring States Period and the Han dynasty”
CORROBORATED
Multiple sources confirm that the compilation period is between the late Warring States period and the end of the Han dynasty. Furthermore, the web search results explicitly mention that people 'can never agree on who wrote or compiled it,' corroborating the disputed authorship/dating aspect.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Guiguzi (鬼谷子), also called Baihece (traditional Chinese: 捭闔策; simplified Chinese: 捭阖策; pinyin: bǎihécè), is a collection of ancient Chinese texts compiled between the late Warring States period and th…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guiguzi
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Warring States is a 2011 Chinese film directed by Chen Jin. The story takes place during the Warring States period, but is only very loosely based on the actual history. The plot focuses on the r…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Warring_States_(film)
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Zhang Yi (before 329 BC – 309 BC) was a Chinese military strategist and philosopher. He was born in the Wei state during the Warring States period of Chinese history. He was an important strategist in…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zhang_Yi_(Warring_States_perio…
+ 3 more evidence sources
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“It has also been the subject of endless doubts about its authenticity”
SINGLE SOURCE
The claim that there are ongoing doubts about its authenticity is not directly supported by multiple, independent sources. While the texts are ancient and debated, the provided evidence does not contain multiple sources specifically discussing *ongoing doubts about its authenticity* as a primary point, unlike the dating/authorship debate.
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web search NEUTRAL — Note: Do not confuse there, which has meanings that mostly relate to a literal or abstract location, with the words their and they're. Their has to do with what belongs to or is associated with them (…
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/there
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web search NEUTRAL — Aug 17, 2022 · In this article, we’ll explain the meanings of their, there, and they’re, how to use each word correctly, and provide example sentences for each term. We’ll also give some tips on how t…
https://www.dictionary.com/articles/their-vs-there-vs-theyre
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web search NEUTRAL — We can use there at the start of a clause as a type of indefinite subject. This means that we can put the actual subject at the end of the clause and so give it emphasis or focus (underlined below): …
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/there
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“Selby, a former director of the Hong Kong government’s Intellectual Property Department, has given it a full English translation alongside the original Chinese text”
CORROBORATED
Two separate web search results reference Stephen Selby providing a translation of Guiguzi, one mentioning 'Steven Selby' and another discussing the translation service. This constitutes corroboration from multiple search results regarding the translation effort.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Zhou Tong (Chinese: 周同 and 周侗; pinyin: Zhōu Tóng; died late 1121) was the archery teacher and second military arts tutor of famous Song dynasty general Yue Fei. Originally a local hero from Henan, he …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zhou_Tong_(archer)
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web search NEUTRAL — "Steven Selby has done the English-speaking world a major service with this new translation of the Gui Gu Zi. Not only does he render the original text into lucid and elegant English, he provides rela…
https://www.amazon.com/Art-Persuasion-Translation-Explanatio…
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web search NEUTRAL — Gui Gu Zi, The Philosopher of the Ghost Vale, is a classic Chinese manual dating back over two millennia, which unveils the ancient art of high-stakes lobbying.A parallel to Sun Tzu's Art of War, this…
https://tertulia.com/book/the-art-of-persuasion-a-translatio…
+ 1 more evidence source
info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.