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The Kangcangzi 亢倉子 "Master Kangcang", or Gengcangzi 庚桑子 or Kangsangzi 亢桑子, official canonic title Dongling zhenjing 洞靈真經, is a Daoist treatise compiled by the Tang period scholar Wang Shiyuan 王士源. The book was originally attributed to a Master Gengsang Chu (Kangsang Chu) 庚桑楚 from the Zhou period 周 (11th cent.-221 BCE). Gengsang Chu was allegedly disciple of Laozi. He is first mentioned in the book Zhuangzi 莊子. The Jin period 晉 (265-420) commentators Sima Biao 司馬彪 and Guo Xiang 郭象 explained that Gengsang was his family name, Chu his first name. He is said to have dwelled in the Gengsang Grotto 庚桑洞 (in the vicinity of Yixing 宜興, Jiangsu). The Zhuangzi says nothing about the teachings of Master Kangsang, nor if he had written a book. A book was only compiled by Wang Shiyuan on the base of statements found in the Laozi 老子, Zhuangzi, Liezi 列子, Wenzi 文子, Shangjunshu 商君書 and Shuoyuan 說苑. The short book is divided into 9 chapters. It deals with the politics seen from different aspects, the ruler, his ministers, worthy advisers, the peasants, and the military. Each profession group has a varied way of using the inherent universal dao "way" for their duties. The way of the peasant, for example, is to work from the time of the cock's first cry on until the night. Thus he becomes the fundament of the whole state. Concerning the army, it is necessary that all three corps (sanjun 三軍) act as only one, for then no enemy will be able to defeat them. The book Kangcangzi is an attempt at transferring the ideas of Daoism to the society of a state.
There are different versions of 2 juan "scrolls" and 5 juan, as well as the most widespread version that is not divided into juan. The book attracted the attention of many scholars and has been lauded for its influence on political thinking. The Tang period scholar Liu Zongyuan 柳宗元 already doubted its alleged origin from the Zhou period. The authorship of Wang Shiyuan was only acknowledged by the investigations of the Song period 宋 (960-1279) scholars Chao Gongwu 晁公武 and Gao Sisun 高似孙. Wang's preface, as well as the preface by Wei Tao 韋滔, nevertheless say that Wang only added some parts, but the main text is said to have been original. It is not possible to prove if Wang's statement is correct or not.
The Kangcangzi is included in the collectanea Siku quanshu 四庫全書, Zhuzi huihan 諸子匯函, Ershi jia zi shu 二十家子書, and the Daoist Canon 道藏 (section main texts of the Dongshen tradition 洞神).
Source: Li Xueqin 李學勤, Lü Wenyu 呂文鬰 (1996). Siku da cidian 四庫大辭典, vol. 2, p. 2309. Changchun: Jilin daxue chubanshe.
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全道篇 Quandao The complete way
道用篇 Daoyong The application of the way
政道篇 Zhengdao The way of goverment
君道篇 Jundao The way of the ruler
臣道篇 Chendao The way of the minister
賢道篇 Xiandao The way of the worthy
訓道篇 Xundao The way of instruction
農道篇 Nongdao The way of the peasant
兵道篇 Bingdao The way of the military
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