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The Shenzi 慎子 "Master Shen" is a book attributed to the Warring States period 戰國 (5th cent.-221 BCE) legalist philosopher Shen Dao 慎到. Shen Dao was a teacher at the Jixia Academy 稷下 of the state of Qi 齊 during the reign of King Xuan 齊宣王 (r. 342-324).
During the Han period 漢 (206 BCE-220 CE) the book still consisted of 42 chapters, during the Tang period 唐 (618-907) of 10 juan "scrolls". During the Song period 宋 (960-1279) two versions of the Shenzi were spread, one in 37 chapters and 9 juan, and one in 5 chapters in 1 juan. Taken together these two parts might have been identical with the original book.
After the Song period the larger version was lost, and only the fragmentary small version survived. Except the five chapters, there are two further chapters surviving in the collection Qunshu zhiyao 群書治要. All seven chapters were put together and found their way into Qian Xizuo's 錢熙祚 collectaneum Shoushange congshu 守山閣叢書. Some 10 fragments are surviving as quotations in other books.
The Shenzi is an early document of legalist thinking which stressed the importance of ruling by law and by strengthening the position of the ruler. Shen Dao was criticised by Xun Kuang 荀況 (Xunzi 荀子) for his not stressing the importance of employing competent ministers – only with the support of able persons the ruler would be strong enough in the legalist sense.
There is a much criticised Ming period 明 (1368-1644) edition by Shen Maoshang 慎懋賞 who divided the Shenzi into an inner and an outer part and arranged the chapters in 89 topics.
Source: Zhong Zhaopeng 鍾肇鵬 (1992). "Shenzi 慎子", in: Zhongguo da baike quanshu 中國大百科全書, Zhongguo lishi 中國歷史, vol. 2, p. 916. Beijing/Shanghai: Zhongguo da baike quanshu chubanshe.
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Extant chapters:
威德 Weide The virtue of autority
因循 Yinxun The circuit of following [abilities]
民雜 Minza People are [dwelling] in different places
德立 Deli Considerations bestowing [offices]
君人 Junren The ruling man
Fragmentary chapters
知忠 Zhizhong Explaining loyalty
君臣 Junchen Lord and minister
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Chinese literature according to the four-category system
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