Wenyan Xianqin

Wenyan-Xianqin — 改寫為先秦諸子體

將現代中文改寫為先秦諸子散文風格，追求「辭約義豐、一字千金」的極致簡鍊。

代表文本：《論語》《孟子》《莊子》《韓非子》《左傳》《老子》《荀子》

Arguments

• $0 — (optional) Markdown or plain text file path. If omitted, ask for inline text.

Step 1: Load the Text

• If $0 is provided, read the file.
• If no argument, look for the most recently written/edited Markdown file in conversation, or ask user.

Step 2: Scan & Assess

Read the full text. Identify:

1. The core insight or teaching (微言大義).
2. Modern vocabulary and syntax that need radical compression.
3. Whether the text suits aphorism (語錄), disputation (論辯), parable (寓言), or chronicle (記事) form.

Step 3: Apply Pre-Qin Philosophical Patterns

Apply the checklist below. Each item marked [Hard] must be applied; [Soft] items apply when natural.

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Checklist: Grammar Patterns (G: 語法句式)

G1. Judgement with 也, Not 是 (也字判斷) [Hard]

Pre-Qin Chinese had NO copula 是. All judgements use the pattern 「X者Y也」「X，Y也」「非X也」. Eliminate every copular 是.

> Before： 仁愛是人類最重要的美德。 > > After： 仁者，人之大德也。

> Before： 這就是治國的根本道理。 > > After： 治國之本也。

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G2. Radical Subject Dropping (極致省略主語) [Hard]

Pre-Qin prose drops subjects far more aggressively than any later period. If the subject is inferable from context, DELETE it. A sequence of clauses sharing one subject states it only once — or not at all.

> Before： 孔子說：「我每天都會反省自己三次。」 > > After： 子曰：「日三省。」

> Before： 君子知道什麼是對的，小人只知道什麼有利。 > > After： 君子喻於義，小人喻於利。

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G3. Topic-Comment with Zero Copula (主題—述語) [Hard]

Pre-Qin syntax is purely topic-comment. State the topic, then comment directly. No linking verb, no padding.

> Before： 關於政治的要點，最重要的在於贏得人民的信任。 > > After： 政者，民信之。

> Before： 音樂的功能是調和人的情感。 > > After： 樂，和情也。

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G4. Classical Conditional & Causal (假設因果) [Hard]

Replace 如果…就 / 因為…所以 with 苟…則、故、是以、以…故. Pre-Qin often omits the conditional marker entirely — juxtaposition implies causation.

> Before： 如果名分不正確，說的話就不會順暢。 > > After： 名不正，則言不順。

> Before： 因為他自己品行端正，所以不需要發布命令，事情自然就能辦好。 > > After： 其身正，不令而行。

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G5. Parallel Compression (對偶壓縮) [Hard]

Balance clauses to identical character counts. Pre-Qin parallelism is tighter than any later period — 4:4, 3:3, even 2:2. Each half must mirror the other in structure.

> Before： 知道的人不如喜歡的人，喜歡的人又不如享受其中的人。 > > After： 知之者不如好之者，好之者不如樂之者。

> Before： 在上位的人如果喜歡禮，老百姓就沒有人敢不恭敬。 > > After： 上好禮，民莫敢不敬。

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G6. Rhetorical Question Patterns (反問定式) [Soft]

Use 不亦…乎、何…之有、豈…哉、孰…與…、安…、惡…. These are the signature rhetorical forms of Pre-Qin — use them to replace modern rhetorical questions.

> Before： 有朋友從遠方來，難道不是一件很快樂的事嗎？ > > After： 有朋自遠方來，不亦樂乎？

> Before： 怎麼可能會有什麼困難的呢？ > > After： 何難之有？

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Checklist: Vocabulary Patterns (V: 詞彙用字)

V1. Single-Character Words Throughout (單音節詞) [Hard]

Pre-Qin vocabulary is overwhelmingly monosyllabic. Every bisyllabic word must be challenged — most can be reduced to one character:

• 國家 → 國
• 學習 → 學
• 知道 → 知
• 思考 → 思
• 聽到 → 聞
• 看見 → 見
• 說話 → 言
• 擔心 → 憂
• 明白 → 知 / 明
• 喜歡 → 好 / 悅
• 選擇 → 擇
• 努力 → 勉

> Before： 我們應該認真學習並且努力思考。 > > After： 學而思。

> Before： 孔子覺得非常高興。 > > After： 子悅。

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V2. Classical Particles (語氣詞) [Hard]

Pre-Qin particles are polysemous, each covering multiple modern functions:

• 也 — judgement, mild assertion, pause
• 矣 — completed action, new situation, exclamation
• 乎 — question, exclamation, preposition
• 哉 — strong exclamation, rhetorical question
• 焉 — "there / in it / how", combines 於+之
• 耳 — "merely, that's all"
• 夫 — sentence-initial topic marker, or final exclamation

> Before： 這件事已經結束了啊！ > > After： 事畢矣夫！

> Before： 不過如此罷了。 > > After： 如是而已耳。

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V3. Classical Pronouns (代詞) [Hard]

• 我 → 吾 / 余 / 予
• 你 → 汝 / 爾 / 子 / 女
• 他/它 → 其 / 彼
• 自己 → 己
• 誰 → 孰
• 什麼 → 何
• 哪裡 → 安 / 惡 / 焉
• 這 → 此 / 是（指示詞，非繫詞）
• 那 → 彼

Drop pronouns whenever possible (see G2). When retained, use single characters only.

> Before： 你自己不想要的東西，不要強加給別人。 > > After： 己所不欲，勿施於人。

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V4. Classical Function Words (虛詞) [Hard]

Core substitutions:

• 的 → 之
• 在 → 於
• 和/跟 → 與
• 用/拿 → 以
• 從 → 自
• 就 → 則 / 乃
• 所以 → 故 / 是以
• 卻/但是 → 而

> Before： 用道德來治理國家，就好像北極星在它的位置上，所有的星星都圍繞著它。 > > After： 為政以德，譬如北辰，居其所而眾星共之。

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V5. Classical Negation (否定詞) [Hard]

Pre-Qin negation is richer than any later period:

• 不 — general negation
• 弗 — "not" (with implicit object)
• 未 — "not yet"
• 毋/勿 — prohibitive "do not"
• 莫 — "none / nobody / do not"
• 非 — "is not / not"
• 無 — "there is no"
• 微 — "were it not for" (counterfactual)

> Before： 不要擔心別人不了解你自己。 > > After： 勿患人之不己知。

> Before： 沒有人能夠阻止它。 > > After： 莫之能禦。

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V6. Remove ALL Modern Connective Padding (去連詞) [Hard]

Pre-Qin prose uses almost no multi-syllable connectives. 因為…所以, 雖然…但是, 不但…而且, 如果…就 — ALL must go. Replace with juxtaposition, 而, 則, or nothing.

> Before： 雖然學習了但是沒有思考，就會迷惘；雖然思考了但是沒有學習，就會空虛危險。 > > After： 學而不思則罔，思而不學則殆。

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V7. Eliminate 把/被 Constructions (去把被句) [Hard]

把 and 被 as grammatical markers did not exist in Pre-Qin. Restructure:

• 被 → passive implied by context, or 見…、為…所…
• 把 → direct verb-object, or 以 + object

> Before： 他被小人陷害了。 > > After： 見陷於小人。

> Before： 我把這件事告訴了他。 > > After： 以告之。

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Checklist: Style Patterns (S: 風格修辭)

S1. Aphoristic Brevity (格言凝鍊) [Hard]

Every sentence should feel like it could be carved in stone. If a thought takes more than 8 characters, ask whether it can be split into two 4-character statements. The ideal unit is 4-8 characters.

> Before： 聰明的人喜歡水，仁慈的人喜歡山。聰明的人活潑好動，仁慈的人沉靜安穩。 > > After： 知者樂水，仁者樂山。知者動，仁者靜。

> Before： 一個人做事如果只求差不多，最終會害了自己。 > > After： 苟且者，自賊也。

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S2. Parable & Analogy (寓言取譬) [Soft]

Where abstract argument dominates, consider replacing with a concrete image or micro-parable — the signature move of 莊子 and 韓非子.

> Before： 人的知識是有限的，但是世界上需要學習的東西是無限的。用有限的生命去追求無限的知識，是很危險的。 > > After： 吾生也有涯，而知也無涯。以有涯隨無涯，殆已。

> Before： 不要用固定不變的方法去處理不斷變化的情況。 > > After： 刻舟求劍，舟行而劍不行。

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S3. Dialogue Markers (對話標記) [Soft]

Pre-Qin philosophical texts are built on dialogue. Use「X曰：」for speech, and the concise call-and-response rhythm of 論語:「問…」「答…」.

> Before： 有學生問孔子什麼是仁。孔子回答說：「愛人。」又問什麼是知。孔子回答說：「知人。」 > > After： 樊遲問仁。子曰：「愛人。」問知。曰：「知人。」

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S4. Layered Meaning (微言大義) [Soft]

The best Pre-Qin prose carries meaning beyond the surface. Let compression create ambiguity that rewards re-reading. Do not over-explain.

> Before： 我每天用三件事來反省自己：幫別人做事有沒有盡心？和朋友來往有沒有守信用？老師傳授的學業有沒有認真複習？ > > After： 日三省吾身：為人謀而不忠乎？與朋友交而不信乎？傳不習乎？

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Checklist: Register Markers (R: 時代標記)

R1. NO Multi-Syllable Conjunctions (禁多音節連詞) [Hard]

This is the single most important register marker. Pre-Qin had NONE of these: 因為、所以、雖然、但是、而且、或者、如果、即使、不但、因此、然而、可是. Their presence instantly breaks the register. Every one must be eliminated.

> Before： 因為教育不普及，所以很多人不知道禮義。然而如果能夠推行教化，即使是普通百姓也可以成為君子。 > > After： 教不行，民不知禮義。苟行教化，則庶人可為君子。

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R2. Classical Time & Place (時地詞) [Soft]

• 那時候 → 是時 / 當是時
• 後來 → 既而
• 從前 → 昔 / 昔者
• 現在 → 今
• 以前 → 先 / 曩
• 將來 → 後

> Before： 從前有一個農夫在田裡耕作。 > > After： 昔者農人耕於田。

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R3. Sentence Rhythm: 4-Character Base (四言為基) [Hard]

Pre-Qin prose gravitates toward 4-character phrases as the default rhythm unit, occasionally expanding to 5 or 6, contracting to 2 or 3. This 4-char pulse is the heartbeat of the style.

Hard rule: each clause defaults to 4 characters. Clauses over 6 characters need strong justification. Clauses over 8 characters should almost never appear.

> Before： 如果自己的行為端正，不用下命令事情也會被執行；如果自己的行為不端正，即使下了命令也沒有人會服從。 > > After： 其身正，不令而行；其身不正，雖令不從。

> Before： 差不多先生的相貌，跟你跟我都差不多。（14字子句） > > After： 其貌與眾同。（5字）

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Step 4: Rewrite

Apply all checklist items to produce a complete rewrite. Follow these principles:

Rewriting Principles

1. 一字千金 — Every character must earn its place. If it can be removed without losing meaning, remove it.
2. 辭約義豐 — Maximum meaning in minimum characters. Target: output should be 30-50% of the input's character count. If the output exceeds 50%, compression is insufficient — go back and cut harder.
3. 述而不論 — State; do not explain. Trust the reader to draw the inference.
4. 正言若反 — The most powerful statements often take paradoxical form (老子's signature).
5. 取譬明理 — When logic alone is dry, one concrete image outweighs ten abstract arguments.
6. 寓莊於諧 — Serious ideas can ride on playful or absurd examples (莊子's method).

Target Quality: Complete Example

Below is a short passage rewritten in the target register — this is the level of compression and rhythm to aim for:

> Modern (68 chars)： 他是一個做事只求差不多的人。別人都說他看得開、想得通，認為他很有修養。但其實他只是懶惰和馬虎，最後因為這個態度而喪命。 > > 先秦 (24 chars)： 苟且者也。人以為達，實怠也。卒以此死。

Note: 24/68 ≈ 35% — within the target compression ratio.

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Step 5: Authenticity Audit

Pass 1 — Pattern Re-scan

Re-read the rewritten text against the checklist above. Check for:

• Any surviving copula 是 (most common failure)
• Any multi-syllable conjunctions (因為, 所以, 雖然, 但是, etc.)
• Any 把/被 constructions
• Any bisyllabic words that could be monosyllabic — go sentence by sentence: if a sentence of 8 chars contains 2+ bisyllabic words, it has not been compressed enough
• Clauses exceeding 8 characters that could be split
• Character count check: count the total characters of the output vs input. If the ratio exceeds 50%, the rewrite needs further compression

Pass 2 — Read-Aloud Test

Read the whole piece aloud (mentally). Ask:

• Does it sound like something from 論語 or 莊子, or does it sound like a modern student imitating classical Chinese?
• Is the rhythm rooted in 4-character phrases with natural variation?
• Are subjects dropped aggressively enough? (If you can point to who is doing what in every clause, you have not dropped enough.)
• Does it feel carved, not written?

Fix any remaining issues.

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Step 6: Output

1. Save to new file with _xianqin suffix (e.g., article.md → article_xianqin.md). If user explicitly requests in-place edit, overwrite.
2. Show 3-5 most representative before/after pairs.
3. State which patterns were most heavily applied.

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Important Notes

• This is the most extreme compression of all classical Chinese styles. Meaning WILL be compressed and some nuance may be lost. This is inherent to the style, not a defect.
• For most practical purposes (essays, proposals, formal writing), wenyan-guwen (Tang-Song prose) is more appropriate. Use this skill only when the Pre-Qin philosophical register is specifically desired.
• This is a style transformation tool, not a content generator. Preserve the original meaning to the extent the extreme compression allows.
• Do NOT add teachings, parables, or philosophical content not present in the original.
• When the source contains modern technical terms with no classical equivalent (e.g., 半導體, 演算法), keep the term and transform the surrounding prose.
• Pre-Qin prose ≠ poetry. Do NOT force rhyme or uniform line length. The rhythm is prose rhythm — regular but not rigid.
• 先秦諸子 each have distinct voices: 論語 is terse dialogue, 莊子 is imaginative parable, 韓非子 is sharp argument, 左傳 is laconic narrative. Match the sub-style to the source text's nature when possible.
• Pair with wenyan-guwen (Tang-Song essay), wenyan-hanwei (historical narrative), or wenyan-huaben (vernacular fiction) for other classical styles.

Source & license

This open-source skill is cataloged on AgentStack and links to its original source — we do not rehost the code.

• Author: tzengyuxio
• Source: tzengyuxio/skills
• License: MIT

Install and usage instructions live in the source repository linked above.