Zou Yan's Philosophy in the Context of the Principles of Stratagemic Thinking and Soft Power

The article analyzes the philosophical and cosmological terms of Yin–yang and Wu Xing in Zou Yan's teachings through the prism of stratagem thinking and soft power. Key elements of the Yin–yang and Wu Xing systems are considered as structural mechanisms of strategic and social interaction. It is shown that these philosophical categories serve as a model of dynamic balance and harmonious management, where power is realized through flexibility and indirect influence. Stratagem is interpreted as its practical embodiment in the social, political, cultural, and diplomatic spheres, and soft power — as an expression of the philosophical idea of achieving goals without direct coercion. It is revealed that Zou Yan's teachings created methodological prerequisites for the development of stratagem and soft thinking based on concepts of the cyclical nature and dynamic rhythms of natural and social processes. This, in turn, opens the possibility of a broader interpretation of the categories of Yin–yang and Wu Xing in ancient Chinese philosophy.