1.    The text compiled is based on the Sibu congkan (SBCK) edition. As this edition is marred by serious corruptions, Zhao Shouzheng Guanzi tongjie and Guo Moruo Guanzi jijiao have been consulted for collation purposes. Since emendations of the text have been incorporated for the reference of the reader, care has been taken to have them clearly marked as such, so that the original text can be recovered by ignoring the emendations.

2.    Round brackets signify deletions while square ones signify additions. This convention is also used for emendations. An emendation of character a to character b is indicated by （a）〔b〕, e.g.,

舟車〔飾〕

The character 飾, missing in the SBCK edition, has been added on the authority of Guo Moruo Guanzi jijiao (pt.I, p.92).

殷民化之（紂之失也）

The characters 紂之失也 in the SBCK edition, being an interpolation, have been deleted on the authority of Zhao Shouzheng Guanzi tongjie (vol.I, p.13).

野蕪曠則民乃（菅）〔荒〕

The character 菅 in the SBCK edition has been emended to 荒 on the authority of Zhao Shouzheng Guanzi tongjie (vol.I, p.3). The authority for each emendation is shown in a popup window.

3.    Where the text has been emended on the authority of other editions, such emendations are either incorporated into the text or displayed in a popup window. For explanations, please refer to the Bibliography, which could be found under '說明'.

4.    For all characters used only the standard form is displayed. Variant or incorrect forms have been replaced by the standard forms as given in Morohashi Tetsuji Dai Kan-Wa jiten (Tokyo: Taishūkan shoten, 1974), and the Hanyu da zidian (Hubei cishu chubanshe and Sichuan cishu chubanshe, 1986-1990).

5.     (i)  The textual notes are mainly based on Zhao Shouzheng Guanzi tongjie and Guo Moruo Guanzi jijiao.

• A highlighted character indicates that a variant reading is embedded and can be viewed in a popup window, e.g.,

  是謂聖王

  The note embedded in the popup windows reads 賢, showing that for 聖 another version reads 賢.

• Where there are more than one variant readings, they are indicated by a, b, e.g.,

  是以臣有殺其君、子有殺其父者矣

  The embedded note reads a.臣有弒其君、子有殺其父 b.臣有弒其君、子有弒其父.

        (ii)  For further information on the variant readings given in the collation notes, please refer to Zhao Shouzheng Guanzi tongjie and Guo Moruo Guanzi jijiao, and for further information on references to the sources, please refer to the Bibliography, which could be selected from the pull-down menu.

6.    The sign □ which in the original text indicates a missing character.