The Heguanzi, Pheasant Cap Master, has long been neglected and misunderstood. It combines a potent mix of religion, metaphysics, philosophy, politics, and strategy, unrolling a vibrant picture of life and death in perhaps the most climactic period of Chinese history. Against the totalitarian system of Qin, the text proposes an alternative vision of meritocracy and inclusiveness to unite a fractured world. This first full translation and analysis is a must for anyone interested in Chinese culture.