Not a quote repeater. Not a historical simulator. A living thinking engine.
Mao Thinker is a Claude Code Skill that encapsulates Mao Zedong's dialectical analysis, theory of practice, dialectics, and 'seek truth from facts' into a thinking engine applicable to modern real-world problems.
Ask it anything — work, relationships, decisions, learning, struggles — and it won't lecture you on Party history or recite Mao's works. It uses Mao's method of thinking to help you break down problems, see clearly, and find a way forward.
| Your Problem | How It Helps |
|---|---|
| "I've been at this company for 3 years, new boss doesn't recognize my work — should I quit?" | Uses dialectical analysis to identify the contradiction's nature: antagonistic vs. non-antagonistic |
| "How does a tiny startup compete with Big Tech?" | Applies the logic of On Protracted War — asymmetric competition, guerrilla strategy |
| "I've studied for years but still feel incompetent" | Invokes On Practice — which stage of the two cognitive leaps are you stuck in? |
| "Our team is fragmented, low morale, low efficiency" | Draws on the Rectification Movement — fix ideology before you fix structure |
| "A million things to do, don't know where to start" | "Playing the piano" method — all ten fingers move, but only one center |
┌─────────────────────────────────┐
│ Layer 1: Logic Core (Engine) │ ← Dialectics, Practice, Seek Truth
│ Response structure framework │
├─────────────────────────────────┤
│ Layer 2: Case Database (Fuel) │ ← Mao's real decision chains from history
│ Accurate analogies & citations │
└─────────────────────────────────┘
| Pillar | Core | Solves |
|---|---|---|
| Dialectical Analysis | Find main contradiction → main aspect → drive transformation | Can't see the essence of complex problems |
| Theory of Practice | Practice → Knowledge → Practice → Knowledge | Know a lot but can't execute |
| Dialectics | Unity of opposites / Quantitative→Qualitative / Negation of negation | One-sided, static thinking |
| Seek Truth From Facts | Investigate → Start from reality → Concrete analysis | Disconnected from reality, armchair theorizing |
Every response follows this arc:
- Define the nature — What kind of contradiction is this?
- Seize the key link — What's the principal contradiction? Which side dominates?
- Give a method — How to solve it? What steps? Where to start?
- Historical analogy — "Your situation reminds me of..."
- Elevate — Rise to universal dialectical laws, see patterns
# 1. Clone
git clone https://github.com/beee9/mao-thinker.git
cd mao-thinker
# 2. Install the Skill in Claude Code
# Copy skill/mao-thinker.md to your Claude Code skills directory
# Or reference the file path directly
# 3. (Optional) Test case search
python scripts/search_cases.py "competing against a much stronger opponent"Activate the Skill in Claude Code, then ask naturally:
> I've spent 5 years at a big company and feel like a cog. I want to start something but I'm scared.
Comrade, the root of your problem isn't "corporate vs startup" —
you're thinking in metaphysical binaries...
mao-thinker/
├── skill/
│ └── mao-thinker.md # Claude Code Skill (core)
├── cases/
│ ├── military/ # Military decision cases
│ ├── political/ # Political analysis cases
│ ├── economic/ # Economic construction cases
│ ├── philosophical/ # Philosophical thinking cases
│ └── interpersonal/ # Interpersonal & organizational cases
├── scripts/
│ └── search_cases.py # Case search tool
├── docs/
│ └── superpowers/specs/
│ └── 2025-06-22-mao-thinker-design.md
├── README.md # You're reading it
├── README_zh.md # 中文文档
└── LICENSE # MIT
Currently 15 curated decision cases across five domains, including:
| Domain | Case | Modern Application |
|---|---|---|
| Military | On Protracted War | Asymmetric competition, long-game strategy |
| Military | Sixteen-Character Guerrilla Formula | Flexible weak-player strategy |
| Military | Concentrate Superior Forces | Resource focusing when outnumbered |
| Political | Rectification Movement | Organizational culture reform |
| Political | United Front | Coalition-building in complex landscapes |
| Political | Two Types of Contradictions | Distinguishing conflict natures |
| Economic | Great Production Campaign | Self-reliance under blockade |
| Economic | On the Ten Major Relationships | Multi-stakeholder coordination |
| Economic | Land Reform | Incentive design for mobilization |
| Philosophy | On Practice | Knowledge anxiety, learning plateaus |
| Philosophy | On Contradiction | Finding order in chaos |
| Philosophy | Oppose Book Worship | Fighting dogma and blind conformity |
| Interpersonal | Zunyi Conference | Holding correct minority opinions |
| Interpersonal | Serve the People | Finding meaning in ordinary work |
| Interpersonal | "Playing the Piano" | Multi-project management |
- Not a quote repeater — This isn't a Mao database. It encapsulates thinking methods, not text.
- Not a historical simulator — You don't "talk to 1927 Mao." You use Mao's thinking to solve 2025 problems.
- Case-supported — Every reasoning framework is backed by Mao's real decision cases. No empty talk.
- Zero-dependency install — The Skill file is just one Markdown file. Case DB and search tool are bonuses.
- Open, transparent, auditable — Everything is public. Anyone can inspect the complete logic core design.
- Core Skill file
- 15 curated decision cases
- Keyword-based case search
- Vector-based semantic search (more precise matching)
- Expand to 100+ cases
- Web Demo (try it in your browser)
- Multi-language support
- Community contribution guide
Contributions welcome — cases, Skill improvements, corrections.
- Add to the appropriate category under
cases/, following the existing format - Ensure complete metadata:
id,title,date,problem,mao_analysis,solution,analogies_to_modern - Submit a PR
This project is a thinking methodology tool. It extracts the methodological and philosophical content from Mao's writings and supports them with historical cases to help users analyze real-world problems. It does not represent any political position or propagate any political views. It is a cognitive tool — like applying The Art of War to business strategy.
MIT © 2025 Mao Thinker Contributors