[2] The work is purportedly named after Wei Liao,[3] who is said to have either been a student of Lord Shang or an important advisor during the Qin dynasty.

Questions of authorship are further clouded by the fact that two different works of the same name appear to have been known during the Han dynasty.

A new version of the Wei Liaozi was discovered in 1972 at a Han dynasty tomb in Linyi.

[4] The Wei Liaozi frequently advocates both a civil and military approach to affairs.

Although the Wei Liaozi does not specifically mention Confucianism, the text advocates a government based on humanistic values, in line with that school of thought.