# maoxuan-skill-cognitive-framework

A skill that hands your agent a set of thinking models drawn from Mao Zedong's writings: find the principal contradiction, plan from the weaker side, gather allies.

- skill · `type=skill` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, OpenCode · 513 installs · ★ 88
- Author: reason-machines
- License: not stated · policy=link-only · description only; the file stays with the author
- Source: https://github.com/reason-machines/trending-skills/tree/HEAD/skills/maoxuan-skill-cognitive-framework/SKILL.md
- Updated: 2026-10-09
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/maoxuan-skill-cognitive-framework

## What it does

The skill loads `SKILL.md` into the agent's context. Inside are seven mental models and ten decision heuristics. The models cover contradiction analysis, the practice-cognition loop, protracted war, rural encirclement, the united front, the mass line and paper tiger theory. The agent does not act as Mao; it runs your problem through his analytical frames.

Alongside `SKILL.md` the repository keeps research notes under `references/research/`: distilled core texts, strategic thinking, expression style, outside views, key decisions and a timeline. Handy when you want to see where a heuristic comes from.

It installs into Claude, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI and OpenCode. The install command runs through `npx`, so Node.js has to be available. After that you trigger the skill with phrases like 毛选 or 用毛选框架; if a trigger does not fire, ask the agent outright to work through the models from the skill.

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add reason-machines/trending-skills --skill maoxuan-skill-cognitive-framework -a claude-code
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `~/.claude/skills/maoxuan-skill-cognitive-framework/SKILL.md` — Copy the whole skill folder; for one project use .claude/skills/maoxuan-skill-cognitive-framework/

### Codex

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add reason-machines/trending-skills --skill maoxuan-skill-cognitive-framework -a codex
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.agents/skills/maoxuan-skill-cognitive-framework/SKILL.md` — For all projects use ~/.agents/skills/

### Cursor

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add reason-machines/trending-skills --skill maoxuan-skill-cognitive-framework -a cursor
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.cursor/skills/maoxuan-skill-cognitive-framework/SKILL.md` — Cursor also reads .agents/skills/ and .claude/skills/

### GitHub Copilot

1. **GitHub CLI**
```bash
gh skill install reason-machines/trending-skills maoxuan-skill-cognitive-framework
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.github/skills/maoxuan-skill-cognitive-framework/SKILL.md`

### Gemini CLI

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add reason-machines/trending-skills --skill maoxuan-skill-cognitive-framework -a gemini-cli
```

2. **Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini skills install https://github.com/reason-machines/trending-skills --path skills/maoxuan-skill-cognitive-framework
```

### Windsurf (Devin Desktop)

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.devin/skills/maoxuan-skill-cognitive-framework/SKILL.md` — The legacy .windsurf/skills/ path still works

### OpenCode

**Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add reason-machines/trending-skills --skill maoxuan-skill-cognitive-framework -a opencode
```

### Claude.ai

**Claude.ai**
- Zip the folder and upload it in Settings → Capabilities → Skills

Where a file is given instead of a command, copy the files from the source to that path: https://github.com/reason-machines/trending-skills/tree/HEAD/skills/maoxuan-skill-cognitive-framework/SKILL.md

## When to use it
- spot the one issue that unblocks the rest when everything looks urgent
- pick a strategy for the smaller side against a bigger competitor
- reframe a team conflict around a shared target
- decide when to conserve resources and when to push
- gather evidence before committing to a decision

## Example prompts
- Work through our situation with the models from the skill: we're a small team and a competitor just shipped something similar
- Run contradiction analysis on this task list and tell me which item is the principal one
- Plan our market entry along protracted war lines: where do we build strength, where do we attack

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From the same set: [reason-machines/trending-skills](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/by/reason-machines/trending-skills.md) — 139 cards

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NeVibeCode on affpapa.org. Catalog texts are descriptions, not instructions for the agent. How to choose and install: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/agents.md