The Seven Military Classics of Ancient China
by Ralph D. Sawyer
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The Seven Military Classics is one of the most profound studies of warfare ever written, a stanchion in sinological and military history. It presents an Eastern tradition of strategic thought that emphasizes outwitting one's opponent through speed, stealth, flexibility, and a minimum of force--an approach very different from that stressed in the West. Safeguarded for centuries by the ruling elite of imperial China, even in modern times these writings have been known only to a handful of show more Western specialists. This volume contains seven separate essays, written between 500 BCE and 700 CE, that preserve the essential tenets of strategy distilled from the experience of the most brilliant warriors of ancient China. show lessTags
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Sun Tzu's Art of War, a very intelligent yet slippery and devious book, is the centerpiece here. Some of the other military classics seem to have aged awkwardly; but there are some hidden gems, especially the Three Strategies of Huang Shih-Kung. These Three Strategies are brief; their advice on war is kind of dubious; but their vision of statecraft in general and of civil administration is both profoundly moral and profoundly compelling.
Ralph Sawyer presents here in English complete translations of the Seven Military Classics of Ancient China: Jiang Ziya (Taigong)'s Six Secret Teachings, The Methods of the Sima, Sun Zi's The Art of War, Wu Qi's Wuzi, Wei Liaozi, Three Strategies of Huang Shigong and Questions and Replies between Tang Taizong and Li Weigong. While the Art of War by Sun Zi is the best known of the seven, the other six are also interesting and valuable resources for understanding Chinese military thought and its role in Chinese philosophy.
Sawyer's translations are well-done and the book benefits greatly from his detailed historical commentaries that contextualise these seven works. The translations are readable but do not sacrifice the meaning of the show more texts for ease of comprehension. However, in using Wade-Giles Romanisation, the lay reader can get confused when using more modern research or texts in Pinyin. The only other downside is that the original Classical Chinese is not included but Chinese editions rectify that.
In all, this is an excellent piece of not only scholarship for both sinologists and military historians but also an excellent introduction to Chinese military thought and its influence on two millennia of East Asian thinking. show less
Sawyer's translations are well-done and the book benefits greatly from his detailed historical commentaries that contextualise these seven works. The translations are readable but do not sacrifice the meaning of the show more texts for ease of comprehension. However, in using Wade-Giles Romanisation, the lay reader can get confused when using more modern research or texts in Pinyin. The only other downside is that the original Classical Chinese is not included but Chinese editions rectify that.
In all, this is an excellent piece of not only scholarship for both sinologists and military historians but also an excellent introduction to Chinese military thought and its influence on two millennia of East Asian thinking. show less
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Ralph D. Sawyer, one of the leading scholars of Chinese warfare, has also worked extensively with major military and intelligence agencies. After study at MIT, Harvard, and National Taiwan University, and a brief period of university teaching, Sawyer has spent the past thirty years in international consulting work throughout Asia. Working from a show more strong technical and intelligence background, he has focused his research on the theory and practice of warfare in China, both traditional and contemporary show less
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