The Art of War

Author: Zhao Guohua, Liu Guojian, Editors
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-06-01
Features: This book is titled The Art of War, primarily compiling classic discussions on traditional military strategy. The editors believe that traditional military strategy consists of three levels:
First is The Art of War, as the earliest extant military treatise, it runs like a long red thread through the entire course of Chinese military history, playing a significant guiding role.
Second are the Seven Military Classics, including The Art of War, Wuzi, The Methods of the Marquis of Ji, Wu Liezi, The Six, The Three, and The Questions and Answers of Li Weigong. Just as Confucianism has the Five Classics and Four Books, and Taoism has the Tao Te Ching and Zhuangzi, the Seven Military Classics hold a special theoretical value for the development of Chinese military education and academic research.
Third are all military treatises, excluding the Seven Military Classics, such as Sun Bin’s Art of War, The Art of Commanding the Army, The White Horse Inn Manual, The Tiger’s Claws Manual, The Essential Records of Military Affairs, He’s Doctor’s Preparations for Debate, The Records of Formations, The Strategy of the Hermit, The Practical Records of Training Troops, and The Art of War, as well as the discussions on military issues by the philosophers of past dynasties. These works reflect the characteristics of traditional military strategy from various perspectives. The theoretical contributions of all these works form the main content of this book. Swords and daggers are merely for "one-on-one" combat, while military strategy is for "combat against thousands." The features of military strategy are a strong dialectical nature, obvious comprehensiveness, strong practicality, and complete continuity. It advocates peace while valuing war; upholds justice while emphasizing benefits; emphasizes strength while focusing on strategy; highlights commanders while cherishing soldiers—truly an excellent tradition. The application of traditional military strategy is not limited to war but also extends to other social activities. Business decision-making can refer to military decision-making; human resource development and management can refer to military organization and management; market competition can refer to military strategy. Whether in individual confrontations or group conflicts, drawing on some military strategy will yield remarkable results.