The Art of War: A Treasure House of National Classics

Author: Sun Tzu (Spring and Autumn Period), translated and commented by Ma Yifu
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2004-10-01
Features: This book explores various aspects such as talent management in enterprises, economic intelligence, business momentum, commercial warfare, flexibility, enterprise cooperation, market competition, corporate image, customer psychology, team spirit, decision-making, business opportunities, and planning. Based on real-life cases from modern commercial warfare and combining the essence of The Art of War, it reveals the profound connections between The Art of War and modern commercial strategies. It is believed that every reader will find the experiences and lessons they need in this book. The Art of War is a shining gem in the classical military cultural heritage of China and an important part of China's excellent traditional culture. Its content is vast and profound, with rich and subtle thoughts, and its logic is meticulous and rigorous. Written by the great military strategist Sun Tzu during the Spring and Autumn Period, it was likely compiled around the late Spring and Autumn Period. Since its inception, it has had a significant and far-reaching impact on the development of ancient Chinese military theory and has been revered as the "Military Canon" and the "Forefather of Military Discourses for Generations." Generations of military strategists and scholars have drawn nourishment from it to guide military practice and develop military theory. The famous political and military strategist Cao Cao of the Three Kingdoms period provided a systematic annotation of The Art of War, opening the door for later generations to study and apply it. The Art of War is not only a storehouse of Chinese strategy but is also renowned worldwide. It was introduced to Japan in the 8th century and to Europe in the 18th century. Today, it has been translated into 29 languages and is widely circulated globally. The renowned British military theorist Liddell Hart revealed that the viewpoints he expounded in his military works could actually be found in The Art of War from 2,500 years ago. He was indeed deeply interested in Sun Tzu and his works, not only writing a preface for the English translation of The Art of War but also extensively quoting Sun Tzu's maxims at the beginning of his masterpiece Strategy. During the 1991 Gulf War, U.S. Marine Corps officers were ordered to carry a copy of The Art of War to read on the battlefield. The Art of War has been recorded through the ages. In April 1972, a bamboo slip copy of The Art of War was unearthed from the Han Dynasty tomb at Yinque Mountain in Linyi County, Shandong Province, which is the earliest known extant version. Unfortunately, it is fragmented and does not provide a complete picture. The most important existing versions include the Eleven Commentaries on the Art of War published during the Ningzong reign of the Southern Song Dynasty, the Southern Song printed and copied Seven Military Classics, and among them, the Southern Song Eleven Commentaries on the Art of War was revised and annotated by Sun Xingyan during the Qing Dynasty, becoming the most widely circulated, influential, and practical edition in modern times. This electronic version of The Art of War is based on the edition edited by Yuan Lunkun and Zhang Wencai, published by Liaoning People's Publishing House in January 2000, titled The Ten Greatest Classical Military Books of China · The Art of War. (The Liaoning edition of The Art of War uses the photocopied Southern Song Eleven Commentaries on the Art of War published by Zhonghua Book Company in 1961).