Master Sun's short treatise The Art of War is both inspirational and worrying. It is beautiful and chilling. It encapsulates a part of the irreducible essence of Chinese culture and has been familiar to literate Chinese down the ages. For that reason alone, it is an extraordinarily important book and one that should be read by anyone dealing with either China or Japan. During the Second World War, E. Machell-Cox produced a version for the Royal Air Force. "Master Sun," he wrote, "is fundamental and, read with insight, lays bare the mental mechanism of our enemy. Study him, and study him again. Do not be misled by his simplicity."...

FOR MORE THAN TWO THOLISAND YEARS.Sun-tzu's The Art of War has provided leaders with essential advice on battlefield tactics, managing troops and terrain, and employing cunning and deception. An elemental part of Chinese culture, it has also become a touchstone for the Western struggle for survival and success,whether in battle, in business, or in relationships.Now, in his crisp, accessible new translation,John Minford brings this seminal work to life for today's readers.

Capturing the literary quality of The Art of War--its lucid, epigrammatic, almost poetic style--as well as its philosophical and strategic content, Minford presents the core text in two different formats. First, the unadorned thirteen chapters allow readers to form their own first 'impressions of the ancient words of wisdom ascribed to Sunotzu. Then the same text appears with extensive running commentary from the canon of traditional Chinese commentators and others, providing context and subtext to the work. A lively, learned introduction, chronologies, suggested readings, and other valuable apparatus round out this authoritative volume.Even those readers familiar with The Art of War will experience it anew, finding it more fascinating--and more chilling--than ever.

Acknowledgments

Introduction

A Note on the Text

Suggestions for Further Reading

A List of Chinese Commentators

Chronologies

  Dynasties

  Historical Events

THE ART OF WAR

Chapter 1. Making of Plans

Chapter 2. Waging of War

Chapter 3. Strategic Offensive

Chapter 4. Forms and Dispositions

Chapter 5. Potential Energy

Chapter 6. Empty and Full

Chapter 7. The Fray

Chapter 8. The Nine Changes

Chapter 9. On the March

Chapter 10. Forms of Terrain

Chapter 11. The Nine Kinds of Ground

Chapter 12. Attack by Fire

Chapter 13. Espionage

THE ART OF WAR with Commentary

Chapter 1. Making of Plans

Chapter 2. Waging of War

Chapter 3. Strategic Offensive

Chapter 4. Forms and Dispositions

Chapter 5. Potential Energy

Chapter 6. Empty and Full

Chapter 7. The Fray

Chapter 8. The Nine Changes

Chapter 9. On the March

Chapter 10. Forms of Terrain

Chapter 11. The Nine Kinds of Ground

Chapter 12. Attack by Fire

Chapter 13. Espionage