I was just cleaning up my bookcase and wondered why I had multiple copies of Sun Tzu Art of War. Just a lotta different translation of Sun Tzu.

My associate who was looking over my shoulders, told me that only beginners read Sun Tzu. The smart guys who run the Chinese government are reading T’ai Kung Liu-t’ao (Six Secret Teachings) and Wu-tzu.

I really wonder ... "is he right" !?

The " real deal" question is ... what one military classic do you look at the most?

If it is Sun tzu Art of War, you can name ya favorite copy of Sun Tzu?


I selected Tai Gong as my favorite strategy book (Sun Tzu is number 2) and Roger Ames translation as my favorite translation of Sun Tzu and Sun Bin.

mine is 太公六道

Haven't read a lot of them.. so I'll stick with Sun tzu.. 36 Strategies as well.. **** hard to find Wu-tzu or 6 strategies in Thailand.. any translation in English found in the web??
It may not be Chinese, but Musashi's Book of Five Ring could pass for the strategist... the principle's there.. i think.

Sorry. If I didn't put in Miyamoto Musashi Book of Five Rings. it is a great for the individual who wants to be a strategist and not lead anyone. ...

I voted for Sun Tzu's Art of War..

For an exhaustive list of military classics, please refer to
Wujiang's list at
http://www.chinahistoryforum.com/index.php...5&#entry4711175

It has already been translated into pinyin and english by me.

This Cardinal reads on http://www.ralphsawyer.com/work4.htmDr. Sawyer's web site the following: ["Although the Art of War remains the only book known in the West, the Wu-tzu and Six Secret Teachings proved to be highly important sources for military wisdom over the centuries, and the latter continues to be held in higher esteem among contemporary PRC military professionals."]

Cardinal's choice of readings are:
* JTG 6 Strategic Teachings; (1st choice)
* Master of Ghost Valley essay on Vertical and Horizonal Science
* HSG's Three Strategies
* Sunzi's AoW;
* Sun Bin's AoW;
* ZGL's Way of General.

Suggest you go to Amazon and look for Ralph Sawyer's book
The Seven Military Classics of Ancient China. This includes JTG Six Strategies, Wuzi and S/z'z The Art of War.

More information can be found here. Sawyer's web site pg on 7 Miliitary Classics of Ancient China

Good luck.

I love the "Way of the General" because it doesn't just talk about military philosophy, also it mention how to be a capable ruler and life philosophy on how to become a better person. Yeah, Zhuge Liang the humanistic, yet a genius of his time, but too sad that he died in the end without living up to his promise to Liu Bei to reunite China. crying, weeping, mourning. The rest is just about military and strategy, which is great but you must first be a self-competent person inorder to be a military commander.

For Zhugeliang's "Way of the General 将苑" refer to

http://www.chinahistoryinfo.com/index.php?id=24,78,0,0,1,0

Take note that Zhugeliang didn't just write "Way of General", he also wrote "The easy 16 strategies 便宜十六策". These two compiled up to form Zhugeliang Bingfa 诸葛亮兵法(Zhugeliang's Art of War)

The following is an abstract outline of ZGL Sixteen Strategies [便宜十六策]:

1. Governing a country
Be as "unerring as the North Star"
2. Ties between the ruler and subjects
Let respect and loyalty become the only set of links between the ruler and his
subjects.
3. Observing and listening
Be a leader with a good strategic understanding of the situation at hand. Keep
your mind on the game and your eye on the target.
4. Acceptance of advice
Be receptive and kind to other people's ideas.
5. Being perceptive
Be perceptive of all details (large and small) and make a clear distinction between
the attribute of right and wrong.
6. Managing people
In order to win people over to your side, educate them.
7. Selection of people
Seek the worthy and employ the talented.
8. Performance evaluation
Promote the praiseworthy and dismiss the average performers and producers.
9. Military administration
Play the game effectively and win by sound strategy development.
10. Rewards and punishments
While you reward those who deliver a clean, efficient administration, you should
punish those who do not.
11. On emotion
Do not make decisions via emotion.
12. Controlling chaos
Be careful when handling a chaotic situation.
13. Education and orders
Rectify oneself first when issuing orders.
14. Dealing with difficulties
Act decisively to eliminate the cause of chaos.
15. Looking ahead
Be farsighted and cautious when planning.
16. Observation
Commit one's self to strive only for success.

I wish to thank the moderator (or administrator) for adding the Chinese characters to my poll. It is so totally cool.

No problem, other than adding the chinese character, I've also changed your chinese romanization to Pinyin, as it is preferred in this forum (rather than using wade giles)

I have a tendency to get them mixed up. ... I need to find a good pin yin dictionary. Which one do you recommend?

Refer to this thread on Wade-Giles to Pinyin translation:
http://www.chinahistoryforum.com/index.php?showtopic=3292

You can download a conversion chart.

Thanks again!

When was the Sima Fa written?

I am a first time user. and am not sure if this will be sent, However I am a great Guie Gu Tzu follower. I am looking for leads on any English translations, I have the book ''Thunder in the Sky'' and have read a doctoral thesis on Gui Gu Tzu. But am looking for more. Sun Tzu is also a favorite, I like the Sam Griffith translation, which is by the way about half of his doctoral disseration from Oxford. I was privilleged to read it, and it is facinating

Thanks for any reply Rexie

I don't know of any translation, but I am slowly working my way through it... so, if you are not in a hurry, and ready to accept the many errors I will certainly do, PM me...

Francois

Hi Rexie,

Recommend the book Jiang Tai Gong's Six Secret Teachings.

If possible, like to look at that thesis on GuiGu Tzu.

Pls pm me.

Thanks!



Francois,

Impressive.

Interested in looking at it. Will PM you at some point of time.

If we do not stick to Chinese classics (Wujing Qishu), I vote for "Jixiao Xinshu" by General Qi!

If we do stick to Chinese Military classics, I vote for "Tai-gong lyu tao".


Best regards,

Alexey.

Technically, the survey should have included:

Seven Classics [All Seven Classics w/o Sun Bin's Military Methods]
Eight Classics [All Seven Classics w/ Sun Bin's Military Methods]
100 Unorthodox Strategies.