The Art of War by Sun Tzu - Classic Collectors Edition

If you are a fan of The Art of War by Sun Tzu, you may have noticed an abundance of free versions of the book, especially in electronic format. If you have downloaded any of these, you might have been reminded of the old adage, “there’s no such thing as a free lunch.” Unfortunately, virtually all of the free versions of The Art of War by Sun Tzu are derived from a single source, the 1910 translation by Lionel Giles which was made available via the Gutenberg project in 2003. This 60 page version is filled with scanning errors, missing words and sentences, and is completely devoid of all references, annotations, and explanations.

If you felt disappointed that a book you had heard so much about turned out to be nothing particularly special, you might want to revisit that opinion. Subsequent restored translations since 2003 have produced a much more readable treatise on The Art of War by Sun Tzu, including multiple translations within a single book. The Art of War by Sun Tzu – Classic Collectors Edition contains 2 complete translations: the Giles-Williams Restored Translation of The Art of War by Sun Tzu and the Giles-Kim Restored Academic Translation of The Art of War by Sun Tzu, with notes, commentary and annotations from a broad range of sources.

With a modern introduction tracing the impact of The Art of War on military tactics, and over 260 pages of content, The Art of War by Sun Tzu – Classic Collectors Edition is sure to make a welcome addition to your print library, or your electronic library. The book is available in hardcover and paperback through Ingram, and in electronic format on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Google Books.

The Art of War by Sun Tzu - Classic Collector's Edition

Premises of The Art of War

The Art of War presents the basic principles of warfare and gives military leaders advice on when and how to fight. Its 13 chapters offer specific battle strategies–for example, one tells commanders how to move armies through inhospitable terrain, while another explains how to use and respond to different types of weapons–but they also give more general advice about conflicts and their resolution. Rules like “He will win who knows when to fight and when not to fight;” “He will win who knows how to handle both superior and inferior forces;” “He will win whose army is animated by the same spirit throughout all its ranks;” “Victory usually goes to the army who has better trained officers and men;” and “Know the enemy and know yourself; in a hundred battles you will never be in peril” can be applied to particular battle situations as well as to other kinds of disagreements and challenges. 

The Art of War Today

The Art of War by Sun Tzu - Classic Collector's Edition

Ever since The Art of War was published, military leaders have been following its advice. In the twentieth century, the Communist leader Mao Zedong said that the lessons he learned from The Art of War helped him defeat Chiang Kai-Shek’s Nationalist forces during the Chinese Civil War. Other recent devotees of Sun Tzu’s work include Viet Minh commanders Vo Nguyen Giap and Ho Chi Minh and American Gulf War generals Norman Schwarzkopf and Colin Powell.

Meanwhile, executives and lawyers use the teachings of The Art of War to get the upper hand in negotiations and to win trials. Business-school professors assign the book to their students and sports coaches use it to win games. It has even been the subject of a self-help dating guide. Plainly, this 2,500-year-old book still resonates with a 21st-century audience.

The Art of War by Sun Tzu - Classic Edition

The Warring States Period 475-221 BCE is a history of constant warfare, of alliances and counter-alliances, and of treaties made and broken. The nature of warfare evolved during the period. During the Warring States period, political stability was impossible to gain by adventurous military action. With the advent of swelling ranks of soldiers, protracted sieges, and an ever increasing drain on state treasuries, warfare became a serious matter for study.

Thus, the opening remark of “The Art Of War” states–without exaggeration–war had become the most serious business of the state, the key to survival or ruin. The author of this and other pithy aphorisms on how to successfully fight a war was Sun Tzu. Sun Tzu scholars place his writing “The Art of War” in the Warring States Period, based on the descriptions of warfare in the text. The book has received great exposure in the west starting in the eighteenth century after being translated by a French missionary. It has been reported that Napoleon studied the text and effectively put many of its teachings to good use. For the past 2,000 years, it has been the most important military treatise in all of Asia, even known by name with the common people. Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese military figures have studied it and employed its concepts to good effect. This is especially evident in the military tactics of 20th century revolutionaries like Mao Zedong and Ho Chi Minh.

The book is comprised of 13 chapters. The thesis of Sun’s work is one should employ an army after a thorough analysis mandated by careful planning and the formulation of an overall strategy before embarking on a campaign. Sun emphasizes rational self-control, influenced by Daoist teachings throughout the book.

Chap 1-Laying Plans
18. All warfare is based on deception. 19. Hence, when able to attack, we must seem unable; when using our forces, we must seem inactive; when we are near, we must make the enemy believe we are far away; when far away, we must make him believe we are near.

Chap 6-Weak Points And Strong
8. Hence that general is skillful in attack whose opponent does not know what to defend; and he is skillful in defense whose opponent does not know what to attack.

The Samurai Series: The Book of Five Rings, Hagakure, Bushido

The Samurai Series brings together three of the most important books dealing with the Samurai path and philosophy into one volume. It contains:

The Book of Five Rings, written by Miyamoto Musashi, a Samurai of legendary renown, is a masterpiece of simple exposition written by a master swordsman, who near the end of his spectacular life, tried earnestly to explain the essentials of individual combat and the essence of being a Samurai. His book is widely considered to a cornerstone of the philosophy of Bushido.

Hagakure – The Way of the Samurai, meaning “Hidden by Leaves”, was composed from dialogs by the famous Samurai, Yamamoto Tsunetomo, by a scribe, Tashiro Tsuramoto. It explains the major ideas and philosophy that are essential to the “way of the Samurai”, by which is meant the “way of dying”. It contains numerous tales of various Samurai and their deeds which illustrate their philosophy and practice.

Bushido – The Soul of Japan by Inazo Nitobe is an extremely literate presentation by a Japanese intellectual who wished to present Japan and its fundamental philosophy in a way that could be understood by Westerners. It describes how the Shinto Religion and Buddhism are the underpinnings of the essentially militaristic view of honor and life that are inherent in Bushido, the Samurai code.

The Art of War by Sun Tzu - Deluxe Hardcover Edition

Ssu-ma Ch`ien gives the following biography of Sun Tzu:

Sun Tzu Wu was a native of the Ch`i State. His Art of War brought him to the notice of Ho Lu, King of Wu. Ho Lu said to him: “I have carefully perused your 13 chapters. May I submit your theory of managing soldiers to a slight test?”

Sun Tzu replied: “You may.”

Ho Lu asked: “May the test be applied to women?”

The answer was again in the affirmative, so arrangements were made to bring 180 ladies out of the Palace. Sun Tzu divided them into two companies, and placed one of the King’s favorite concubines at the head of each. He then bade them all take spears in their hands, and addressed them thus: “I presume you know the difference between front and back, right hand and left hand?”

The girls replied: “Yes”.

Sun Tzu went on: “When I say “eyes front,” you must look straight ahead. When I say “left turn,” you must face towards your left hand. When I say “right turn,” you must face towards your right hand. When I say “about turn,” you must face right round towards your back.” Again the girls assented. The words of command having been thus explained, he set up the halberds and battle-axes in order to begin the drill. Then, to the sound of drums, he gave the order “right turn.” But the girls only burst out laughing. Sun Tzu said: “If words of command are not clear and distinct, if orders are not thoroughly understood, then the general is to blame.”

So he started drilling them again, and this time gave the order “left turn,” whereupon the girls once more burst into fits of laughter. Sun Tzu: “If words of command are not clear and distinct, if orders are not thoroughly understood, the general is to blame. But if his orders ARE clear, and the soldiers nevertheless disobey, then it is the fault of their officers.”

So saying, he ordered the leaders of the two companies to be beheaded. Now the king of Wu was watching the scene from the top of a raised pavilion; and when he saw that his favorite concubines were about to be executed, he was greatly alarmed and hurriedly sent down the following message: “We are now quite satisfied as to our general’s ability to handle troops. If We are bereft of these two concubines, our meat and drink will lose their savor. It is our wish that they shall not be beheaded.”

Sun Tzu replied: “Having once received His Majesty’s commission to be the general of his forces, there are certain commands of His Majesty which, acting in that capacity, I am unable to accept.”

Accordingly, he had the two leaders beheaded, and straightway installed the pair next in order as leaders in their place. When this had been done, the drum was sounded for the drill once more; and the girls went through all the evolutions, turning to the right or to the left, marching ahead or wheeling back, kneeling or standing, with perfect accuracy and precision, not venturing to utter a sound. Then Sun Tzu sent a messenger to the King saying: “Your soldiers, Sire, are now properly drilled and disciplined, and ready for your majesty’s inspection. They can be put to any use that their sovereign may desire; bid them go through fire and water, and they will not disobey.”

But the King replied: “Let our general cease drilling and return to camp. As for us, We have no wish to come down and inspect the troops.”

Thereupon Sun Tzu said: “The King is only fond of words, and cannot translate them into deeds.”

After that, Ho Lu saw that Sun Tzu was one who knew how to handle an army, and finally appointed him general. In the west, he defeated the Ch`u State and forced his way into Ying, the capital; to the north he put fear into the States of Ch`i and Chin, and spread his fame abroad amongst the feudal princes. And Sun Tzu shared in the might of the King.

The Art of War by Baron de Jomini - Special Edition

The Art of War – Special Edition series has been the definitive collection of military strategy texts produced in the last decade. Including the works of Sun Tzu, Machiavelli, Baron de Jomini and Mao Tse-tung, these four books have brought together some of the greatest military strategists and treatises on war that history has ever known.

Sun Tzu has been instructing students of history on the fundamentals of conflict and strategy for over 25 centuries. Baron de Jomini was an advisor to Napoleon and wrote extensively on war tactics. Niccolo Machiavelli is famous for his book on political machinations, The Prince, and also produced his own treatise titled The Art of War. Mao Tse-tung was one of the most ruthless and brilliant experts on guerrilla warfare techniques of the modern era.

The Art of War – Special Edition series has just been re-released, this time in updated, collectible hardcover editions. Included in the series are:

The Art of War by Sun Tzu – Special Edition
The Art of War & The Prince by Machiavelli – Special Edition
The Art of War by Baron de Jomini – Special Edition
The Art of War by Mao Tse-tung – Special Edition