Caesar's Commentaries:
On the Gallic War and
On the Civil War
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 Playing a traditional zither Confucius not only said interesting things, he sang them and accompanied himself on a kind of zither. The Smithsonian Institution’s Arthur M. Sackler Gallery has frequent shows of musical instruments from Confucius’ time, 2,500 years ago. A collection of his lyrics (there are no melodies preserved) is one of the first pieces of Chinese literature handed down through the centuries.
“It is said that Confucius accompanied himself on a ‘qin’ while singing the odes of the Shi Jing, or the ‘Classic of Poetry,’” says cellist Yo-Yo Ma in a guide to the exhibit. “We don’t know what Confucius’ qin may have looked like, but in popular accounts of his life, the image of the philosopher-musician became firmly established.” The qin is a kind of zither. Today’s Chinese musicians still use one kind. Ma is an American of Chinese ancestry, one of today’s leading cellists playing classical western music.
Special Edition Books – Continue reading… Confucius Not Only Said It… He Brought It
 Excerpted from The Art of War by Sun Tzu - Special Edition According to the 2nd century BC biography written by Sima Qian, Sun Tzu was born in Qi during the Spring and Autumn Period of China (722–481 BC), and became a heroic general for the king of Wu, Helü. Historians place the writing of the text in the Warring States Period (476–221 BC), based on its description of warfare. The period was a time of constant conflict between seven nations (Zhao, Qi, Qin, Chu, Han, Wei and Yan) seeking to control all of China.
It is said that the king of Wu tested Sun Tzu’s skills in military tactics by commanding him to train several hundred concubines into soldiers. 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.
 Special Edition Books – Continue reading… Sun Tzu and The Army of Concubines
 ISBN: 1934255122 Translations can be a tricky thing. Especially if you are translating the oldest book on military strategy still in existence.
Lionel Giles is famous for his translation of The Art of War, as are James Clavell and Samuel B. Griffth. Still, many scholars despair of ever having a truly accurate translation of any of the historical Chinese texts, due to the changing nature of language patterns over the centuries, which complicate translation and transliteration.
In this article, the author explores some various nuances that have been lost in many of the accepted translations of The Art of War, (excerpts from The Art of War by Sun Tzu – Special Edition):
Special Edition Books – Continue reading… The Art of War or The Heart of War?
ISBN 1934255157
The Art of War by Sun Tzu – Large Print Edition contains the complete English translation by Lionel Giles in large, easy to read print.
The cover image depicts the bamboo scroll containing the teachings of Sun Tzu, which was discovered by archaeologists in the 1970s.
Leaders as diverse as Mao Zedong and General Douglas MacArthur [...]
Lionel Giles (1875 – 1958) was a Victorian scholar, translator and the son of British diplomat and sinologist, Herbert Giles. Lionel Giles served as Keeper of the Department of Oriental Manuscripts and Printed Books, as well as Assistant Curator at the British Museum.
His 1910 translation of The Art of War succeeded an earlier attempt by a British officer named E.F. Calthrop in 1905. Publicly refuting large portions of Calthrop’s work, Giles writes in his introduction:
It is not merely a question of downright blunders, from which none can hope to be wholly exempt. Omissions were frequent; hard passages were willfully distorted or slurred over. Such offenses are less pardonable. They would not be tolerated in any edition of a Latin or Greek classic, and a similar standard of honesty ought to be insisted upon in translations from Chinese.
Special Edition Books – Continue reading… Lionel Giles – Keeper of the Faith
 Frederic Henry Balfour (fl. 1871–1908) was a British expatriate editor, essayist, author, and sinologist, living in Shanghai during the Victorian era. He is most notable for his translation of the writings known today as the Tao Te Ching. Many of these translations appeared in his 1884 treatise: Taoist Texts: Ethical, Political and Speculative, also known simply as Taoist Texts. Although later discoveries of supplemental manuscripts have somewhat obscured Balfour’s early sinology, his work is still used as a primary source for many scholars of the Tao Te Ching.
Frederic Balfour followed the Wade-Giles method of transcription favored during the Victorian era. The first rough translations of ancient Chinese texts helped to shape future methods of transliteration.
Frederic H. Balfour also proved to be skeptical that Laozi, sometimes known as Lao Tzu or Lieh Tzu, was the author of the Taoist book Tao Te Ching; notably writing in Leaves from my Chinese Scrapbook that Laozi “is a philosopher who never lived.” Balfour believed that Laozi was an amalgam of wise ministers, or perhaps a literary device which Chuang Tzu used, as he expounded on his philosophy to students; very similar to the academic debate over the greek philosopher Socrates.
Special Edition Books – Continue reading… Frederic H. Balfour – Translator of the Tao Te Ching
Lao Tzu was the father of Taoism. In his Tao Te Ching, Lao Tzu outlined the basic concept of Tao.
Chuang Tzu and Lieh Tzu were Lao Tzu’s most important followers who expounded and expanded the basic principles set forth by Lao Tzu.
The translations of the works of these ancient Chinese sages by Lionel Giles and Herbert Giles are very highly regarded and considered by many to be the definitive English translations.
Tao – The Way – Special Edition ISBN 1934255130
Special Edition Books – Continue reading… Reflections on Chinese Philosophy
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Lady Chatterley's Lover
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Factoid Xenophon's tale of high adventure, Anabasis: The March Up Country (or sometimes called "The Persian Expedition") has a direct tie to modern times.
In addition to being required reading for most classical literature students, it inspired the Sol Yurik novel, The Warriors, which was later made into a cult classic movie, and more recently adapted into a video game by Rockstar.
This time instead of the Greeks vs the Spartans in Persia, The Warriors retells the story of a group of modern street gangs brawling through Coney Island.
Anabasis: The March Up Country
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