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
