Tags
Summary
Editor's review
Who it's for
A good fit for
- Readers with a strong interest in ancient Chinese philosophy and strategic thought
- Those engaged in management or business planning who wish to draw on traditional wisdom for practical application
- History and military enthusiasts seeking a systematic understanding of the original Art of War and its textual evolution
- Readers seeking inspiration for personal growth and competitive strategy who enjoy deep reflection
Not a good fit for
- Readers expecting a fully vernacular story or novel-style adaptation
- Those seeking only quick, fragmented quotations and aphorisms without any intention of systematic textual study
Reading tips
- It is recommended to first read through the modern Chinese translation to grasp the overall intellectual thread of the book, then return to the original text and annotations for close reading
- Consider how specific chapters (such as "Terrain" and "Nine Situations") map onto non-military domains (such as the workplace or market competition)
- It may be helpful to keep notes while reading, recording personal interpretations and practical associations regarding core concepts such as "the orthodox and the unorthodox" (qizheng) and "configuration and momentum" (xingshi)
About the publisher
Shanghai Classics Publishing House is a professional publisher centered on the collation of ancient texts and academic research works. Its publishing areas cover historical readings, classical poetry, folk literature, literary appreciation, canonical works, and Eastern philosophy. Its books include Chen Yinke's A Brief Discussion of the Origins of the Sui and Tang Institutions, Xin Qiji's Chronological Annotated Edition of Jiaxuan's Ci (Simplified Edition), Tang Xianzu's The Peony Pavilion, Liu Xie's The Literary Mind and the Carving of Dragons, as well as New Annotations to Three Hundred Tang Poems (Collector's Edition), Annotated Edition of Han Changli's Collected Works (Simplified Edition, 3 volumes), and Youyang Zazu. Its authors include Chen Yinke, Xin Qiji, Tang Xianzu, Liu Xie, Deng Guangming, Hengtang Tuishi, Han Yu, and Ma Qichang. In terms of publishing characteristics, the house emphasizes collation, annotation, and compilation of ancient texts alongside academic research works, and continues to issue simplified and collector's editions that balance scholarship and accessibility. Public information about the publisher's fuller publishing profile is limited.
Contents
- 前言
- 卷上 计篇
- 卷上 作战篇
- 卷上 谋攻篇
- 卷上 形篇
- 卷中 势篇
- 卷中 虚实篇
- 卷中 军争篇
- 卷中 九变篇
- 卷中 行军篇
- 卷下 地形篇
- 卷下 九地篇
- 卷下 火攻篇
- 卷下 用间篇
- 孙子本传
- 十家注孙子遗说并序
FAQ
What are the main differences between this edition and other vernacular translation editions?
Can readers without any grounding in classical Chinese understand it?
Does the book contain content beyond The Art of War?
Comments
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About the author
Sun Wu, courtesy name Changqing, was a native of Le'an in the State of Qi during the late Spring and Autumn period. A renowned ancient Chinese military strategist and statesman, he is honored by later generations as the Sage of War and the founding father of Eastern military science. Public records about his birth and death are limited, and details of his life cannot be reliably verified. His thirteen-chapter work The Art of War is the earliest extant systematic treatise on military affairs and is acclaimed as a classic of military studies. It covers strategic planning, battlefield command, the use of terrain, and military intelligence, written in concise and dialectical language, and has exerted a profound influence on military thought in China and abroad. The library holds thirty-eight related works, including various editions of The Art of War and titles in Eastern philosophy, social culture, military studies, and biography, reflecting the wide reach of his thought.
Cao Mengde is an author about whom very little public information is available; only one work of his, titled Sunzi, is currently held in the collection. His English name, nationality, and dates of birth and death are unrecorded, so it is difficult to sketch his life or academic background. Judging from the subject matter, the book falls under Eastern philosophy and presumably deals with ancient military strategy and thought, placing it within the tradition of interpretive works on the Chinese classics of military philosophy. Cao Mengde's writing therefore likely emphasizes exegesis and close reading of the text, setting military principles alongside practical wisdom rather than recounting personal experience. Given the scarcity of material, any judgment of his style and influence must remain cautious. Readers wishing to know the author should rely mainly on the text and annotations of this Sunzi and consider it within the broader context of Eastern philosophy, rather than speculate unduly about his identity.
