Annotations on Sunzi
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Summary
Traditional Chinese thought has a long history and is highly original, inventive, and literary. Early forms of thought are distinctive: religious theology, classical texts of Chinese medicine, ancient military strategy, Confucianism, Daoism, Buddhism, and the Hundred Schools of Thought, feng shui and metaphysics, the Twenty-Four Histories, customs and local gazetteers—all are profound and extensive. This "Essence of Chinese Classics" series preserves the original appearance of the texts, with emphasis on preserving and transmitting traditional Chinese thought and culture. By reading the literary essence left by ancient sages, readers cultivate their character and subtly come to appreciate the classics of Chinese learning.
Editor's review
Sunzi Zhu is a commentary on The Art of War by Li Quan of the Tang dynasty and an important link in the traditional system of interpreting ancient military texts. This book is included in the "Essence of Chinese Classics" series, which follows the principle of preserving the original appearance of the text and focuses on preserving and transmitting traditional thought and culture. For readers who want a deeper understanding of The Art of War, reading the bare text alone often makes it hard to grasp the military terminology, institutional background, and the context of warfare between the Warring States and Qin-Han periods; Li Quan's commentary provides a Tang-era path into Sun Wu's thought, showing how a commentator used the military experience and Confucian ideas of his time to explain core concepts such as "deceptive warfare," "configuration and circumstance," and "void and solid." The value of this book lies not in offering modern management-style case interpretations but in presenting the original form of ancients commenting on ancient texts, giving readers access to primary commentary. It should be read alongside the original text of The Art of War, noting how the commentary echoes the main text and attending to earlier materials cited in Li Quan's notes. It is suitable as a supplementary reader for studying military texts, not as a first choice for beginners.
Who it's for
A good fit for
- Readers who have already read The Art of War and want to understand ancient commentary further
- Researchers interested in ancient Chinese military thought and the history of military interpretation
- Enthusiasts of Chinese classics who enjoy reading primary texts and value the original textual form
- University teachers and students who need Tang military texts for teaching or research references
Not a good fit for
- Complete beginners who have never encountered The Art of War and need a plain-language introduction
- Readers expecting modern business-management or workplace case interpretations
- Casual readers who prefer popular storytelling and have little patience for classical Chinese commentary
Reading tips
- First read through the thirteen chapters of The Art of War, then read Li Quan's commentary chapter by chapter, marking how the notes explain key terms.
- Keep a pen handy and jot down ancient military institutions, terrain, weapons, and other terminology from the commentary to build your own note cards.
- After finishing each chapter, close the book and reflect on the differences between the commentator's emphases and the original meaning, writing two or three sentences of comparative thoughts.
- If classical Chinese is difficult, first use a reliable annotated translation to clarify the meaning, then return to this book to appreciate the wording and reasoning of the original commentary.
Contents
- 版权信息
- 孙子注
- 〈计篇〉
- 〈作战篇〉
- 〈谋攻篇〉
- 〈形篇〉
- 〈势篇〉
- 〈实虚篇〉
- 〈军争篇〉
- 〈九变篇〉
- 〈地形篇〉
- 〈九地篇〉
- 〈火攻篇〉
- 〈用间篇〉
FAQ
Is this book a plain-language translation of The Art of War?
No. This book is Li Quan's Tang-dynasty commentary on The Art of War; it is an ancient commentary text that preserves the original appearance of the work, not a modern plain-language translation. Readers need some ability to read classical Chinese or should use it alongside an annotated translation.
Can I read this book without any foundation in classical Chinese?
It will be quite difficult. Li Quan's commentary is in classical Chinese and involves ancient military terminology and institutional systems. It is advisable to first read a popular edition of The Art of War with notes and plain-language translation, and only after becoming familiar with the general meaning of the original should you approach this book; otherwise it is easy to give up halfway.
How does Li Quan's commentary differ from other commentaries on Sunzi?
Li Quan was an important Tang-dynasty commentator on military studies. His commentary bears the characteristics of Tang-era understanding of military strategy and focuses on explaining Sun Wu's principles of warfare through the military experience of his time. Compared with later commentaries, it is closer to the early form of commentary and is useful for observing the origins of the commentary tradition, but specific differences require comparative reading by the reader.
Is this book suitable as a first book on The Art of War?
Not recommended. This book is positioned as a preservation and transmission of primary commentary and lacks introductory guidance and plain-language explanation for beginners. Readers encountering The Art of War for the first time should choose an introductory edition with summaries, notes, and translation, and use this book as a second-stage advanced reader.
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About the author
李筌
Author
Li Quan was a Chinese author of works on military strategy in premodern China. Very little is publicly known about his life, birthplace, or dates, and only two works survive under his name. The first, Annotations on Sunzi, is a commentary on The Art of War and belongs to the traditional stream of classical military exegesis. The second, the Taibai Yinjing (unannotated edition), discusses the conduct of war and military institutions and has a character of its own among traditional military texts. Together, one commentary and one original treatise show that his interests centered on strategic thought and military practice, with a practical orientation that emphasizes the principles of warfare rather than rhetorical display. Later bibliographies often place him under Eastern philosophy, yet his value lies chiefly in the transmission of military and strategic thought. Because the historical sources are scattered, his life cannot be examined in detail, but his surviving works still offer a glimpse of his military interests and authorial approach.
