Qualifications of a General

Zhuge LiangJinzhang Book Company (Jinzhang Shuju) · ChinaAug 2020

4.1

Word count: 1.9K words
Chapters: 6

Summary

There are nine types of military talent. To guide them with virtue, to regulate them with propriety, and to know their hunger and cold, to observe their toil and hardship—this is what is called the benevolent general.

Editor's review

This piece is attributed to Zhuge Liang. It opens by setting out the heading "there are nine types of military talent," then uses the phrases "guide them with virtue, regulate them with propriety, and know their hunger and cold, observe their toil and hardship" to single out the category of the "benevolent general." The wording is concise and clearly structured. Its value lies in discussing a general's qualities through classification, placing virtue and propriety alongside attentiveness to soldiers' hunger, cold, toil, and hardship, reflecting traditional military thought's dual concern with a general's moral character and ability to manage troops. Readers can use it to understand one way of framing discussions of military talent in ancient times, and may also read it alongside works such as The Art of War to observe how different texts emphasize different requirements for commanders. When reading, note that "nine" is a classificatory framework and that the opening example is only one of the categories; do not equate the whole piece with a standalone discussion of the "benevolent general." At the same time, be mindful of the difference between pseudepigraphic works and securely authenticated texts, and maintain a cautious attitude.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers interested in ancient Chinese military thought who wish to understand classificatory discussions of military talent
Readers studying management or organizational governance who seek reference points in traditional texts
Students of literature and history who need short classical Chinese texts for close-reading practice
Readers interested in pseudepigraphic texts associated with Zhuge Liang who have some awareness of textual authentication

Not a good fit for

Textual scholars seeking works securely authenticated as written by Zhuge Liang himself
Readers hoping to read a complete military treatise or a long strategic work
Beginners with weak classical Chinese who need word-by-word vernacular annotation

Reading tips

First read the whole text through and mark the classificatory framework of "nine," making clear that the opening discussion covers only one category.
Explain sentence by sentence phrases such as "guide them with virtue, regulate them with propriety," relating them to pre-Qin Confucian ideas of military governance.
Read alongside relevant passages on generals in The Art of War and compare the different emphases the two works place on a general's qualities.
While reading, note questions of textual authentication, distinguishing between the content of the text and the attribution of authorship.

About the publisher

Jinzhang Book Company (Jinzhang Shuju) China · Founded in 1901

Jinzhang Book Company (Jinzhang Shuju) was a private publishing and distribution house in Shanghai during the late Qing and early Republican periods, issuing traditional works by lithographic printing. Judging from the 1,194 titles in the collection, its publishing focused on classical poetry, Eastern philosophy, historical reading, traditional Chinese medical texts, and canonical works, along with books on literary appreciation. Representative titles include the poetry and prose collections of Du Fu and Ouyang Xiu; historical works such as the Book of Han and Zizhi Tongjian; classical texts such as the Book of Documents and Mencius; and specialized and literary classics such as Treatise on Cold Damage and Li Sao. Its author resources cover major figures across the ages, including Du Fu, Ban Gu, Sima Guang, Zhang Zhongjing, Qu Yuan, Ouyang Xiu, and Tang Shenwei, reflecting the house's characteristic reliance on traditional scholarship and medical literature while serving general readers. Public information on its early history and operational details is limited, so no conjecture is offered here.

版权信息
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FAQ

Was "Jiang Cai" really written by Zhuge Liang?

The piece is attributed to Zhuge Liang, but pseudepigraphic works are not uncommon in ancient military literature. Readers can treat the content of the text and its authorship separately: on the one hand, value its discussion of classifying military talent; on the other, remain cautious about whether it was written by Zhuge Liang himself. Consult specialized bibliographies or scholarly studies where necessary, and do not make categorical claims based solely on the attribution.

How should the "nine" in "there are nine types of military talent" be understood?

"Nine" refers to nine types or nine aspects of military talent, a common classificatory framework in ancient texts. The "benevolent general" cited at the opening is only one category, not the sole subject of the whole piece. Readers should grasp this framework, note the parallel relationship among the different types, and avoid mistaking the requirements of one category for a complete summary of a general's qualities.

What role do the phrases "guide them with virtue, regulate them with propriety" play in the text?

These two phrases emphasize guiding by virtue and ordering by propriety, core formulations in traditional ideas of military governance and the cultivation of people. In this piece they are linked with "know their hunger and cold" and "observe their toil and hardship," jointly explaining that the "benevolent general" values both moral and ritual instruction and attentiveness to soldiers' actual circumstances. Understanding this layer helps grasp the characteristic emphasis in ancient discussions of military talent on both virtue and practical matters.

Is this short classical Chinese text suitable for close reading practice?

Yes. It is short, clearly structured, and opens with a classificatory framework and core statements, making it easy to explain sentence by sentence and analyze structurally. It is advisable first to resolve vocabulary and punctuation, then discuss the meaning of the "benevolent general" and the logic of classification, and finally read it alongside related military texts. If your classical Chinese is weak, you may use reference books or annotated editions, but do not skip the original and read only translations.

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About the author

Zhuge Liang Author · Chinese

Zhuge Liang (181–234), styled Kongming and known as Wolong, was a native of Yangdu in Langya (present-day Yinan, Shandong). He served as Chancellor of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms period and was an outstanding statesman, military strategist, inventor, and man of letters. In his early years he farmed in Nanyang; at Liu Bei's earnest invitation he entered public life and set out the Longzhong Strategy, helping Liu Bei establish Shu Han. After Liu Bei's death he followed the imperial edict to assist Liu Shan and led several northern expeditions, eventually dying of illness at Wuzhang Plains from prolonged exhaustion. His representative works include the Memorial on Dispatching the Army and the Admonition to His Son; the phrase "bending every effort until death" became a lasting expression of his spirit. This library holds 12 of his works, including collected writings, family instructions, military texts, and annotated translations of famous works across the ages, spanning literary appreciation, Eastern philosophy, military affairs, and history and culture—evidence of the breadth and lasting influence of his writings.