On Martial Affairs

Liu XiangJul 2024

3.7

Word count: 5K words
Chapters: 2

Summary

Traditional Chinese thought has a long history and is highly original, inventive and literary. Early forms of thought are distinctive: religious theology, classical Chinese medical texts, ancient military strategy, Confucian, Daoist, Buddhist and Hundred Schools thought, feng shui and metaphysics, the Twenty-Four Histories, and customs and geography are all profound and extensive. This "Essence of Classic Chinese Culture: Original Texts" series preserves the appearance of the original books and focuses on preserving and transmitting traditional Chinese thought and culture. By reading the literary essence left by ancient sages, readers cultivate character and quietly absorb the classics of Chinese learning.

Editor's review

"Zhi Wu" is included in the "Essence of Classic Chinese Culture: Original Texts" series and continues its orientation of preserving the original appearance of texts and transmitting traditional thought and culture. Judging from the title and Liu Xiang's editorial context, this piece belongs to passages in ancient texts discussing the relationship between military preparedness, punitive campaigns and governance; readers can use it to observe how ancients imagined order between righteousness and armed force. The book's strength is that it does not over-rewrite into modern vernacular, preserving the original's feel and structure; it suits readers willing to read slowly and consult annotations to understand the intellectual threads from the pre-Qin to the Han. It should not be treated as a modern military studies or self-help book, but placed back in the context of ancient political ethics and classic compilation, to appreciate that "wu" in traditional thought was not merely the art of attack but often linked to edification, punishment and reward, and the pacification of the people. For readers interested in original classics, ancient military learning and Han-dynasty texts, this is a small book worth revisiting, excerpting and reading comparatively.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers interested in ancient military learning and statecraft who are willing to read original texts
Readers who need anthologies of Chinese classics for daily recitation and excerpting
Research-oriented readers interested in Liu Xiang's compiled texts and Han-dynasty intellectual threads
Students hoping to develop classical Chinese reading habits through short classical texts

Not a good fit for

Beginner readers expecting modern vernacular translation and detailed line-by-line annotation
Practical readers looking for actionable military strategy or management methods

Reading tips

Read the original text through once, mark words you do not understand, then work through it paragraph by paragraph with annotations.
Make cards for key terms such as "wu," "de," "xing" and "jiao" and compare their usage in the piece.
Read alongside relevant chapters of the Shuo Yuan or Han-dynasty political-ethical materials to understand the compiler's intent.
Read only a small passage at a time and summarize its key points in your own words afterward, rather than rushing to finish.

版权信息
指武

FAQ

Is this book suitable for readers with no classical Chinese foundation at all?

It is not very suitable for beginners to start with directly. The book preserves the original appearance of the text and focuses on preserving and transmitting traditional thought and culture rather than line-by-line vernacular explanation. If your classical Chinese is weak, read an annotated anthology with translation first, then return to this book to experience the original's feel.

What does "Zhi Wu" mainly discuss?

Judging from the title and Liu Xiang's editorial context, the piece concerns ancient thinking on military preparedness, punitive campaigns and governance. Read it in the context of ancient political ethics, understanding that "wu" was often linked to edification, punishment and reward, and the pacification of the people, rather than directly applying modern military or management concepts.

Do I need other materials to read this book?

It is advisable to use reference works or a reliable annotated edition. First resolve uncommon words and allusions, then focus on how key terms are used in the piece. Some knowledge of Liu Xiang's compiled texts will make it easier to grasp the book's place in traditional thought and culture.

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About the author

Liu Xiang Author · Chinese (Western Han)

Liu Xiang (77 BCE–6 BCE), courtesy name Zizheng and originally named Gengsheng, was a member of the Western Han imperial clan and a scholar of the classics, a bibliographer, and a literary figure. Publicly available details of his life are limited, and even his birth and death years are disputed, yet his place in the history of Chinese bibliography and literature is clear. Under Emperor Cheng he led the collation of the imperial library and compiled the Bielu, a systematic catalogue and edition of court texts, and later generations honored him as the founder of Chinese bibliography. He edited and compiled the Intrigues of the Warring States and the Songs of Chu, helping to preserve both works, and wrote such books as the Xinxu, Shuoyuan, and Lienü Zhuan, which often use historical anecdotes and the words and deeds of figures to expound political and ethical teachings, combining historical value with literary interest. His editorial and compilation work spans literary appreciation, folk literature, Eastern philosophy, and documentary prose, and has greatly aided later understanding of thought and writing from the pre-Qin through the Han period.