Civil and Military Strategies
Tags
Summary
Editor's review
The book's value lies in the 'case-study' experience of reading history it offers. The figures selected span different eras and fields, from Jiang Ziya and Zhang Liang's masterminding, to Cao Cao and Li Shimin's statecraft and command of armies, to Liu Bowen and Zeng Guofan's arts of conduct. Through concrete historical situations, the editors distill methods of thought and principles of action of broadly applicable value. For modern readers, this wisdom across time can offer inspiration for career planning, interpersonal relations, and personal cultivation. The narration is plain and fluent, avoiding the obscurity of academic works, and is suitable as an introductory read for understanding traditional Chinese wisdom. Readers should note, of course, that the interpretations inevitably carry the editors' subjective perspective and contemporary imprint; they should read with independent judgment, treating the book as inspiration rather than an absolute guide to action.
Who it's for
A good fit for
- General readers interested in Chinese historical figures and strategic wisdom who seek inspiration
- Working professionals hoping to learn strategic thinking and conduct from historical cases
- Students, as supplementary reading for understanding traditional culture and historical figures
- Enthusiasts of popular history and biography
Not a good fit for
- Serious historians seeking deep academic verification or analysis of primary sources
- Readers seeking systematic military theory or practical guides to modern management science
Reading tips
- There is no need to read straight through; start with chapters on figures that interest you
- Consider the historical context of each figure while reading, to understand the limits of their strategies
- After each case, try to distill the core ideas and relate them to your own life
About the publisher
Founded in 1982, Modern Press is a Chinese publisher that serves general readers across a diverse range of subjects. Judging from its catalog, its publishing focuses on classical poetry, Eastern philosophy, psychological research and application, popular science, and modern poetry, along with history, biography, and children's books. The Book of Songs, the illustrated vernacular edition of the Classic of Mountains and Seas, The Complete Poems of Dai Wangshu, and Buddhism in the Vegetable Roots reflect efforts to make traditional culture and poetry accessible; works by Carl Gustav Jung such as The Development of Personality and Understanding Your Psychological Type, together with titles from the Ivy International Education Alliance, show sustained attention to psychology and educational reading; and Stephen Hawking's works and the illustrated two-volume Brief History of Everything and A Brief History of Time indicate a commitment to popular science. Its authors include figures such as Qu Wanli, Xu Ke, Dai Wangshu, and Jung, and its publishing emphasizes retelling classics and accessible, illustrated presentation. Because public information is limited, this summary is based only on the titles in our catalog.
Contents
- 版权信息
- 序言
- 上古时期——争雄霸王
- 周文王姬昌
- 周武王姬发
- 楚庄王熊侣
- 齐桓公姜小白
- 晋文公姬重耳
- 秦穆公嬴任好
- 吴王阖闾
- 吴王夫差
- 越王勾践
- 中古时期——盛世明君
- 千古一帝秦始皇
- 汉高祖刘邦
- 汉景帝刘启
- 汉武帝刘彻
- 隋文帝杨坚
- 唐高祖李渊
- 唐太宗李世民
- 大圣皇后武则天
- 唐玄宗李隆基
- 近古时期——开国雄主
- 宋太祖赵匡胤
- 元太祖成吉思汗
- 元世祖忽必烈
- 近世时期——末代天骄
- 明太祖朱元璋
- 明成祖朱棣
- 清太祖努尔哈赤
- 清太宗皇太极
- 清圣祖玄烨
- 清高宗弘历
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About the author
Xiao Dongfa (1949–2016), whose ancestral home was Tianjin and who was born in Shenyang, was a professor and doctoral supervisor at the School of Journalism and Communication, Peking University, and director of its Institute of Modern Publishing. An important scholar in editing and publishing studies, he focused on the history of Chinese books, publishing history, and yearbook studies. He edited the History of Chinese Editing and Publishing and Chinese Libraries of Book Collecting, and led the National Social Science Fund key project A General History of Chinese Publishing, laying a solid foundation for the organization and narration of Chinese publishing history. Beyond academic writing, he attended to Peking University's institutional history and humanistic traditions, writing works such as Character: From the Imperial University to Old Peking University, Exemplars: Former Residences and Anecdotes of Peking University Notables, and Scenes: Yanyuan Landscapes and Cultural Heritage, which recount campus memories and personal stories with warmth. His works also touch on the four treasures of the study, garden architecture, and academic writing standards. Some 491 of his titles are held in the library, spanning language and culture, biography, and architecture, and combining scholarly rigor with accessible readability.
Li Zhengping is an author whose publicly available personal information is limited; 36 of his works are currently held in the collection. Judging from the titles available, his writing centers on inspirational and personal-growth themes. Representative works include Stand on Your Own Feet in Life, Know Yourself in Life, Strive for Strength in Life, Be Confident in Life, Respect Yourself in Life, Love Yourself in Life, Stay Alert in Life, and Wen Tao Wu Lue (Civil and Military Strategy). These titles echo one another and form a series of growth-themed books built around the idea of the self, addressing self-awareness, character cultivation, and personal striving. Beyond inspirational growth, his works also touch on culture and popular science, suggesting a relatively broad range of subjects. Because his dates of birth and death, nationality, and educational background are not clearly recorded, no speculation is offered here. Overall, Li Zhengping's works are characterized by plain, direct inspirational writing, suited to general readers seeking self-encouragement and reflection on their conduct in everyday reading.
