Cavalry Warfare cover

Cavalry Warfare

Rating 2.5
Word count
719 words
Chapters
2

Tags

Summary

Cavalry warfare refers to a mode of war conducted on horseback. One chapter in Baizhan Qilüe expounds early ideas on cavalry warfare.

Editor's review

This book centers on cavalry warfare as an ancient mode of war. It covers the basic forms of mounted combat and connects to the chapter in Baizhan Qilüe on early cavalry warfare thought. For readers who want to understand ancient Chinese military technology, the evolution of arm of service, and tactical concepts, the book offers an introductory path from concept to operational thought. Rather than simply laying out battle cases, it places cavalry warfare in the context of ancient military learning, so readers can understand the role of cavalry in traditional warfare and how ancients thought about the gains and losses of cavalry warfare. The 2024 new edition from Bashu Publishing House makes the relevant texts more accessible to contemporary readers. It can be read alongside ancient military treatises and battle histories, and is especially suitable as supplementary material for thematic reading in military history; it also helps traditional-culture enthusiasts expand their knowledge of military learning. Its length and format suit light thematic study; readers should not expect a systematic general history of cavalry.

Who it's for

A good fit for

  • Introductory readers interested in ancient Chinese military history and the evolution of arms of service
  • Traditional-culture enthusiasts who want to understand the cavalry warfare thought in Baizhan Qilüe
  • Students of literature and history who need supplementary material for thematic study of ancient military learning
  • General readers who prefer short thematic reading and want to expand their basic knowledge of military learning

Not a good fit for

  • Readers expecting a systematic, complete general history of cavalry or detailed battle-case analysis
  • Readers who want only popular stories and lack patience for ancient military concepts

Reading tips

  1. Read the introduction and explanatory notes first to clarify the concept of cavalry warfare and the book's scope
  2. Read alongside the original text of Baizhan Qilüe, marking key statements on cavalry warfare thought
  3. Use ancient battle maps or arms-of-service materials to help understand cavalry warfare scenarios
  4. After reading, summarize the key differences between cavalry warfare and traditional infantry and chariot warfare

About the publisher

Bashu Publishing House China · Founded in 1983

Bashu Publishing House is a publisher centered on collating and publishing classical Chinese cultural texts, with its main publishing areas covering classical literature, Eastern philosophy, ancient poetry, and educational classics. Its library currently holds 1,075 titles, including representative works such as Dream of the Red Chamber, the Preface to the Orchid Pavilion Gathering, Renjian Cihua, and Out to the Frontier, involving authors such as Cao Xueqin, Wang Xizhi, Wang Guowei, Wang Changling, Liu Xie, and Yan Yu. These reflect the publisher's focus on literary classics, poetry criticism, and philosophical readings. Its publishing character lies in working around ancient texts and canonical works, with attention to textual collation and presentation. Public information on its more detailed publishing background and series plans is limited; this introduction is based only on the library's book information.

Contents

  1. 版权信息
  2. 骑战

FAQ

Is this book a complete history of cavalry warfare?
No. The book centers on cavalry warfare as a mode of war and connects to the chapters in Baizhan Qilüe that expound early cavalry warfare thought. It is a thematic work, not a systematic and complete general history of cavalry. For a comprehensive understanding of the history of cavalry, readers should also consult relevant military history works.
Can I read it without a background in military history?
Yes. The book starts from the concept of cavalry warfare and is relatively short, making it suitable for beginners. However, it involves ancient military terminology and textual contexts, so readers are advised to read the introduction and notes first, consult reference works for unfamiliar concepts, and then deepen their understanding by comparing the relevant chapters of Baizhan Qilüe.
What materials should I use alongside this book?
It is advisable to read it with the original text of Baizhan Qilüe, an overview of ancient military history, and basic historical maps. This will help you understand the concept of cavalry warfare and place the military thought involved in the book within specific war contexts, rather than staying at the level of terminology.

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About the author

Anonymous Author

Anonymous is not a real personal name but a general Chinese designation for authors whose names are unknown, lost, or unsigned. Neither nationality nor dates of birth and death can be verified, and available public information is limited, so the works attributed to this name are the only basis for description. The collection holds 2,078 works under Anonymous, spanning medicine, classics, historical readings, ancient poetry, classical literature, and philosophy. Representative works include The Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon: Lingshu, Mencius, The Book of Documents, Nineteen Old Poems, Complete Song Ci, and The Peacock Flies Southeast. Most of these works took shape through long transmission and editing, emerging either from collective folk creation or from authors whose names were lost over time. In ancient China, the Book of Songs, the Great Learning, and many popular storybooks and plays were signed Anonymous because their authors could not be traced. Anonymous works cross the classics, histories, philosophical writings, medical texts, and poetry; their subjects are broad, and their styles vary from archaic simplicity to clear naturalness, making them important and influential sources for understanding ancient Chinese thought, medicine, and literature.

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