Wu Zi's Art of War

吴起Bashu Publishing House · ChinaSep 2020

4.4

Word count: 6.1K words
Chapters: 6

Summary

“Wuzi” is an important work of the military school. It was written by Wu Qi, a famous general of the Warring States period. It is one of the representative works reflecting the military thought of the Huaxia people in the pre-Qin period.

Editor's review

As one of the representative works of the pre-Qin military school, “Wuzi” is often mentioned together with “The Art of War” as “Sun and Wu,” and holds a transitional significance in the history of military thought. Wu Qi himself was both a theorist and a battlefield commander, so the book’s discussion of warfare is not empty talk; it mostly proceeds from practical aspects such as army governance, assessing the enemy, and responding to changing situations. The language is concise and the organization clear. This Bashu Publishing House edition makes the original text accessible to general readers and is a practical volume for understanding Warring States military thought and Wu Qi’s military learning. When reading, pay attention to discussions of military organization, morale training, and battlefield decision-making; these are not only useful for military history research but also offer classical参照 for management and decision-making reading. It is suitable as an introduction to pre-Qin military texts or as extended reading after “The Art of War.” Reading it alongside background materials on Warring States history is recommended to see its intellectual sources and practical orientation.

Who it's for

A good fit for

General readers interested in pre-Qin military thought who want an introduction to military classics
Readers who have read “The Art of War” and wish to expand into the “Sun and Wu” tradition
Students and enthusiasts studying Warring States history or ancient military institutions
People seeking classical wisdom on management and decision-making from military learning

Not a good fit for

Readers looking for modern vernacular explanations and extensive case analysis
People impatient with classical Chinese who only want to skim stories
Readers expecting a systematic narrative of warfare history rather than military theory

Reading tips

Read through the original text once, mark unfamiliar characters and words, then read each chapter closely with annotations.
While reading, relate the text to the situation among the states during the Warring States period to understand the practical relevance of Wu Qi’s discussion of warfare.
Read it alongside “The Art of War” and compare the two works’ emphases on army governance and responding to change.
After each chapter, summarize its core argument in two or three sentences to check whether you have truly understood it.

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.

版权信息
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FAQ

What is the relationship between “Wuzi” and “The Art of War”?

Both are classics of the pre-Qin military school, and later ages often mention them together as “Sun and Wu.” “The Art of War” emphasizes strategic principles and the philosophy of war, while “Wuzi” deals more with concrete aspects such as army governance, assessing the enemy, and responding to change. They are complementary rather than substitutes.

Can I read this book without a foundation in classical Chinese?

You can try, but you will need annotations and reference tools. This is an original-text edition; the classical Chinese passages are not long, and by reading slowly sentence by sentence with annotations, general readers can grasp the main idea. If you have no experience reading classical Chinese at all, start with a popular edition that includes translation.

Is this book suitable for studying Wu Qi himself?

The book presents Wu Qi’s military thought and can serve as primary material for understanding his military views. However, Wu Qi’s life is mainly recorded in historical works; for a comprehensive study of the man, you should also read sources such as “Records of the Grand Historian.” Do not draw conclusions from this book alone.

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About the author

吴起 Author

Wu Qi is a renowned military thinker in ancient China. Publicly available information about his life and birthplace is limited, and his dates of birth and death are unknown. The collection contains nine related works, including military texts such as Wuzi, The Art of War of Wu Qi, and Wu Qi's Art of War, as well as chapters on military affairs like "Encouraging Soldiers." They are mostly classified under Eastern philosophy, classic works, and historical readings. These writings discuss army governance, motivating soldiers, and the art of warfare in a concise and pragmatic style, emphasizing discipline, rewards and punishments, and morale, and have long been regarded as important documents of pre-Qin military thought. Another title, Industrial Internet: Redefining Efficiency and Consumption, falls under finance and miscellaneous essays and differs markedly from the military works above. Overall, Wu Qi's writings center on military thought, are plain in language, and stress practical application, exerting an influence on later military studies and statecraft.