The Art of Warfare (Classics of Ancient China) [Hardcover]

Sun Tzu (Author), Roger T. Ames (Translator, Introduction)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 034536239X | ISBN-13: 978-0345362391 | Publication Date: March 2, 1993 | Edition: 1st

The most widely read military classic in human history, newly translated and revised in accordance with newly discovered materials of unprecedented historical significance. Fluid, crisp and rigorously faithful to the original, this new text is destined to stand as the definitive version of this cornerstone work of Classical Chinese. Of compelling importance not only to students of Chinese history and literature, but to all readers interested in the art or the philosophy of war.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

This is an essential text for any library with a research collection in Chinese history and philosophy, as it is the first translation of the military/philosophy work Sun-tzu ping fa to incorporate the five chapters unearthed by archaeologists in 1972 at Yin-chueh-shan in Shantung province, China. It is also the first English translation to use the 13-chapter version of Sun-tzu found in that same dig dated 1000 years prior to previously available texts. The translator, who heads the University of Hawai'i's Center for Chinese Studies, provides an elucidating introduction to the text, the excavations, and the authorship of Sun-tzu and describes its import as a philosophical text. The translation adds the romanized form for certain key translated terms, which some readers may find intrusive. Some of the translated fragments are so brief as to be impenetrable, but their inclusion results in a level of completeness never before reached in a translation of Sun-tzu. Since there was frequent mention of this book as Gordon Gekko's primer in the film Wall Street , there may be popular interest in it as well.--Ed.
- D.E. Perushek, Univ. of Tennessee Libs., Knoxville
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: Chinese

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 336 pages
• Publisher: Ballantine Books; 1st edition (March 2, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 034536239X
• ISBN-13: 978-0345362391
• Product Dimensions: 6.4 x 1.1 x 9.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #180,184 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

33 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "If you want peace, understand war...", October 16, 2000

By 

Nathan (Wilmington, DE United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Art of Warfare (Classics of Ancient China) (Hardcover)

I haven't read or even so much as glanced at any other translations or publications of Sun-Tzu's Art of Warfare, and as far as I'm concerned I didn't need to. This edition is a wonderful translation, easily readable and understandable while remaining true to the Chinese. In fact, for verification purposes, the original text is contained opposite nearly every page.

The translator starts off with a very interesting introduction probably longer than the book itself; while a little boring at times, it was a very necessary addition. He explains to the reader the history of the various finds that have gone towards completing the text, the structure of the text, the historical background and anecdotes of Sun-Tzu, compares fundamental western beliefs and mindsets to eastern, and generally just analyzes this work and puts it into perspective for the reader.

As for Sun-Tzu's work itself -- it's great. If you read it carefully, you'll be surprised to not how much of this stuff you already know, how much is simply common sense -- but the format and presentation and conciseness of it is astounding. It presents the material in an accessible way that's understandable and readable. Also including here, alongside the initial 13 chapters, are all kinds of Art of Warfare fragments which have been unearthed, most of which are pretty interesting.

This book is a must read if you are at all interesting in war or the context thereof.

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Really the Best, May 20, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Art of Warfare (Classics of Ancient China) (Hardcover)

By far the best English translation of the Art of War. Only Ralph Sawyer's translation came close but doesn't have the same fluidity and clarity as this book. Why also great: contains the original Chinese characters on the other side of the book, and copious notes to the passages in question. I have yet to come across a better Art of War.

35 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the only two books that matters, December 18, 2000

By 

M. D. MCGINLEY "Chief Highliner" (United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Art of Warfare (Classics of Ancient China) (Hardcover)

If I were leaving a burning house, I would take my Bible and this book. Roger Ames' translation leaves no room for doubt, and it is a great honor to have this beautiful and elegant book in my collection. It was a treasured birthday gift. Yes, you can believe all the good things people have to say about "The Art of Warfare." If you understand this book, you can readily overlay it on any situation in life: at work, while driving, at home, or at the coffee store. The most important point I learned from this particular translation is the clarity of the interpretation of Sun-Tzu's constant philosophy of understanding correlative pairs (e.g., "where there are birds gathered in the trees, the enemy is not encamped nearby; when he is near, the birds are not gathered; when you are ready, appear to be not ready." There are dozens of such gems of knowledge that make me wonder why I didn't figure out something like this first. I have not read other translations of "The Art of Warfare," and, at this point, would not want to have what I have learned from Ames' translation diluted. I highly value this book. Whatever you pay, it's worth every penny. I even love the smell of the paper and ink, the beautiful fonts within its pages, including the original scripts in Chinese (which I have little hope of understanding). You can learn to write from reading this book, like I have, as there are no unnecessary words, no fluff, just 100% meat. My absolute highest recommendation! Do not think, just get it. Read it, savor it, and then apply it to your life. Others should then be able to tell if you did.