Customer Reviews

Chinese Ways in Warfare (Harvard East Asian series)

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Since there is virtually no way of knowing the contents of this book based on the information provided, I've summarized the chapters to help guide potential purchasers. Overall, an interesting discussion but historical in the extreme (2 chapters focus on B.C. warfare in China, and the most recent battle discussed is 1556, not even Qing Dynasty). I enjoyed reading it as an amateur historian/avid traveler who lives in China and tries to visit areas knowing more than the average guidebook holder. At some point I'll probably add my own comments once I've had a chance to process the various chapters, visit some areas and mull it all over. Wade-Giles is used throughout the book, so all mis-translations into Pinyin are mine alone.

Chinese Ways in Warfare, *edited* by Frank A Kierman, Jr

Intro: Varieties of the Chinese Military Experience - grand summary by John K Fairbank - stellar as all his work is...

1. Phases & Modes of Combat in Early China by Frank A. Kierman, Jr., on Chengpu and Qingxing, two battles in Spring-Autumn Period (B.C.).

2. The Campaigns of Han Wudi by Michael Loewe, a consolidation campaign of empire fought between years 141-187 B.C.

3. Regional Defense Against the Central Power: the Huaixi Campaign, 815-817 A.D. by Charles A. Peterson, on Tang Dynasty's campaign against a recalcitrant province, the origins of which began in the An Lushan rebellion (755-763). Huaixi province was a tiny patch of land on the southern banks of the Huai River north of Dabie Mountains (an area north of the Yangtze (Changjiang), which is currently between Henan, Hubei and Anhui provinces).

4. Siege and Defense of Towns in Medieval China by Herbert Franke, is a summary of technical, administrative and psychological aspects of siegecraft in medieveal China. It's actually a review of several Chinese treatises, which the author helpfully lists a few at the end.

5. The Boyang (Lake) Campaign, 1363: Inland Naval Warfare in the Founding of the Ming Dynasty by Edward L. Dreyer. The naval battle occurred when one fleet attempted to come to the relief of a city (Nanchang) that was besieged by another. Weaponry included cannon, fire ships and other flame weapons, as well as grappling and boarding - these failed to destroy the superior enemy fleet, but Ming control of the mouth of the lake proved the decisive factor in the outcome of the battle. Considered one of those historical `what ifs', as had not Zhu Yuanzhang not won the battle, then his subsequent battle for control of all China might have failed (he was only declared emperor in 1368), and the course of Chinese history would have been different.

6. The Tu-mu Incident of 1449 by Frederick W. Mote. Focuses on one battle between the Ming Zhengtong (?) emperor (21y/o son of Ming Xuanzong) at the time and the Mongols, then in the chaotic stage of break-up after the Yuan Dynasty. It actually took place just outside the Great Wall near Zhuyong Pass (close to the Ming Tombs, and presumably still search-able today). The campaign itself ranged back and forth between current day Beijing and Datong.

7. Hu Zongxian's Campaign Against Xuhai, 1556 by Charles O. Hucker. A renegade Chinese named Xuhai led an invading group of Japanese and Chinese on a plundering foray through northeastern Zhejiang. The raiders besieged cities and ravaged the countryside, defeating and terrorizing the government soldiery in a series of skirmishes and battles. A civil official named Hu Zongxian, resorting to guile more than force, played the leaders off against one another, baiting them with bribes and promises, finally winning in the end. The battlefields were between the northern bank of Hangzhou Bay and both sides of the Grand Canal between Hangzhou and Suzhou. Presumably some of these smaller battles and campaigns can be traced today as well.

works like this fill in important background overlooked in the newspaper headlines. I hope Harvard will consider reprinting (or maybe even revising) this valuable work.