One Hundred Unorthodox Strategies: Battle And Tactics Of Chinese Warfare [Paperback]

Chi Liu (Author), Ralph D. Sawyer (Translator)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0813328616 | ISBN-13: 978-0813328614 | Publication Date: May 15, 1998

One Hundred Unorthodox Strategies was compiled in the fifteenth century, during the Ming Dynasty, as a handbook of tactics based on Chinese military classics. Translated into English for the first time, this unique work draws on over two thousand years of experience in warfare to present a distillation of one hundred key strategic principles. Originally prepared as a text for students aspiring to high political positions in Confucian China, One Hundred Unorthodox Strategies is a compendium of Oriental strategies concisely stated and each individually illustrated with a description of battle from Chinese history. These historical examples shed new light on the often enigmatic formulations of the ancient strategists on subjects such as Strategic Power, Defense, Vacuity, Spirit, and Victory. Acclaimed translator and Chinese military specialist Ralph Sawyer adds his own thoughtful commentary, deepening the reader’s understanding of the intricacies of Chinese strategic thought.

Editorial Reviews

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: Chinese --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Ralph D. Sawyer, one of America’s leading scholars in Chinese warfare, has worked extensively with major intelligence and defense agencies. After studying at MIT and Harvard and a brief stint of university teaching, Sawyer has spent the past thirty years lecturing and doing international consulting work focused on China.

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Westview Press (May 15, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0813328616
• ISBN-13: 978-0813328614
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #300,629 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #90 in Books > History > Ancient > China

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Definite keeper, where's my Hardcover?!?!?!?, September 5, 2001

By 

Terrahawk "terrahawk" (Baltimore, MD United States) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: One Hundred Unorthodox Strategies: Battle And Tactics Of Chinese Warfare (Paperback)

This book is fantastic. Each chapter is a stategy illustrated by historical examples, followed by authors comments. Sawyer does not ruin the historical accounts with his own take on the interpretation of the event. This is happily so unlike the myriad of crummy interpretations of 'Art of War' and 'Book of 5 Rings' available, polluted by the translators' opinions and biases. This is a testament to Sawyer as a scholar 1st and foremost.

He provides insight and opinions in his comments after the strategies and examples, but lets you draw your own conclusions about the relevence and applicability while you read each short strategy.

I have been able to apply these strategies to real life situations in dealing with individuals and groups. It has helped me in business and personal relationships by drawing parallels between the strategies and applying them figuratively. It has also helped me in a literal sense in mundane theaters like computer gaming as well.

I want this in hardcover!!! I will pay for it!!!

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 100 enjoyable chapters on unconventional thinking, August 19, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: One Hundred Unorthodox Strategies: Battle And Tactics Of Chinese Warfare (Paperback)

Concicise and entertaining, short one to two page essays. Each chapter has 1) a forword explaing the strategy, 2) a historical battle examples, 3) and a commentary on how to best apply the strategy. Easy to read, allowing you to enjoy one strategy at time without having to go back over previous chapters. This book reiterates in an entertaining way what B.H. Liddell Hart says in his classic book on military 'Strategy.' I recommened this book to everyone who wishes to view the world from an unconventional point of veiw.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An extended commentary, October 5, 2004

By 

wiredweird "wiredweird" (Earth, or somewhere nearby) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: One Hundred Unorthodox Strategies: Battle And Tactics Of Chinese Warfare (Paperback)

The unknown author of these hundred short chapters has left a different and worthwhile contribution to military history. Sawyer, the modern commentator, has made it even more relevant to the contemporary reader.

Each chapter has three parts. The first is almost always a brief reference to Sun Tzu, Ssu-ma Fa, or some other classic of strategy and tactics. The second part reaches into China's long written history to find historical examples of each precept.

Although phrased as a commentary on older texts, the reader should remember the rigid social structure and respect for ancient wisdom common in the Ming dynasty (when this was written). New ideas were suspect, even irreverent to the extent that they challenged the classics. Instead, new ideas were concealed as commentaries on the established wisdom. One should not dismiss these commentaries as just a rehashing of texts that were a thousand years old even then.

The third part of each chapter is Sawyer's modern addition, sometimes longer than both traditional parts together. Sawyer uses these notes to explain historical content and to point out relevance to the modern world. The real value of Sawyer's commentary, however, is its extensive citation of other Chinese military classics. He will often provide the whole passage to which a chapter alludes, as well as related passages from other texts. I found this very helpful, especially when Sawyer quoted classics that are little-known or inaccessible to English speakers.

The indices are good, providing reference by topic, by proper names referenced, and by the eight classics references for which commentaty is provided. There was no bibliography, though, a real loss. I would very much like to read the Wu Tzu or other unfamiliar titles named, but I'll have to hunt those down on my own.

This shouldn't be your first book on classical Chinese strategy, but it will be a welcome addition to any serious collection.

//wiredweird