In The Tao of Spycraft, for the first time anywhere Ralph Sawyer unfolds the long and venerable tradition of spycraft and intelligence work in traditional China, revealing a vast array of theoretical materials and astounding historical developments. Encompassing extensive translations of relevant portions of theoretical military manuals previously unknown in the West (such as the T'ai-pai Yin-ching, Hu-ling Ching, and Ping-fa Pai-yen), the book spans centuries to trace the development and expansion of agent concepts, insertion and control methods, recruitment, and covert practices such as assassination, subversion, and sexual entrapment and exploitation, going on to explore counter-intelligence and all aspects of military intelligence, including objectives, analysis and interpretation.But The Tao of Spycraft is more than an examination of military tactics, it also provides a thorough overview of the history of spies in China, emphasizing their early development, ruthless employment, and dramatic success in subverting famous generals, dooming states to extinction, and facilitating the rise of the first imperial dynasty known as the Ch'in. The cases discussed-particularly those exploiting women and sex-not only became part of China's general mindset over the ages, but coupled with the theoretical writings remain the basis for the study and teaching of contemporary spycraft methods and practices as the PRC trains and aggressively deploys thousands of agents throughout the world, including the United States.
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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.
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9 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Informative, yet slow read.,
By A Customer
This review is from: The Tao Of Spycraft: Intelligence Theory And Practice In Traditional China (Hardcover)
An excellent, thoughroughly researched and well indexed tome on the history of the Chinese propensity for intelligence collection at all levels. This book combined with "Chinese Intelligence Operations" by Nicholas Eftimiades provides valuable insight into one of the worlds most populus, yet fairly closed societies. With tensions in Asia in a constant state of flux this book is a must read for intelligence professionals and enthusiasts alike. The only drawback is the author's style, which makes for some dry stretches, still worth the money.
5.0 out of 5 stars
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This review is from: The Tao Of Spycraft: Intelligence Theory And Practice In Traditional China (Hardcover)
cover all most of the old forms of spy craft forms and its entities in relation to political and military power overall quite an interesting insight
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Inside This Book
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First Sentence:
DESPITE BEING COMMONLY PERCEIVED as long having been a politically and culturally integrated state, China suffered almost incessant warfare and rampant political intrigue over the three millennia of its tenuous geopolitical existence. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
political intelligence, field intelligence, military methods, upper army, nine terrains, peripatetic persuaders, dispersive terrain, tenable terrain, focal terrain, encircled terrain, entrapping terrain, fatal terrain, traversable terrain, mailed troops, living spies, cannot use spies, strong crossbows, expendable spy, constricted terrain, contentious terrain, fierce general, evaluating men, heavy terrain, roving agents, sagacious generals Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Warring States, T'ai Kung, Tzu Kung, Three Armies, Sun Pin, The Art of War, Six Secret Teachings, Han Fei-tzu, Tso Chuan, Shih Chi, Ching K'o, Chuan Chu, Duke Huan, Kuan Chung, Yellow River, King Chou, Wen Chung, Original Text, Classifications of Terrain, Tzu Fan, King Wen, Han Hsin, Hsü Tung, Wei Liao-tzu, Han Kao-tsu Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
DESPITE BEING COMMONLY PERCEIVED as long having been a politically and culturally integrated state, China suffered almost incessant warfare and rampant political intrigue over the three millennia of its tenuous geopolitical existence. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
political intelligence, field intelligence, military methods, upper army, nine terrains, peripatetic persuaders, dispersive terrain, tenable terrain, focal terrain, encircled terrain, entrapping terrain, fatal terrain, traversable terrain, mailed troops, living spies, cannot use spies, strong crossbows, expendable spy, constricted terrain, contentious terrain, fierce general, evaluating men, heavy terrain, roving agents, sagacious generals Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Warring States, T'ai Kung, Tzu Kung, Three Armies, Sun Pin, The Art of War, Six Secret Teachings, Han Fei-tzu, Tso Chuan, Shih Chi, Ching K'o, Chuan Chu, Duke Huan, Kuan Chung, Yellow River, King Chou, Wen Chung, Original Text, Classifications of Terrain, Tzu Fan, King Wen, Han Hsin, Hsü Tung, Wei Liao-tzu, Han Kao-tsu Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Citations (learn more)
3
books
cite this book:
- The Essence Of War: Leadership And Strategy From The Chinese Military Classics by Ralph D. Sawyer in Front Matter, and Back Matter
- Fire And Water: The Art Of Incendiary And Aquatic Warfare In China by Ralph D. Sawyer in Front Matter
- War and State Formation in Ancient China and Early Modern Europe by Victoria Tin-bor Hui in Back Matter
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