Wuzi

by Wu Qi

La obra de Wu Qi ocupa un lugar significativo entre los manuales militares clásicos de la antigua China imperial. Tanto este tratado como el ya famoso Arte de la guerra de Sun Tzu son conocidos bajo el término común “El arte de la guerra de Sun y Wu”. Vale aclarar que no existe un libro con este título, solo se trata de una forma en la que los intelectuales chinos combinan los nombres para referirse a las obras de estos dos magníficos estrategas.
El Discurso sobre el arte de la guerra nos sitúa ante un diálogo entre Wu Qi y Wu Hou, fundador del estado de Wei. El tema es la guerra y la actitud que un combatiente debe abrazar para procurar salir ileso de la prueba. Citando el prólogo de este libro, “los consejos estratégicos y tácticos de Wu Qi son tan universales que podrían haber nacido de la experiencia de generales griegos como Temístocles, Pericles o Laques. Recuerdan a otros grandes pensadores de la guerra como Sun Tzu, Nicolás Maquiavelo y Klaus Von Clausewitz. El pragmatismo de Wu Qi atraviesa siglos y geografías. Entonces, ¿cómo no trasladar sus lecciones a las feroces guerras comerciales que se libran en el mundo de hoy las compañías?”.
Wu Qi (440-381 a. C.) fue un estratega militar, reformador y estadista. Obtuvo altísimos logros, tanto en los asuntos internos como en los militares. También fue un hombre versado en el pensamiento confuciano. Su tratado sobre estrategia militar –considerado en China como un clásico del género– es su única publicación. Hasta la fecha había permanecido inédito en idioma castellano.

Genres: War

104 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

Reviews

[Truls Ljungström · Rating 3 out of 5]

En allsidig bok med konkreta rekommendationer. De är så pass konkreta att boken kanske är mer användbar för författare och militärhistoriker än för de som använder strategi som analogi för företagande. Det som är kärnan är i princip att det går att förstå varje situation och använda förståelsen för att hitta Vägen, dvs den metod som använder situationens dynamik till sin fördel; samt att denna förmåga försvinner om gruppen som man arbetar genom inte är disciplinerad.

[Puj Doo · Rating 3 out of 5]

this is the second of the seven Chinese tactical books that i have read, so i can only compare it to the art of war.
In contrast to Sun Tzu, who focused on rules and punishment, Wu Qi seems to focus primarily on the reward system.
One would think his writing to be more moral, as he seems to relay on righteousness and honor. Yet, i couldn't get over how everything seems to be action and benefit: take care of your men = so they do not leave you, pay your men = and they will fight for you.
Not that i disagree with this outlook, but that it seems sad to see life in this way.
It has always been to me, that true goodness is without witness or reward.
How great a general would be if he really loved his men, and was lead by that...
probably not a very good one.
I'm glad i'm no general.

[Minotaurochs · Rating 5 out of 5]

This Ancient Chinese Military Classic takes the form of a conversation between a Marquis and his adviser. The one giving counsel, Wu Qi, is advising Marquis on how to govern, analyse the enemy army, manage troops, be a good general, adapt to specific situations in battle, and finally motivate the troops and leadership.

The Marquis, Wen of Wei, is asking questions throughout and his mentor answers them giving examples and explaining the 'why', 'how' etc quite well. It's not the level of depth of Machiavelli and the like but it's more detail than 'The Three Strategies of Huang Shigong' and 'The Methods of the Sima' contain; this book is also more interesting and readable than the other two although they are short and extremely easy to read too.

[I read this book 3rd in the series published by Cherry Stone Publishing]

[Suden Käpälä · Rating 4 out of 5]

21.09.03: I actually read this (starting yesterday) from the 2018 Librero edition of Sun Tzu's (or Zun Tsu?) The Art Of War (TAOW), which I briefly had in my possession. It was included as an unannotated appendix.

What little other material I read in that book, I'll eventually include (edit, 21.09.28: done!) in my review for Fogarty's 2006 audio narration of the 1910 Giles translation Moira Fogarty -- which was actually what I wanted to read in the first place. (But I got side-tracked by the considerable 'side dishes' -- best served cold -- in the aforementioned Librero; and, while shaving those yaks, I was overcome by the desire to also take note of the bare rendering of the Wuzi which it also contained.)

For my own ease of reference (and 'completionism'), any personal notes on the Wuzi that I had, will be incorporated in my reading journal [ref.: 21.09.02 & 21.09.03] for that title.

My 4* rating speaks for itself: I was entertained. It was easier -- and more "fun" -- to read than I had expected.

However, to not leave you near-empty-handed here, and to provide some more information on this -- seemingly underappreciated -- Chinese warfare classic itself:

In the above-mentioned edition of TAOW, the bare (i.e., unannotated) version of the Wuzi measures 14 large-ish pages (in 2 moderately-dense columns). So, it's a rather short work; as is its spiritual sibling, TAOW.
The text is preceded by a single page of introduction, which mainly consists of a biography on Wuzi's author, Wu Qi (or Wu Ch'i; and the possessive form for this name seems to be Wu Chi's -- foregoing the initial apostrophe in his given name*).

(*: I seem to have learnt a thing today. Well... more than one.)

  
    (GR review: 4216099191, internal: #57.)
  

[Clark · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is written more in the style of a guide on how to govern troops on the battlefield and what strategic decisions to make in order to ensure a victory. It speaks about encouraging virtuous behaviour, however it is more written to make it seem like a way to control the people of a state, rather than from a place of true virtue.

Whilst it does not have many transferable information that would be useful today, it still is an entertaining and worthwhile read.

[Aaron Schuschu · Rating 3 out of 5]

Practical advice on military strategy

[susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dobra książka do zrozumienia sztuki wojennej jednego z najwybitniejszych strategów chińskich