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Mastering the Art of War: Commentaries on Sun Tzu's Classic
Two master strategists delve into the essential priciples of Sun Tzu's The Art of War , revealing what they teach us about leadership, success, and more
Composed by two prominent statesmen-generals of classical China, this book develops the strategies of Sun Tzu's classic, The Art of War, into a complete handbook of organization and leadership. The great leaders of ancient China who were trained in Sun Tzu's principles understood how war is waged successfully—both materially and mentally—and how victory and defeat follow clear social, psychological, and environmental laws.
Drawing on episodes from the panorama of Chinese history, Mastering the Art of War presents practical summaries of these essential laws along with tales of conflict and strategy that show in concrete terms the proper use of Sun Tzu's principles. The book also examines the social and psychological aspects of organization and crisis management. The translator's introduction surveys the Chinese philosophies of war and conflict and explores in depth the parallels between The Art of War and the oldest handbook of strategic living, the I Ching ( Book of Changes ).
Composed by two prominent statesmen-generals of classical China, this book develops the strategies of Sun Tzu's classic, The Art of War, into a complete handbook of organization and leadership. The great leaders of ancient China who were trained in Sun Tzu's principles understood how war is waged successfully—both materially and mentally—and how victory and defeat follow clear social, psychological, and environmental laws.
Drawing on episodes from the panorama of Chinese history, Mastering the Art of War presents practical summaries of these essential laws along with tales of conflict and strategy that show in concrete terms the proper use of Sun Tzu's principles. The book also examines the social and psychological aspects of organization and crisis management. The translator's introduction surveys the Chinese philosophies of war and conflict and explores in depth the parallels between The Art of War and the oldest handbook of strategic living, the I Ching ( Book of Changes ).
160 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 234
55 people are currently reading
1511 people want to read
About the author
Zhuge Liang
17 books29 followersZhuge Liang (181–234) was a Chinese statesman and military strategist. He was chancellor and later regent of the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms period. He is recognised as the most accomplished strategist of his era, and has been compared to Sun Tzu, the author of The Art of War. His reputation as an intelligent and learned scholar grew even while he was living in relative seclusion, earning him the nickname "Wolong" or "Fulong", meaning "Crouching Dragon" or "Sleeping Dragon". Zhuge Liang is often depicted wearing a Taoist robe and holding a hand fan made of crane feathers
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
November 30, 2007
Read it. Live it. Pass it on.
April 15, 2021
I am very grateful to this book and all the people who have worked on it. Over the number of years that I've chipped away at it, it's really helped me to be a better leader. I was surprised that I learned I need to be more compassionate but also less emotional. You really wouldn't think ancient chinese warlords would teach you how to handle teams of volunteers, or even moderate Facebook meme groups, but here we are. I feel like I have a better idea of what I'm doing. I have several passages tabbed. This will be going in the glass case since I'm finally finished.
October 17, 2019
This book provide you with some strategic wisdom and conflicts. Honestly, I found it quite difficult to digest some of materials providing in this book, while it looks seems easy at a glance. But I believe this book will give you rich benefits if you can comprehend it.
January 25, 2021
Quite dull, but I really liked the discussion on what must be expected of a good political leader.
June 5, 2021
Excellent. Essential. Recommended.
May 6, 2022
Amazing playbook for leadership in any form...replace manager, teacher, coach, mentor to replace general. I've been a fan of all things Romance of the Three Kingdoms for years, and came across this as an ancillary to Sun Tzu's Art of War. Zhuge Liang's Mastering the Art of War fills in many of the blanks for understanding the statesman-general in Chinese history.
In any form of leadership, the manager, coach, teacher, mentor has a much more rich role than simply planning a battle, strategic marketing plan or classroom objectives. A leader cares for her employees, cares for his team and brings manages by balancing compassion with strategy.
In any form of leadership, the manager, coach, teacher, mentor has a much more rich role than simply planning a battle, strategic marketing plan or classroom objectives. A leader cares for her employees, cares for his team and brings manages by balancing compassion with strategy.
May 19, 2025
Sun Tzu’s Art of War is not only a classic masterpiece on military strategy, but it is a profound work on leadership in general. Mastering the Art of War: Zhuge Liang’s and Liu Ji’s commentary on the classic by Sun Tzu is an expansion of the work using ancient Chinese texts, as well. Translator Thomas Cleary initiates the discussion by illustrating how these works fit into the Taoist mindset. It is ironic that these classics on war are associated with a philosophy that is generally skeptical of war. He quotes: “The Martial Lord of Wei asked one of his ministers what had caused the destruction of a certain nation-state. The minister said, ‘Repeated victories in repeated wars.’” (p. 7)
Back in the 1960s, days of acid rock and counter-culture, I remember many folks reading Mao ZeDong’s Sayings of Chairman Mao and playing with the I Ching: Book of Changes as though the latter was like reading a horoscope. Cleary points out that this was not the purpose of the I Ching. Its so-called divinations are a set of strategic assessments intended: “…to help the individual lead a more rational and effective life. It structure is based on a quadrangle of four fundamental sets of ideas, on which revolves a cycle of three hundred and sixty states of opportunity.” (p. 11) Naturally, those 360 states correspond to the number of days in the lunar year. But they are not to tell a fortune. Each of the hexagrams contain six different elements or perspectives to help the individual analyze each theme from different points of view. As a result, even the portions of the I Ching which cover military aspects are concerned with balance and harmony, a hendiadys of Taoist concern (p. 13). This concern is reflected in The Art of War, as well.
Zhuge Liang takes the principles outlined in The Art of War and builds on them. Liang says that “Weapons are instruments of ill omen.” (p. 42) As a result, one should be certain of both purpose and high ground before engaging in conflict. In terms of leadership, Liang focuses on competence and fair dealing as a basis for solid morale in the army (p. 50). He offers lists of when it advantageous to engage an enemy, such as when their forces are stale (brittle), supplies are exhausted, equipment is in disrepair, night falls when they still have a ways to go, they are disrupted by rough terrain, and more (pp. 49-50).
Liang advises generals to: “Follow the timing of opportunities, set up preparations for defense, strengthen your striking power, improve the abilities of your soldiers, map our decisive strategies, and consider life and death issues.” (p. 56) He offers five positive aspects of good leaders (noble behavior, social virtues, trustworthiness, universal love, and powerful action) versus eight negative aspects (inability to discern right and wrong, inability to delegate authority, inability to ensure justice, inability to help the poor, insufficient intelligence to recognize threats, insufficient thought to prevent subtle dangers, inability to express one’s intuitive knowledge, and inability to avoid criticism in defeat—pp. 59-60).
The later work by Liu Je takes the principles outlined in The Art of War and illustrates them with anecdotes taken mostly from the “Three Kingdoms Era” made famous in Tales of the Three Kingdoms but also with tales from later than Zhuge Liang’s era. The latter part of Mastering the Art of War recounts these illustrations by Liu Je. Je’s general manual on war emphasizes caution. It is entertaining reading because of similes such as: “Thus a man-eating tiger cannot swallow a single porcupine, but a goat leash may be used to harness nine gelded bulls.” (p. 70). He makes his points by appealing back to principles in Sun Tzu. For example, he points out that enemies which come from far off want to fight right away while they are at the peak of their energy and morale. He advises the defenders to wait and quotes the rule from the classic as “Be still when in a secure place.” (p. 71)
He follows the same principle in the anecdotes, except that he asserts the principle, quotes the rule, and then, gives the story to illustrate the point. For example, he observed that the greed of some enemies can be used against them. He quotes Sun Tzu: “Draw them in with the prospect of gain.” Then, he shares about using unarmed men dressed as woodcutters for bait. When the enemy came to capture the easy victory, hidden ambushers took the enemy instead (pp, 106-107). He also warns about allowing the enemy to manipulate you, quoting The Art of War as: “When the enemy is far away and tries to provoke hostilities, he wants you to move forward.” The story illustrating the principle was of a Qiang general who waited out a siege until he could catch the besiegers between his defenders and the arriving reinforcements (pp. 119-120).
Mastering The Art of War: Zhuge Liang’s and Liu Ji’s commentaries on the classic by Sun Tzu is an insightful short volume on leadership and morality, as much as it is about strategy and tactics in warfare. As a long-term reader of Clauswitz and Sun Tzu, I found it to be both enlightening (explaining some of the lines which didn’t initially make sense to me in The Art of War) and inspiring (realizing that the principles amount to more than just ways to kill people and take territory).
Back in the 1960s, days of acid rock and counter-culture, I remember many folks reading Mao ZeDong’s Sayings of Chairman Mao and playing with the I Ching: Book of Changes as though the latter was like reading a horoscope. Cleary points out that this was not the purpose of the I Ching. Its so-called divinations are a set of strategic assessments intended: “…to help the individual lead a more rational and effective life. It structure is based on a quadrangle of four fundamental sets of ideas, on which revolves a cycle of three hundred and sixty states of opportunity.” (p. 11) Naturally, those 360 states correspond to the number of days in the lunar year. But they are not to tell a fortune. Each of the hexagrams contain six different elements or perspectives to help the individual analyze each theme from different points of view. As a result, even the portions of the I Ching which cover military aspects are concerned with balance and harmony, a hendiadys of Taoist concern (p. 13). This concern is reflected in The Art of War, as well.
Zhuge Liang takes the principles outlined in The Art of War and builds on them. Liang says that “Weapons are instruments of ill omen.” (p. 42) As a result, one should be certain of both purpose and high ground before engaging in conflict. In terms of leadership, Liang focuses on competence and fair dealing as a basis for solid morale in the army (p. 50). He offers lists of when it advantageous to engage an enemy, such as when their forces are stale (brittle), supplies are exhausted, equipment is in disrepair, night falls when they still have a ways to go, they are disrupted by rough terrain, and more (pp. 49-50).
Liang advises generals to: “Follow the timing of opportunities, set up preparations for defense, strengthen your striking power, improve the abilities of your soldiers, map our decisive strategies, and consider life and death issues.” (p. 56) He offers five positive aspects of good leaders (noble behavior, social virtues, trustworthiness, universal love, and powerful action) versus eight negative aspects (inability to discern right and wrong, inability to delegate authority, inability to ensure justice, inability to help the poor, insufficient intelligence to recognize threats, insufficient thought to prevent subtle dangers, inability to express one’s intuitive knowledge, and inability to avoid criticism in defeat—pp. 59-60).
The later work by Liu Je takes the principles outlined in The Art of War and illustrates them with anecdotes taken mostly from the “Three Kingdoms Era” made famous in Tales of the Three Kingdoms but also with tales from later than Zhuge Liang’s era. The latter part of Mastering the Art of War recounts these illustrations by Liu Je. Je’s general manual on war emphasizes caution. It is entertaining reading because of similes such as: “Thus a man-eating tiger cannot swallow a single porcupine, but a goat leash may be used to harness nine gelded bulls.” (p. 70). He makes his points by appealing back to principles in Sun Tzu. For example, he points out that enemies which come from far off want to fight right away while they are at the peak of their energy and morale. He advises the defenders to wait and quotes the rule from the classic as “Be still when in a secure place.” (p. 71)
He follows the same principle in the anecdotes, except that he asserts the principle, quotes the rule, and then, gives the story to illustrate the point. For example, he observed that the greed of some enemies can be used against them. He quotes Sun Tzu: “Draw them in with the prospect of gain.” Then, he shares about using unarmed men dressed as woodcutters for bait. When the enemy came to capture the easy victory, hidden ambushers took the enemy instead (pp, 106-107). He also warns about allowing the enemy to manipulate you, quoting The Art of War as: “When the enemy is far away and tries to provoke hostilities, he wants you to move forward.” The story illustrating the principle was of a Qiang general who waited out a siege until he could catch the besiegers between his defenders and the arriving reinforcements (pp. 119-120).
Mastering The Art of War: Zhuge Liang’s and Liu Ji’s commentaries on the classic by Sun Tzu is an insightful short volume on leadership and morality, as much as it is about strategy and tactics in warfare. As a long-term reader of Clauswitz and Sun Tzu, I found it to be both enlightening (explaining some of the lines which didn’t initially make sense to me in The Art of War) and inspiring (realizing that the principles amount to more than just ways to kill people and take territory).
May 21, 2012
Its best to read it in conjunction with Sun Tzu (which I've already read
September 10, 2012
One of the best books I have ever read.
March 3, 2014
Obtain the thoughts of a general.
Read it. Live it. Pass it on.
Read it. Live it. Pass it on.
February 1, 2025
Review of Mastering the Art of War: Commentaries on Sun Tzu’s Classic by Zhuge Liang, Liu Ji, and Thomas Cleary
Mastering the Art of War is a brilliant exploration of the timeless principles laid out in Sun Tzu’s The Art of War. This work goes beyond the original text by integrating commentaries and strategic insights from two prominent military strategists of ancient China, Zhuge Liang and Liu Ji. By providing detailed analyses of how Sun Tzu’s strategies are applied in leadership, military campaigns, and beyond, this book offers an essential guide to understanding both the theory and practice of successful strategy in any field.
Key Themes and Insights:
• Application of Sun Tzu’s Principles: The book elaborates on the core teachings of Sun Tzu’s masterpiece, especially focusing on leadership and decision-making under pressure. Both Zhuge Liang and Liu Ji expand on Sun Tzu’s views, detailing how strategic flexibility, foresight, and intelligence are critical in shaping successful outcomes. They also delve into the idea that strategy is not just about military tactics but also about understanding and applying the laws of social, psychological, and environmental contexts.
• The Concept of Victory and Defeat: One of the book’s central themes is how victory is not just about fighting battles but about avoiding unnecessary conflict and using the surrounding environment to one’s advantage. The discussion of when to fight, when to retreat, and when to wait for an advantage encapsulates the wisdom of Sun Tzu and his followers.
• Social and Psychological Aspects: The book takes a unique approach by examining how the principles of war also influence organizational structure, crisis management, and leadership in non-military contexts. The strategies explored in the text are just as applicable to modern business or personal leadership challenges as they are to warfare.
• Integration with the I Ching: The text also draws fascinating parallels between the principles of The Art of War and the older Chinese strategic text, the I Ching (Book of Changes). This connection highlights the importance of adaptability, understanding change, and the fluid nature of circumstances in leadership and strategy.
Notable Quotes:
• “The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting.”
• “Victory is reserved for those who are willing to pay its price.”
Final Verdict:
Mastering the Art of War is an exceptional companion to Sun Tzu’s original work. It does not merely repeat the well-known aphorisms of the ancient text but builds on them, offering deeper insights into how those principles can be practically applied to leadership and strategy. Whether you are interested in military history, leadership, or strategic thinking in a variety of fields, this book is an indispensable resource. Zhuge Liang and Liu Ji’s commentaries bring the ancient wisdom of Sun Tzu into the modern world, making it both timeless and relevant.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5) — A profound and insightful commentary that enriches Sun Tzu’s original Art of War. This book is a must-read for anyone seeking to master the principles of strategy and leadership, whether in war, business, or life.
Mastering the Art of War is a brilliant exploration of the timeless principles laid out in Sun Tzu’s The Art of War. This work goes beyond the original text by integrating commentaries and strategic insights from two prominent military strategists of ancient China, Zhuge Liang and Liu Ji. By providing detailed analyses of how Sun Tzu’s strategies are applied in leadership, military campaigns, and beyond, this book offers an essential guide to understanding both the theory and practice of successful strategy in any field.
Key Themes and Insights:
• Application of Sun Tzu’s Principles: The book elaborates on the core teachings of Sun Tzu’s masterpiece, especially focusing on leadership and decision-making under pressure. Both Zhuge Liang and Liu Ji expand on Sun Tzu’s views, detailing how strategic flexibility, foresight, and intelligence are critical in shaping successful outcomes. They also delve into the idea that strategy is not just about military tactics but also about understanding and applying the laws of social, psychological, and environmental contexts.
• The Concept of Victory and Defeat: One of the book’s central themes is how victory is not just about fighting battles but about avoiding unnecessary conflict and using the surrounding environment to one’s advantage. The discussion of when to fight, when to retreat, and when to wait for an advantage encapsulates the wisdom of Sun Tzu and his followers.
• Social and Psychological Aspects: The book takes a unique approach by examining how the principles of war also influence organizational structure, crisis management, and leadership in non-military contexts. The strategies explored in the text are just as applicable to modern business or personal leadership challenges as they are to warfare.
• Integration with the I Ching: The text also draws fascinating parallels between the principles of The Art of War and the older Chinese strategic text, the I Ching (Book of Changes). This connection highlights the importance of adaptability, understanding change, and the fluid nature of circumstances in leadership and strategy.
Notable Quotes:
• “The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting.”
• “Victory is reserved for those who are willing to pay its price.”
Final Verdict:
Mastering the Art of War is an exceptional companion to Sun Tzu’s original work. It does not merely repeat the well-known aphorisms of the ancient text but builds on them, offering deeper insights into how those principles can be practically applied to leadership and strategy. Whether you are interested in military history, leadership, or strategic thinking in a variety of fields, this book is an indispensable resource. Zhuge Liang and Liu Ji’s commentaries bring the ancient wisdom of Sun Tzu into the modern world, making it both timeless and relevant.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5) — A profound and insightful commentary that enriches Sun Tzu’s original Art of War. This book is a must-read for anyone seeking to master the principles of strategy and leadership, whether in war, business, or life.
September 19, 2025
This book combines the writings of two prominent Chinese strategists, Zhuge Liang and Liu Ji. Both men came after Sunzi, author of The Art of War, and Cleary describes these two works as commentaries on the work of Sunzi.
Zhuge Liang's piece is called The Way of the General and it collects short essays from Records of the Loyal Lord of Warriors. Like many, I first became acquainted with Zhuge Liang from his novelized personage in the Chinese classic, Romance of the Three Kingdoms, in which he is called "Kongming" and is a force to be reckoned with in service to Liu Bei of the Shu Kingdom. Zhuge Liang's ideas are conveyed as short topical discussions, not unlike Sunzi's work.
Liu Ji's manual, Lessons of War, is a bit different in that the explanation of the strategy is briefer than in the works of Sunzi or Zhuge Liang, but Liu Ji always includes an exemplary story from history. This makes Liu Ji's work a little more narrative. It is interesting to see the varied approach to conveyance of the concepts under consideration.
Because the works of Zhuge Liang and Liu Ji are thin, the book has a fair amount of padding in the form of Translator's Introductions, both an overall Introduction and one per included work. I was happy with how these were done. They do not drone on but rather give some background that will be useful to the average reader without getting lost in the weeds.
If you're interested in strategy, be it applicable to war or otherwise, I'd highly recommend this book.
Zhuge Liang's piece is called The Way of the General and it collects short essays from Records of the Loyal Lord of Warriors. Like many, I first became acquainted with Zhuge Liang from his novelized personage in the Chinese classic, Romance of the Three Kingdoms, in which he is called "Kongming" and is a force to be reckoned with in service to Liu Bei of the Shu Kingdom. Zhuge Liang's ideas are conveyed as short topical discussions, not unlike Sunzi's work.
Liu Ji's manual, Lessons of War, is a bit different in that the explanation of the strategy is briefer than in the works of Sunzi or Zhuge Liang, but Liu Ji always includes an exemplary story from history. This makes Liu Ji's work a little more narrative. It is interesting to see the varied approach to conveyance of the concepts under consideration.
Because the works of Zhuge Liang and Liu Ji are thin, the book has a fair amount of padding in the form of Translator's Introductions, both an overall Introduction and one per included work. I was happy with how these were done. They do not drone on but rather give some background that will be useful to the average reader without getting lost in the weeds.
If you're interested in strategy, be it applicable to war or otherwise, I'd highly recommend this book.
January 16, 2025
Masterful translation and an excellent companion to the original Art of War. The commentary provided by the “Sleeping Dragon” Zhuge Liang and another strategist Liu Ji were fantastically paced throughout the book. Easy to read and digest in bite-sized chunks. Each strategy is explained simply, given context, and then an example from ancient Chinese military history is provided to illustrate the strategy. I particularly enjoyed how often Cao Cao (victor of the Three Kingdoms era) is mentioned since he scored many victories and was a common enemy to Zhuge Liang. Worth the read.
December 13, 2024
This is a must read book for a few reasons. It's a translation of the works of two Generals into English that don't exist. It follows Chinese Phillosophy ;however, not in the Classic Sun Tzu Format and finally it's a work of Thomas Cleary for those fans like myself that follows his work.
April 10, 2018
Excellent read to augment Sun Tzu’s classic. The stories high light the lessons and bring them to life
July 14, 2019
Zhuge Liang, where are you when we need you?
June 21, 2024
A classic now, this Sun Tzu revision by Cleary had the goods on self empowerment. It puts you in control of your reality and not powerless. Pairs well with the I-Ching for self-mastery.
June 25, 2016
Although this is a short book, and likely a very obscure one, this book is a worthwhile gem for those who are students of the lasting influence of Chinese military strategy and its larger implications [1]. The translator and editor of this book assumes that the reader is familiar with both the Art of War and the I Ching, as well as having some passing familiarity with the larger scope of Chinese history between the Spring and Autumn and T’ang periods. Needless to say, not many readers will be familiar with either Zhuge Liang nor Liu Ji, but those readers who are familiar with both will find a great deal to appreciate in the translations as well as in the larger conceptual framework in which the translations are put, namely that Sun Tzu and many who comment on him have a profound and subtle thinking process that not only deals with matters of military strategy but also with areas outside of military thought and including sociology. The fruitful relationship between war and society is one that this book explores in considerable depth for its small size at just over 100 pages, making it a worthwhile and brief read for those who are students of the Chinese military classics already.
The contents of this book are straightforward, if somewhat obscure to many readers. Introducing by quoting passages from the iChing and Sun Tzu’s Art of War, the editor makes the statement that the military thought of noted Chinese strategists was related to Taoist thought, by pointing to striking similarities in texts and the widespread (and accurate) belief that it was better to avoid bloodshed if at all possible and that warfare was sometimes necessary but generally inauspicious. The author then introduces the career of Zhuge Liang, who was an obscure subsistence farmer during the late Han and early Three Kingdoms period before being recognized for his sound strategic thinking, ending his career, and life, as a regent for a young king and Han loyalist, before introducing Liang’s commentary on Sun Tzu and its application in his own career. The author then introduces the checkered career of Liu Ji, who served both the latter Yuan and early Ming dynasties loyally, but ended up having an up and down career because his loyalty was not rewarded and because he suffered harm due to slandering and flatterers, before giving a commentary that includes a great deal of information that provides evidence of the subtlety and flexibility of a wise general and strategist, and demonstrates that he was a sound pupil of the masters of military strategy.
The book is worthwhile for what it says both about China as well as the relationship between war and society. Contemporary military historians often view war and society as one of the fads or recent trends of history, but going back to the Warring States period more than two thousand years ago, and far earlier if one wishes to take it that far, there was a firm knowledge of the connection between the strength of a society and the strength of its military, as well as the fact that frequent and continual warfare was a drain on the strength of a people. The book is also a sound warning to those who are armchair generals who use the maxims of Sun Tzu without proper understanding, given that they are subtle and designed for those with a shrewd understanding of conditions, requiring sound intelligence, as well as a canny ability to understand and manipulate the psychology of rivals and enemies. Even if the stories are often recycled from one commentary to the next, the lessons drawn from these stories are worthwhile to ponder and reflect upon regardless of what aspect of strategy one wishes to apply in one’s own life.
[1] See, for example:
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
The contents of this book are straightforward, if somewhat obscure to many readers. Introducing by quoting passages from the iChing and Sun Tzu’s Art of War, the editor makes the statement that the military thought of noted Chinese strategists was related to Taoist thought, by pointing to striking similarities in texts and the widespread (and accurate) belief that it was better to avoid bloodshed if at all possible and that warfare was sometimes necessary but generally inauspicious. The author then introduces the career of Zhuge Liang, who was an obscure subsistence farmer during the late Han and early Three Kingdoms period before being recognized for his sound strategic thinking, ending his career, and life, as a regent for a young king and Han loyalist, before introducing Liang’s commentary on Sun Tzu and its application in his own career. The author then introduces the checkered career of Liu Ji, who served both the latter Yuan and early Ming dynasties loyally, but ended up having an up and down career because his loyalty was not rewarded and because he suffered harm due to slandering and flatterers, before giving a commentary that includes a great deal of information that provides evidence of the subtlety and flexibility of a wise general and strategist, and demonstrates that he was a sound pupil of the masters of military strategy.
The book is worthwhile for what it says both about China as well as the relationship between war and society. Contemporary military historians often view war and society as one of the fads or recent trends of history, but going back to the Warring States period more than two thousand years ago, and far earlier if one wishes to take it that far, there was a firm knowledge of the connection between the strength of a society and the strength of its military, as well as the fact that frequent and continual warfare was a drain on the strength of a people. The book is also a sound warning to those who are armchair generals who use the maxims of Sun Tzu without proper understanding, given that they are subtle and designed for those with a shrewd understanding of conditions, requiring sound intelligence, as well as a canny ability to understand and manipulate the psychology of rivals and enemies. Even if the stories are often recycled from one commentary to the next, the lessons drawn from these stories are worthwhile to ponder and reflect upon regardless of what aspect of strategy one wishes to apply in one’s own life.
[1] See, for example:
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
May 26, 2016
This book is a collection of translations of two old Chinese texts on the art of war - one by Zhuge Liang, and one by Liu Ji.
These old Chinese texts on strategy can be hard to grok, because they are so succinct. I've always found this to be the case with Sun Tzu's Art of War. You can read it quickly, because it really is rather short. Each brief little chapter provides a small gem of strategic wisdom that, in a modern Western text, would be elaborated on for a few pages. But here, we only get a sentence or two. Short of forcing yourself to meditate on each chapter for ten or twenty minutes before moving on, it's hard to appropriately digest each point.
Zhuge Liang's text, The Way of the General, is exactly this way. Each chapter is so brief! Also, in this particular case, it is hard to suspect that the text has any secondary meaning, besides helping people to win at war. Art of War and similar texts are often cast as holding deeper meanings than the surface meaning. Perhaps this is true for Sun Tzu, but it would be a big stretch here. The advice seems pretty sound, and Zhuge Liang was one of the most amazing generals in history, so there has to be something to it.
Liu Ji's text, Lessons of War: Studies in Strategy, is infinitely more interesting, because for each chapter, he provides a story drawn from Chinese history to illustrate and back up his point. This brings in some interesting history, which helped keep this reader engaged. It also served to provide some elaboration for the points being made, giving each idea a bit more breadth.
All in all, I found this a fascinating text to read. It's well worth it for the long-time daoist scholar who wants a little something more than the overplayed Art of War.
These old Chinese texts on strategy can be hard to grok, because they are so succinct. I've always found this to be the case with Sun Tzu's Art of War. You can read it quickly, because it really is rather short. Each brief little chapter provides a small gem of strategic wisdom that, in a modern Western text, would be elaborated on for a few pages. But here, we only get a sentence or two. Short of forcing yourself to meditate on each chapter for ten or twenty minutes before moving on, it's hard to appropriately digest each point.
Zhuge Liang's text, The Way of the General, is exactly this way. Each chapter is so brief! Also, in this particular case, it is hard to suspect that the text has any secondary meaning, besides helping people to win at war. Art of War and similar texts are often cast as holding deeper meanings than the surface meaning. Perhaps this is true for Sun Tzu, but it would be a big stretch here. The advice seems pretty sound, and Zhuge Liang was one of the most amazing generals in history, so there has to be something to it.
Liu Ji's text, Lessons of War: Studies in Strategy, is infinitely more interesting, because for each chapter, he provides a story drawn from Chinese history to illustrate and back up his point. This brings in some interesting history, which helped keep this reader engaged. It also served to provide some elaboration for the points being made, giving each idea a bit more breadth.
All in all, I found this a fascinating text to read. It's well worth it for the long-time daoist scholar who wants a little something more than the overplayed Art of War.
October 28, 2015
Mastering the Art of War is a must read especially if you are interested in better understanding the various aspects of dealing with opposition either mentally or physically. Each strategy is broken up into bite side nuggets such as: Strategic Assessments, Doing Battle, Planning a Siege and Adaptations to help you to see the value of war. Additionally, hearing from the Masters and leaders on how they see each section is valuable.
I find that these strategies are ideal in negotiation, conflict resolution and strategic planning. I am sure that in the military especially SWAT, Special Ops and the Marines that a lot of these principles were used.
If you are seeking some new ways to make a mental and physical paradigm shift in your process this is a must buy.
I find that these strategies are ideal in negotiation, conflict resolution and strategic planning. I am sure that in the military especially SWAT, Special Ops and the Marines that a lot of these principles were used.
If you are seeking some new ways to make a mental and physical paradigm shift in your process this is a must buy.
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February 11, 2014An unnecessary extension of the Sun Tzu classic, but it wasn't the worst read.
December 27, 2015
Un pequeño libro encontrado en la antigua Den Haag :) Una sencilla manera de entender el liderazgo actual con base a los conceptos militares de la antigua China
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