The Seven Military Classics of Ancient China by Ralph D. Sawyer
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
For most of recorded history, China has housed the largest human population. Combined with the very fertile land of the area, and its relative connectedness (Europe in comparison, had many mountains and small areas connecting it, causing populations to form in related but relative autonomy), Chinese civilization gave rise to hugely bureaucratic institutions that helped perpetuate its monolithic political system. As such, the military might of empire building has given rise to a variety of teachings about military matters from its victors.
In classic form, these texts are often inscribed in a series of question and answers, the point of which aren’t organized in the same brute force organization as the German treatsie or the Anglo-Saxon essay. Nonetheless, despite the length of time encompassed in this text many of the texts sound fairly similar. Much of the principles behind these texts can be found in Sun Tzu’s art of war.
Taoist teachings have penetrated much of Chinese thought and society, giving rise not only to military tactical and strategic thoughts but also thoughts on propaganda, ruling, medicine, astrology, chemistry and martial arts. Most of the principles are pretty much the same though. Be orthodox when they enemy expects unorthodox. Be unorthodox when the enemy expects orthodox. Things like that. Be where they don’t expect you, be integrated in how you approach things, withhold information, let your enemy fight amongst themselves when possible. Win wars without fighting.
In a sense, the best military strategies are the ones that avoid war, that ensure political and economy success without military expense.
I won’t pretend that this was a mystical read, full of great oriental wisdom… by today’s standards, there is much detail missing… and the repetition did get mind numbing. Nonetheless, it is good to see how many ideas haven’t changed over time and how people can continue, despite technology, to discover the same ideas as being relevant.
