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Sun Tzu and
"The Art of War"

Short History The Art of War Other Works Links

       The original text of "Ping Fa: The Art of War" does not exist. Legend has it that the original was written circa 500 BC by General Sun Wu, in the employ of Ho Lu, King of Wu, and consisted of 82 chapters, of which the existing 13 chapters make up the first 'chuan'. Sun Wu was given the title 'Tzu', which means 'master', late in his life.
       Scholars estimate that existing texts are copies which date from 450 BC to 320 BC, during the 'Warring States' period of Chinese history. The text was unknown to Europeans until around 1750 AD.

       The book is a sophisticated treatise on philosophy, logistics, espionage, strategy and tactics, with later versions often containing more commentary than original text. The central premise is that battles are won not strictly from force or might, but rather by the use of wisdom and courage, as well as cunning and guile.

       The 1910 translation by Leslie Giles is greatly respected, while later translations by Thomas Cleary and others take into account Wu Chiu-lung's transcription, which was made from bamboo strips dated 140-118 BC that were found in 1972.

"The Art of War"

	"The Art of War" [2002] Translated by John Minford Penguin Classics 8½x5½ pb [8/2003] for $11.20 Viking 9¼x6¼ hardcover [11/2002] for $16.97
	"The Art of War: A New Translation" Translated by Denma Group [2001] Shambhala 9¼x6¼ hardcover [1/2001] for $19.96
	"The Art of War" incorporating the recently-discovered Yin-Ch'Ueh-Shan texts Translated by Roger T. Ames [1993] Ballantine 9½x6½ hardcover [2/93] for $17.50

	"The Illustrated Art of War" [1996] Translated by Thomas Cleary [1988] Shambhala 9½x8½ hardcover [11/98] for $23.96
	"The Art of War" Translated by Thomas Cleary [1988] Shambhala pb [5/91] for $6.95 Shambhala UNABR audio [11/89] for $10.95 online text version at The China House Project
	"The Art of War" Translated by Samuel B. Griffith [1963] Oxford Univ Press 8x5¼ pb [10/84] for $8.95 M/S Reader ebook [10/2000] for $9.95
	"The Art of War" Translated by Lionel Giles [1910] Deodand 8½x5½ pb [4/2002] for $8.95 Deodand Adobe Reader ebook [6/2002] for $1.99 Deodand M/S Reader ebook [6/2002] for $1.99 online English text at China News Digest online text at M.I.T. free MobiBook version
	"The Art of War" Edited by James Clavell ["Shogun" etc] Delta Trade 8¼x7 pb [12/89] for $9.56 Delacorte 8½x7¼ hardcover [3/89] for $13.56

online text at Northeastern University
online Chinese text at China News Digest
online text version translated by Sonshi.com [2000]

Other Works

	"Sun Tzu Was A Sissy: Conquer Your   Enemies, Promote Your Friends & Wage the Real Art of War" [2004] by Stanley Bing HarperBusiness hardcover [10/2004] for $13.96 PerfectBound Adobe Reader ebook [10/2004] for $10.85 PerfectBound M/S Reader ebook [10/2004] for $10.85
	"Sun Tzu and the Art of Modern Warfare" [2001] by Mark R. McNeilly Oxford Univ Press pb [Expanded Edition 4/2003] for $11.53 Oxford Univ Press hardcover [10/2001] for $19.25
	"Sun Tzu and the Art of Business: Six Strategic Principles for Managers" [1996] by Mark R. McNeilly Oxford Univ Press 8x5¼ pb [5/2000] for $10.47 Oxford Univ Press hardcover [11/96] for $30.00
	"The Lost Art of War" by Sun Tzu II Translated by Thomas Cleary [1996] Harper SF 8x5¼ pb [5/97] for $9.60 Harper hardcover [2/96] out of stock/used BooksOnTape audio [5/96] out of stock/used
	"Mastering The Art of War" Translated by Thomas Cleary [1989] Shambhala 9x6 pb [11/89] for $10.47
	"Sun Tsu's The Art of War" video [2003] As interpreted by George Alexander Pro-Active color DVD [3/2003] out of stock/rare

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