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The Art of War: Difference between revisions
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{{work}}
{{Infobox book
[[File:200px-The_Art_of_War_Running_Press.jpg|frame|Not big, but still The [[Big Book of War]].]]▼
| title = The Art of War
| original title = 孫子兵法
| image = 200px-The_Art_of_War_Running_Press.jpg
▲
| author = Sun Tzu
| central theme =Strategy
| elevator pitch =A military textbook older than feudalism, that is still in use today.
| genre = textbook
| publication date = 5th century BCE
| source page exists = yes
| wiki URL =
| wiki name =
}}
{{quote|''War is a matter of vital importance to the state; a matter of life and death, the road either to survival or ruin. Hence, it is imperative that it be studied thoroughly.''|'''Sun Tzu'''}}
There was once a general so renowned that he not only knew Every Trick in the Book, he ''wrote'' the book.
The archetypal [[Big Book of War]], ''The Art of War'' (孫子兵法, Sūn Zǐ Bīng Fǎ) is a short Chinese text on warfare, written by [[Sun Tzu]], believed to have been a general in the Wu army during the Spring and Autumn Period (722–481 BC). In it, Sun described how best to command troops, and how to go about attaining victory in any condition.
Much of the text is surprisingly general, and even seems like mere common sense at times. Sun maintains the importance of knowing one's enemy and oneself, striking at the enemy's weaknesses with overwhelming force, concealing one's own weaknesses, and the importance of deception. Also covered are how to fight on different types of terrain, the use of fire, and the importance of spies.
''The Art of War'' is easily the most well-known military book ever written, and is still one of the most influential. Numerous translations are available, [[The Annotated Edition|most of which include at least a few commentaries and annotations.]] (In fact, without the annotations, introductions and footnotes, ''[[The Art of War]]'' is
That said, the ''The Art of War'' is much more popular among corporations than with soldiers and military historians, who tend to see Carl von Clausewitz's ''[[wikipedia:On War|On War]]'' as the true definitive work on warfare and politics (and trope namer for [[Fog of War]]) , with Sun Tsu being the "War for Dummies" abridged version you read if you're cramming for the test at the last minute. But ''The Art of War'' is far, far more tropable than a book about logistics, politics, and the unpredictability of war.
It is available online in several places; [http://www.sonshi.com/learn.html here] is a copy with accompanying discussions. [http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/132 This is the 1910 translation in plaintext], and [http://www.puppetpress.com/classics/artofwar.htm here it is in a pretty PDF.]
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{{quote|'''VI, 30:''' "So, in war, the way is to avoid what is strong and strike at what is weak."}}
* [[Battle of Wits]]: The Handbook
* [[Berserk Button]]/[[Hair-Trigger Temper]]/[[I Shall Taunt You]]/[[You Fight Like a Cow]]: "If your enemy is choleric, seek to anger him."
* [[Big Book of War]]: Though it only becomes big when you add the commentaries to it. The original Classical Chinese edition fits on half a pamphlet.
* [[Captain Obvious]]: "If fighting is sure to result in victory, then you must fight." <ref>Despite the text you just read likely inciting you to think "THEN WHY WOULDN'T YOU!?", the context of the line continues and refers to how [[Executive Meddling|a monarch may want you to not fight for what ever reason]]. The rest of the line also states that if you will clearly ''not'' win, don't fight even if if the sovereign commands you to.</ref>
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{{reflist}}
[[Category:Non-Fiction Literature]]
[[Category:
[[Category:The Art of War]]
[[Category:Literature]]
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