Art of War in Ancient China
The Chinese concept of shih is an elegant and complex thinking unique
to the Chinese culture and tradition. Allowing the propensity inherent
in the every kind of reality to operate on its own accord and to
maximum effect is the operative concept this essay seek to explore
across different domains of reality.
The first part of the essay investigates the concept of shih as it is
applied in military texts of Sun-tzu and in politics and political
rhetoric and communication. The second part of the essay reflect on
the application of the concept of shih as it is applied in Chinese
aesthetic— base on François Jullien’s comprehensive study of the
concept in the aesthetics of calligraphy, painting and literary
theory, and also study the articulation and rendering of the concept
in the composition of some prominent works of calligraphy, painting,
and poem.
PART I: The Concept of Shih as applied in military text of Sun Tzu and
in Politics
The Concept of Shih in Sun-tzu
Shih is the defining idea in the Sun Tzu: The Art of Warfare. In the
assertion, “The victorious army first realizes the conditions for
victory, and then seeks to engage in battle (Sawyer p. 165).” Sun Tzu
indicate that the success or failure of a battle, before it is
engaged, lies not in the enemies hands but in one’s own—as Sun Tzu
said, “being unconquerable lie with yourself; being conquerable lies
with the enemy (p.165).” This assertion is at the heart of the Chinese
strategic thinking—armed engagement should be minimize and victory can
be secured at the earlier stage in the determination of event...
... middle of paper ...
...oral impasse: A ChÂ’i-Shih analysis, , San Francisco
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Volume 4, Issue 2 (May 2004), University of Toronto Press, Article
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John E. Young , An Assessment of Strategic Prevalence in Ancient China
and Applications for Modern Entrepreneurial Strategy* Robert O.
Anderson Schools of Management, University of New Mexico
Jullien, Francois (2004), The Propensity of Things: Toward a History
of Efficacy in China, University of Hawaii Press (denoted PT)
Jullien, Francois (1995), A Treatise on Efficacy: Between Western and
Chinese Thinking,Zone Books. (denoted TE)
Sawyer, D. Ralph (1993), The Seven Military Classics of Ancient China,
including The Art of War, Westview Press (Chapter 5, Sun Tzu)
http://www.literature.idv.tw/news/n-24.htm#_ftn2
Sun Tzu. The Art of War. Translated by Samuel B. Griffith. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1963.
Another unique aspect to this book is the constant change in point of view. This change in point of view emphasizes the disorder associated with war. At some points during the book, it is a first person point of view, and at other times it changes to an outside third person point of view. In the first chapter of the book, “The Things They Carried,” O’Brien writes, “The things they carried were largely determined by necessity (2).
“If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles.” (BAM, 2010, p.20) These words were first written down over 2,400 years ago by a Chinese general named Sun Tzu in his famous military strategy treatise known today as The Art of War. These words, in fact the entire book, are just as valid today as they were during Sun Tzu’s lifetime. He was one of the first truly visionary and ethical military leaders in the world. Despite the fact that there is not much known about Sun Tzu today other than his writings, in this essay, I intend to extract his essence from his treatise to prove he was a visionary leader. I will then continue to prove he was also an ethical leader. Finally, I will finish by detailing how his seminal work has inspired me to self-reflect on how I can be a better visionary and ethical leader in the 21st Century Air Force. So, what exactly is a ‘visionary’ leader?
"Explain the meanings and discuss the concepts and origins of Samurai and Bushido code, then relate these concepts towards the modern Japanese Soldier and Leader during World War 2 and show evidence to support that the Japanese soldier treated enemy prisoners exploiting Samurai and Bushido traditions."
The Terracotta Warriors of China are an astonishing accomplishment even in today's setting. The detail of the statues and number of warriors that were made are a monumental feat. Made by 87 hand selected master artisans with red clay, each very distinct from the other during 221 BC to 231 BC make this even more amazing. The tools they lacked and the materials available at the time adds to the astonishment of today's specialist. Hand tools were used to carve details in to the clay and paint was used to add color to create a life like appearance.
The Art of War is a treatise written in Ancient China that discusses the most and least effective military strategies for successful warfare according to Sun Tzu, a military general whose existence is still debated to this day. While not every military commander in the history of warfare has read it, the strategies provided can be used as a way to assess said commanders and the effectiveness of their campaigns. In Sun Tzu 's own words, “The general that hearkens to my counsel and acts upon it, will conquer: let such a one be retained in command! The general that hearkens not to my counsel nor acts upon it, will suffer defeat:--let such a one be dismissed!”1 This paper will discuss various iconic battles throughout history and how closely the leading commanders of each army followed the advice of Sun Tzu. Despite the fact that Sun Tzu lived hundreds of years before many of these battles took place, the
Hsün Tzu is one of the main founders of eastern philosophy and is considered one of the three great sages in China along with Mencius and Confucious. Tzu’s style of writing is poetic and easy to understand. In his writings, he repeats his main ideas constantly as if he were preaching. This is a style that we can identify as being used also by some of our politicians, teachers, and clergymen to name a few.
The tales communicate that a warrior’s duty was to protect the Buddhist Law which in turn meant to protect the imperial authority. Written letters between the Onjōji to the Kōfukuji Temples avow that the “great virtue of the Buddhist Law is that it guards the imperial authority; the imperial authority endures because of the Buddhist Law.” Furthermore, the letters articulate that whether one is “southern capital or northern, we are all disciples of the Buddha.” Middle Captain Shigehira’s plea to the Buddha, before his execution, exemplifies this. Shigehira declared “I was not acting of my own free will when I committed my grave sins; I was merely trying to do my duty. Who that lives can spurn an imperial command?” Regardless of what was commanded the warrior was obligated to obey. Director of the Military Stores Bureau Yorimasa confirms this decree when he is ordered to restrain an invisible monster. Yorimasa reported “from the old, the mission of warriors posted to the court has been to repulse rebels and destroy violators of imperial commands” then, prepared to die for his lord, struck the monster with an arrow. Inomata no Koheiroku Noritsuna reveals that warriors would announce their identity before battle in view of religious beliefs. He maintained that “a man who kills an enemy does not perform a great exploit unless he takes the head after identifying himself and requiri...
"The Internet Classics Archive | The Art of War by Sun Tzu." The Internet Classics Archive | The Art of War by Sun Tzu. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 Mar. 2014. .
It was clear to me that Max Brooks was educated on the History, Geography, and Demographics of China when he wrote the book “World War Z.” The response of China to the infestation was in some ways consistent with those it had when dealing with wars of the past. One theme that carried over was overconfidence. For example, during the great leap forward, (1958-1961) Mao Zedong exported excess grain to other nations. The money Mao got from grain exports was supposed to help him pay off his debt to Russia. Then, when there was a dip in grain production, millions of people (between 18-45 million) starved to death. This could have been prevented had Mao been more cautious and kept a reserve of food. As a result of overconfidence, Mao is responsible for more deaths than Hitler. Moreover, as the famine continued, Mao proceeded to export even more grain in an effort to maintain
If a man is a coward or a hero it is not because he was born coward or hero, but because he made himself as such. Such a philosophy had enormous consequences on the literary production which followed. Existentialist novels tend to cover a space of few days, they abound of details and introspective monologue, they recall god but to avoid it, all in all they use literary techniques which help to diffuse a realistic atmosphere around the characters and their surroundings. A suffocating realism covering the all narrative is very much present in Scar Literature as well. Clearly we shall keep in mind that Chinese realism is very much different from let’s say the Italian verismo of Verga or the French realism of Zola and Balzac. The former is a scientific experiment which wanted to prove the application of Positivist methodology of natural science over human science. Chinese realism is nothing as such, it is the attempt to reproduce historical truth after for decade it was denied, to restore the distinction between I and They, to some extent between self and society, after for decades it had submitted to a collective We. Their works touched the overall social stage,
Throughout history there have been many leaders who have succeeded and led their people to greatness, and countless others who have failed and brought ruin. A good leader must be courageous, wise, and able to react well to the difficult situations that they may face. One man who had all of these characteristics and more was Charlemagne, King of Frankia located in modern day France. Throughout his long life he united the Frankish kingdoms, saved the papacy from destruction, and fought off barbarians during a critical point in Europe’s history (Sullivan). In addition, he also went on to found two of the world’s most influential kingdoms in history, the Kingdom of France and the Holy Roman Empire (Knowles). Charlemagne the Great, as he was known in his home kingdom of Frankia, ultimately fit the mold and even exceeded the requirements for being a good leader set forth by Sun Tzu in his book: The Art of War. He endured many struggles, suffered demoralizing losses, and experienced the highest of victories throughout his storied reign as King of the Franks, Italy, and as the first Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, all of which would last for centuries to come.
Yukio Mishima’s Temple of the Golden Pavilion represents the hardships, evil, and rebirth throughout the timeline of the war and after, creating the individual experience and perspective of a young man fighting his own personal, internal wars. This is highlighted through first person accounts of brutal acts of military officials and the contrast of the beauty in
?Sheet after sheet, article after article, each da-zi-bao was a bitter accusation. One was titled, ?Teacher Li, Abuser of the Young.? The student had failed to hand in her homework on time, and Teacher Li had told her to copy the assignment over five times as punishment. Another student said his teacher had deliberately ruined his students? eyesight by making them read a lot, so they could not join the Liberation Army. Still another accused Teacher Wang of attempting to corrupt a young revolutionary by buying her some bread when he learned that she had not eaten lunch.? (42)
Griffith’s study also includes four different appendixes. The first is A Note from Wu Ch’I, the second is titled Sun Tzu’s Influence on Japanese Military Thought, the third is Sun Tzu in Western Languages, and the fourth appendix is Brief Biographies of the Commentators.