List of Chinese military texts

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Chinese military texts have existed ever since

Confucian philosophy favoured peaceful political solutions and showed contempt for brute military force, the military was influential in most Chinese states. The works of well known strategists such as Sun Tzu and Sun Bin have heavily influenced military philosophy, warfare, and political discourse throughout China's long history. Works such as The Art of War have also found a strong following around the world, where they have influenced people as far ranging as the Chinese Communist Party and the former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld.[2]

Overview

The most well known of these military texts are the

Usage

The table's columns (except for Content and Images) are sortable by pressing the relevant arrows symbols. The following gives an overview of what is included in the table and how the sorting works.

Military Texts

Seven Military Classics

Name Authors Content Dynasty Date Origin Image Description
1400 The Art of War (Chinese: ; pinyin: Sūnzǐ Bīngfǎ) The Art of War is composed of 13 chapters, each of which is devoted to one aspect of warfare. Sun Tzu focuses on the importance of positioning in strategy and that position is affected both by objective conditions in the physical environment and the subjective opinions of competitive actors in that environment. 0794Spring and Autumn period (possibly the Warring States period.[4]) ) 0794 unknown, c. 6th century BC 0794 State of Wu
The beginning of The Art of War, in a "classical" bamboo book from the reign of the Qianlong Emperor.
The Methods of the Sima (Chinese: ; pinyin: Sīmǎ Fǎ) A text discussing laws, regulations, government policies, military organization, military administration, discipline, basic values, grand strategy, and strategy.[5] 0794Warring States period 0794 4th century BC 0794 State of Qi
-
-
Six Secret Strategic Teachings (Chinese: ; pinyin
: Liùtāo)
A treatise on military strategy divided into six chapters, six types of ways to engage in war. 0794
Zhou Dynasty
0794 11th century BC 0794 State of
Zhou (modern day Shaanxi
)
Portrait of Jiang Ziya from the Sancai Tuhui.
Wei Liaozi (Chinese: ; pinyin: Wèi Liáozi) A treatise that advocates both a civil and military approach to affairs. It advocates emphasis on agriculture and people as the two greatest resources of the state. The text centers around a government based on humanistic values, with the ruler as the paradigm of virtue in the state. Heterodoxy and other values not conducive to the state should be punished using draconian measures.[6] 0794 Warring States period[3] 0794 4th–3rd century BC [3] 0794 State of Qin
-
-
Wuzi (Chinese: wiktionary:; pinyin: Wuzi) The present text of the Wuzi consists of six sections, each focusing on a critical aspect of military affairs: Planning for the State; Evaluating the Enemy; Controlling the Army; the Tao of the General; Responding to Change; and, Stimulating the Officers. 0794 Warring States period[3] 0794 During Wu Qi's lifetime (440-381 BC) 0794 State of Wei
-
-
Three Strategies of Huang Shigong (Chinese: ; pinyin: Huáng Shígōng Sān Lǜe) 0794 Unknown; attributed to Jiang Ziya and various other authors The treastise is organized into three sections, which can be interpreted as a hierarchy of importance or as simple indicators of position in the work. The work itself states that all three types of strategy are necessary for different styles of government. Much of the work is concerned with administrative control, but some important tactical concepts are also developed. Generals are placed in a high position, and must be unquestioned once they assume command. Attacks should be swift and decisive.[7] 0794 Warring States period[3] 0794 Unknown; attributed to various time periods 0794 Unknown; attributed to various origins
-
-
Questions and Replies between Tang Taizong and Li Weigong (Chinese: ; pinyin: Táng Tàizōng Lǐ wèigōng Wènduì) A dialogue between
Tang Dynasty and Li Jing, a prominent general of that dynasty. It discusses matters of military strategy.[8]
0794
Tang Dynasty[3]
0794 7th century 0794 State of
Tang
A painting portraying Tang Taizong by painter Yan Liben

Others

Name Authors Content Dynasty Date Origin Image Description
1400 Sun Bin's Art of War (Chinese: ; pinyin: Sūnbìn Bīngfǎ)
Sun Bin (孫臏)
The treastise contains 89 extensive chapters, with four volumes of pictures attached. 0794Warring States period. 0794 4th century BCE 0794 Qi state
-
-
Thirty-Six Stratagems (Chinese: ; pinyin: Sānshíliù Jì)
Unknown; attributed to various
[9]
A text used to illustrate a series of stratagems used in politics, war, as well as in civil interaction, often through unorthodox or deceptive means 0794 Unknown; attributed to various 0794 Unknown; attributed to various 0794 Unknown; attributed to various
A page from a Ming Dynasty edition of the Book of Qi, from which the name of the Thirty-Six Stratagems comes from.
Wujing Zongyao (Chinese: 武經總要; pinyin: Wǔjīng Zǒngyào; Wade–Giles: Wu Ching Tsung Yao; lit. 'Collection of the Most Important Military Techniques')
Zeng Gongliang (曾公亮), Ding Du (丁度), and Yang Weide (楊惟德)
The text is a Chinese military compendium, covering a wide range of subjects, everything from naval warships to different types of catapults. 0794
Northern Song Dynasty
0794 1044 CE 0794
Northern Song state
An illustration of the Wujing Zongyao showing a Chinese
Song Dynasty naval river ship with a Xuanfeng traction-trebuchet
catapult on its top deck.
The General's Garden (simplified Chinese: 将苑; traditional Chinese: 將苑; pinyin: Jiàng Yuàn)
Zhuge Liang (諸葛亮)
A short text plagiarising earlier military treatises, falsely attributed to Zhuge Liang. 0794
Song Dynasty
0794 12th century 0794
Song state
Part of a 12th-century manuscript scroll of the Tangut translation of The General's Garden .
Wade-Giles
: Huo Lung Ching)
Jiao Yu (焦玉) and Liu Bowen (劉基)
A treastise that outlines the use of various 'fire–weapons' involving the use of
naval mines, proto–guns, fire lances, bombards and cannons.[10]
0794
Ming Dynasty
0794 14th century 0794
Ming state
Huolongjing depicting the 'Flying Crow with Magic Fire', an aerodynamic winged rocket bomb.
Jixiao Xinshu (Chinese: 紀效新書)
Qi Jiguang (戚繼光)
A text in which Qi Jiguang writes about strategy, armed and unarmed fighting and many other aspects of warfare. 0794
Ming Dynasty
0794 1561 CE 0794
Ming state
Painting of Qi Jiguang, author of Jixiao Xinshu.
Records of Armaments and Military Provisions (Chinese
: 武備志)
Mao Yuanyi
(茅元儀)
A military encyclopaedia of strategies, tactics, formations, training, logistics, and weapons. 0794
Ming Dynasty
0794 1621 CE 0794
Ming state
Illustration of a platformed crossbow from Records of Armaments and Military Provisions.

References

  1. ^ Griffith (2006), 1
  2. ^ Hwang, Ching Chane. "Gender and Global Politics of the Asia-Pacific." Macmillan Publishers. p. 59.
  3. ^ .
  4. ^ Griffith, Illustrated Art of War, p. 17-18
  5. .
  6. ^ Sawyer (1993) pp. 232–238
  7. ^ Sawyer (1993) pp. 289–291
  8. .
  9. ^ "Exploring the Thirty-Six Strategies (Simplified Chinese)". szbf.net. Chinese Strategic Science Network. 2006-07-11. Archived from the original on 2011-07-21.
  10. ^ Needham, Volume 5, Part 7.

Sources