Sun Tzu’s Art of War is a classical work on military affairs written approximately twenty-four hundred years ago. Although it is a military work, it is not confined to military affairs. Much of the text is also devoted to relationships between warfare and politics, economics, diplomacy, geography, and astronomy. It is, therefore, not surprising that Sun Tzu’s Art of War is the only work of many written on the subject which has been handed down all through the ages, becoming popular abroad as well as in China.
The present book, Sun Tzu’s Art of War: The Modern Chinese Interpretation, was written by General Tao Hanzhang, a senior officer in the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA). Born in 1917 in Jiangxi Province, China, General Tao joined the Red Army in 1933 and took part in the world-famous, arduous Long March in 1934–35. He fought in numerous battles during the Anti-Japanese War as a regimental commander and chief of staff of a brigade. During the Chinese Liberation War, he was chief of staff of an army. Later, he was the provost in the North China Military and Political College. Since the founding of the People’s Republic of China, he has held many important military posts, such as the chief of staff of China’s Kwangzhou Military Zone. General Tao has been a military educator in the PLA for many years, giving lectures and holding leading posts in China’s highest military educational institution—the Chinese Military Academy.
Retired at the age of 68, General Tao serves as a senior adviser of the Beijing Institute for International Strategic Studies. He has visited the United States, Britain, France, and many other countries, lecturing on Chinese military thought and strategic problems. Out of the rich experiences of his military career, General Tao has published a number of works of theoretical and practical significance: Military Operations in Tropical Jungles, The Work of a Staff Officer, The Work of Headquarters in Modern Warfare, and several others.
In this book, his latest one, General Tao offers not only a vivid, clear, and analytical explanation of Sun Tzu’s thought on the art of war, but also makes penetrating comments on its values and its shortcomings with an expert eye. In historical perspective, he also takes into consideration the development of modern weapons and technology. Written largely from the perspective of a Chinese military man who has been engaged in wars for most of his life, the book provides a comprehensive framework for approaching modern as well as ancient Chinese military thought. General Tao has combined Sun Tzu’s Art of War with the theory of modern war. Considered in the light of present-day Chinese military theory, one finds both indications of change and aspects of continuity in this sphere.
General Tao’s book treats the difficult subject of military theory in a simple language that is easily accessible to those who are not experts in military affairs. I believe this book will not only make interesting and instructive reading for those engaged in military, political, or foreign affairs, but will also help individuals develop their ability to make judgments and to synthesize and make decisions.
There are some discrepancies and deletions in translation with regard to quotations from Sun Tzu’s Art of War, which appears in the Appendix, and General Tao’s work (Parts I and II). This is the result of my endeavor to find the most exact terms for the original ancient Chinese. However, these discrepancies are insignificant, and none of them alters the true meaning of the text.
My thanks are extended to my friend, Dr. Derick Wilde, who read part of the manuscript and gave very useful advice on points of language.
YUAN SHIBING, Associate Professor
Foreign Affairs College
Beijing, China