Columbia University Press
Publishers Since 1893
New York Chichester, West Sussex
Copyright © 2007 Columbia University Press
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E-ISBN 978-0-231-50853-7
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Sunzi, 6th cent. B.C.
[Sunzi bing fa. English]
The art of war / Sun Zi’s military methods; translated by Victor H. Mair.
p. cm.—(Translations from the Asian Classics)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-0-231-13382-1 (cloth) : alk. paper)—ISBN 978-0-231-50853-7 (e-book)
1. War—Early works to 1800. 2. Military art and science—Early works to 1800. I. Title.
U101.S9513 2007
355.02—dc22
2007017771
Frontispiece
A type of bronze basin called a jian, which has a wide mouth, rounded sides, a flat bottom, and four animal-head handles with movable rings. The outer surface of the basin is covered with copper-inlaid battle scenes. This finely made jian dates to the period from the late seventh through the early fifth centuries B.C., and was excavated from Tomb M1 at Shanbiao Zhen, Ji County, Henan Province. The jian here is one of a nearly identical pair, famous for their depiction of battle in the period just before the compilation of the Sun Zi bingfa. They provide important data for the study of the history of ancient weapons and early warfare. We may note in particular that the soldiers in these scenes are armed with bows instead of the crossbows, which had become popular by the time of the Sun Zi bingfa. The illustrations in the text are based on rubbings taken from this jian. It is housed in the Museum of the Institute of History and Philology of Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan, and published here with the permission of the Institute. This impressive basin is also the source of the chapter designs.
Art on the title and dedication pages are by Daniel Heitkamp
A Columbia University Press E-book.