Recently I decided to take a look at what could be well considered “classic literature” of MA&it´s source.
Downloaded a translation of “Art of War” as to see if it was as good as said,in hope of finding some MA cornerstones or advice.Besides it´s popularity in business and warfare,do you think these texts have value for martial artists of today?
Do you find some helpful strategies or ideas?
I also copied Musashi´s “Five Rings” as remembering to have heard positive things about it,what a pity that it is so concerned with sword (naturally)
Also got Tao Te Ching,not directly but indirectly MA related.Has some eye to it…
Personally, I found Sun Tzu’s book to be good, especially the part about winning without fighting, and knowing the enemy and yourself. I also liked A Book of Five Rings, there really is a lot there if you get past the fact he’s talking about a sword, or use the katana as a metaphor for say, a fist. One of the more modern books that I like a lot is Hatsumi Soke’s Essence of Ninjutsu. It’s not Kung Fu but very good, at least IMO. If you want to discuss any of them, I’m more than willing. The thing to remember is that the interpretation of the material can be subjective and may change if you reread it a year later.
-ZC
I’ve poured over them both. The ideas are great, but the hard part is knowing how to implement them. And that’s not in either book. So at best, they are touchstones not really instruction manuals.
For example, I would LOVE to see a sword scholar draw diagrams for some of the moves described by musashi. I can only guess what he is suggestion for some of them. I’ve never seen a version annotated by a swordsman. (In fact, the copy I have has a cover designed to sell it to american businessmen!)
While I’m typing away… I’m getting interested in Military Science and I’m looking for suggestions on good texts on small scale tactics. I want to study starting from small to large (patrol/platoon first, then slowly moving up to division/army).
Maybe I should have started a new thread but… Any recommendations?
Book Description
One Hundred Unorthodox Strategies was compiled in the fifteenth century, during the Ming Dynasty, as a handbook of tactics based on Chinese military classics. Translated into English for the first time, this unique work draws on over two thousand years of experience in warfare to present a distillation of one hundred key strategic principles. Originally prepared as a text for students aspiring to high political positions in Confucian China, One Hundred Unorthodox Strategies is a compendium of Oriental strategies concisely stated and each individually illustrated with a description of battle from Chinese history. These historical examples shed new light on the often enigmatic formulations of the ancient strategists on subjects such as Strategic Power, Defense, Vacuity, Spirit, and Victory. Acclaimed translator and Chinese military specialist Ralph Sawyer adds his own thoughtful commentary, deepening the reader’s understanding of the intricacies of Chinese strategic thought.