Master Sun's Art of War

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Philip J. Ivanhoe's translation of Master Sun's Art of War is an introduction to the greatest Chinese military classic of all time. Having influenced thousands of years of Chinese culture, and more recently cultures throughout the world, The Art of War is the oldest example of sustained, philosophical reflection on the strategic, organizational, and political aspects of war.

Reviews

P. J. Ivanhoe is one of the English-speaking world's foremost translators and interpreters of classical Chinese philosophical texts. His translation of the Sunzi Bingfa reads beautifully, adorned only by sobering photographic plates of the famed terracotta army of the first Qin emperor that turn one back to the text in a properly reflective mood. The Introduction and endnotes are blessedly spare, providing just the right amount of interpretive scholarship to assist comprehension of the text, while not interfering with its intrinsic simplicity, clarity, and profundity.--Sumner B. Twiss, Distinguished Professor of Human Rights, Ethics, and Religion, Florida State University
Philip J. Ivanhoe's translation of Sun Tzu's Art of War will be warmly embraced by students. His discussion in the Introduction about the text's dating and authorship, as well as Chinese attitudes towards things military, is concise, informative, and up-to-date. The translation itself is a marvel--its language is simple and direct, making it immensely readable and clear.--Keith Knapp, is Westvaco Professor of National Security Studies, Department of History, The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina

Author Bio

Philip J. Ivanhoe is Reader-Professor of Philosophy, City University of Hong Kong.