The Seven Military Classics (traditional Chinese: 武經七書; simplified Chinese: 武经七书; pinyin: Wǔjīngqīshū; Wade–Giles: Wu ching ch'i shu) were seven important military texts of ancient China, which also included Sun-tzu's The Art of War. The texts were canonized under this name during the 11th century AD, and from the time of the Song dynasty, were included in most military leishu.[1] For imperial officers, either some or all of the works were required reading to merit promotion, like the requirement for all bureaucrats to learn and know the work of Confucius.
There were many anthologies with different notations and analyses by scholars throughout the centuries leading up to the present versions in Western publishing. The Kangxi Emperor of the Qing dynasty commented on the seven military classics, stating, "I have read all of the seven books, among them there are some materials that are not necessarily right and there are superstitious stuff can be used by bad people."
Emperor Shenzong (宋神宗), the sixth emperor of the Song dynasty, determined which texts would be included in this anthology in 1080.[2]
Listedit
According to Ralph D. Sawyer and Mei-chün Sawyer, who created one of the latest translations, the Seven Military Classics include the following texts:[3]
There are no other known variations of the Seven Military Classics anthology with alternating members but the constituent works themselves have had many multiple versions, especially The Art of War, which has had at least several dozen different translations to English in the 20th century alone.
Despite prominence of military texts in the Yi Zhou shu, none of the anthology chapters were regarded as classics.[4]
Referencesedit
^ abVan de Ven, Hans J. (2000). Warfare in Chinese History. Brill. p. 7. ISBN9004117741.
^Gawlikowski, Kzysztof and Michael Loewe. (1993). "Sun tzu ping fa", in Early Chinese Texts: A Bibliographical Guide, Michael Loewe,ed., Berkeley: The Society for the Study of Early China, p. 449.
^Sawyer, Ralph D.; Mei Mei-chün Sawyer (1993). The Seven Military Classics of Ancient China. Westview Press. ISBN0813312280.
Read the Seven Military Classics at Internet Archive
January 01, 1970
seven, military, classics, traditional, chinese, 武經七書, simplified, chinese, 武经七书, pinyin, wǔjīngqīshū, wade, giles, ching, were, seven, important, military, texts, ancient, china, which, also, included, texts, were, canonized, under, this, name, during, 11th, . The Seven Military Classics traditional Chinese 武經七書 simplified Chinese 武经七书 pinyin Wǔjingqishu Wade Giles Wu ching ch i shu were seven important military texts of ancient China which also included Sun tzu s The Art of War The texts were canonized under this name during the 11th century AD and from the time of the Song dynasty were included in most military leishu 1 For imperial officers either some or all of the works were required reading to merit promotion like the requirement for all bureaucrats to learn and know the work of Confucius There were many anthologies with different notations and analyses by scholars throughout the centuries leading up to the present versions in Western publishing The Kangxi Emperor of the Qing dynasty commented on the seven military classics stating I have read all of the seven books among them there are some materials that are not necessarily right and there are superstitious stuff can be used by bad people Members of the Chinese Communist Party also studied the texts during the Chinese Civil War as well as many European and American military minds 1 Emperor Shenzong 宋神宗 the sixth emperor of the Song dynasty determined which texts would be included in this anthology in 1080 2 List editAccording to Ralph D Sawyer and Mei chun Sawyer who created one of the latest translations the Seven Military Classics include the following texts 3 Jiang Ziya Taigong s Six Secret Teachings 六韜 The Methods of the Sima 司馬法 also known as Sima Rangju Art of War Sun Tzu s The Art of War 孫子兵法 Wu Qi s Wuzi 吳子 Wei Liaozi 尉繚子 Three Strategies of Huang Shigong 黃石公三略 Questions and Replies between Tang Taizong and Li Weigong 唐太宗李衛公問對 There are no other known variations of the Seven Military Classics anthology with alternating members but the constituent works themselves have had many multiple versions especially The Art of War which has had at least several dozen different translations to English in the 20th century alone Despite prominence of military texts in the Yi Zhou shu none of the anthology chapters were regarded as classics 4 References edit a b Van de Ven Hans J 2000 Warfare in Chinese History Brill p 7 ISBN 9004117741 Gawlikowski Kzysztof and Michael Loewe 1993 Sun tzu ping fa in Early Chinese Texts A Bibliographical Guide Michael Loewe ed Berkeley The Society for the Study of Early China p 449 Sawyer Ralph D Mei Mei chun Sawyer 1993 The Seven Military Classics of Ancient China Westview Press ISBN 0813312280 McNeal Robin Conquer and Govern 2012 124 External links editRead the Seven Military Classics at Internet Archive Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Seven Military Classics amp oldid 1180819582, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
