Sun Pin: The Art of Warfare (Classics of Ancient China)
This arcane and fragmentary text of Chinese military strategy and tactics by Sun Pin (c.380-316 B.C.) is translated here for the first time since its discovery in 1972 in Shantung province. The work had been known only through literary reference until the exciting archaeological uncovering. Lau, familiar to students of Chinese philosophy for his translation of Lao-tzu's Tao Te Ching, collaborates in the translation with Ames, whose publications include a translation of the Sun-tzu and several monographs on Chinese thought. Longer than the translation itself is the translators' introduction to the archaeological site and its treasures plus an analysis of the Sun Pin text and related works. The translators note that the sketchy content of the Sun Pin is something of a disappointment, and this is indeed true. The current translation is tantalizing due to the disjointed nature of the existing text, which was reconstructed from bamboo pieces. Specialists will best appreciate this work.?D.E. Perushek, Northwestern Univ. Lib., Evanston, Ill.Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.