SUN TZU. TRANSLATED BY LIONEL GILES,.
Sun Tzu on the Art of War: The Oldest Military Treatise in the World, Translated from the Chinese with Introduction and Critical Notes.
Rare First complete English translation of Sun Tzu's The Art of War
London: Luzac & Co, 1910.
$20,000.00
In Stock
Item Number: RRB-149882
* Custom Clamshell Boxes are hand made by the Harcourt Bindery upon request and take approximately 60 days to complete
First complete English translation of arguably the best twentieth-century translation of Sun Tzu's seminal work on military strategy, preceded only by the first translation into French of 1772 by French Jesuit Jean Joseph Marie Amiot, and partial translation into English by British officer Everard Ferguson Calthrop of 1905. Royal octavo, original printed yellow wrappers bound into full contemporary cloth-covered boards, gilt-lettered morocco spine label. Provenance: William George's Sons (bookseller's label affixed to front wrapper). Lionel Giles, the leading Sinologue of his day, was not fond of either of his predecessor's translations of the work, declaring Amiot's translation an "imposture" of the original and Calthrop's knowledge of Chinese "far too scanty." It was not until the publication in 1963 of Samuel Griffith's translation that Giles met any sort of challenge at all. In very good condition. A very rare and desirable example of this definitive cornerstone of military strategy.
The Art of War, attributed to Sun Tzu, is a foundational text of Chinese strategic thought, composed in the late Spring and Autumn period (c. 5th century BCE). Structured into thirteen succinct chapters, each addressing a discrete principle of warfare, the treatise synthesizes tactical, philosophical, and psychological insights into a coherent and enduring strategic doctrine. Firmly established as the preeminent work among the Seven Military Classics of imperial China—officially codified in 1080 CE during the reign of Emperor Shenzong of Song—The Art of War has exerted a sustained influence on the development of military theory throughout East Asia for over two millennia. Its emphasis on indirect strategy, deception, and the integration of political, economic, and moral dimensions of conflict has rendered it indispensable not only to military commanders but also to scholars and statesmen. The treatise's strategic paradigms have long transcended their original martial context. In modern times, The Art of War has been appropriated across disciplines, informing Western and Eastern approaches to diplomacy, corporate strategy, legal theory, competitive sports, and organizational leadership. Its adaptability and intellectual rigor continue to make it a critical reference point in discussions of power, conflict, and human behavior.
Sun Tzu on the Art of War: The Oldest Military Treatise in the World, Translated from the Chinese with Introduction and Critical Notes.
$20,000.00
In Stock