The Art of War
The Art of War (ch. ‘·Žq•º–@ sun1 zi5 bing1 fa3) was written during 6th century BC by Sun Wu. Composed of 13 chapters, it has been treated as the best book on military strategies and tactics, especially before the collapse of Imperial China. Many East Asian coutries, like China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam etc., reading it was a must before a candidate attempted on the military examination, which usually took place every 3 to 4 years. Many translation available and some European coutries used as an textbook in militray institutions, for instance, Germany before World War I.
The book was so popular due to:
- achievements of Sun Wu on battlefields
- A must-read while systemized examinations on military since Song Dynasty
- sentences of the book have become idioms and phrases.
eg. Last paragraph of Chapter 3
故 曰 ： 知 彼 知 己 ， 百 戰 不 殆 ； 不 知 彼 而 知 己 ， 一勝 一 負 ； 不 知 彼 ， 不 知 己 ， 每 戰 必 敗
So it is said that if you know others and know yourself, you will not be imperiled in a hundred battles; if you do not know others but know yourself, you win one and lose one; if you do not know others and do not know yourself, you will be imperiled in every single battle.
Compare the above with today phrase
知己知彼, 百戰百勝
If you know others and know yourself, you will win hundred times in a hundred battles