Sun-tzu

The Art of War

£65

Introduced By Roger T. Ames

Translated By Roger T. Ames

Written more than 2,500 years ago, The Art of War remains the most famous military treatise of all time. Sun-tzu’s collection of precepts on strategic warfare has yet to be surpassed.

● Only 75 Left in Stock

The Art of War

£65

● Only 75 Left in Stock

Book Details

Presentation Box & BindingQuarter-bound in cloth with crushed silk sides blocked with Chinese calligraphy drawn by Xiaoming Sun
Plain slipcase

Dimensions11 inches x 6 inches

FontSet in Perpetua

Pages272 pages

AuthorSun-tzu

IllustrationFrontispiece and 11 pages of colour plates

Publication Date20/08/2007

Editor's Notes

More than 2,500 years ago, a Chinese commander, Master Sun – or Sun-tzu – collected together his precepts on generalship to form the kernel of one of the most famous military treatises of all time. Our understanding of strategic warfare that comes out of his writings has yet to be surpassed. Eschewing conventional courage and military might as primary deciding factors, The Art of War is characterised by a profoundly enlightened emphasis on moderation, imagination, good morale and scrupulous forward planning.

Leaders as diverse as Mao Zedong and General Douglas MacArthur claimed to have drawn inspiration from the work, and its influence infiltrated popular culture as modern thinkers recognised that its fundamental philosophies apply as much to gaining a competitive edge in day-to-day life as they do to the battlefield.

about the edition

The Art of War

This edition – the most comprehensive and authoritative to have been published in English – contains five extra chapters only discovered in 1972. Roger T. Ames’s translation was the first to take advantage of this new material and his fluid, yet crisp style has won him accolades. His introduction to the context and history of The Art of War is a model of exposition written for the lay reader. Exquisite, specially commissioned Chinese lettering adorns every chapter heading, while full-colour photographs of ancient artefacts illustrate the age of incessant conflict which gave birth to The Art of War.

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Sun Tzu was a Chinese military strategist, philosopher, and general believed to have lived during the Eastern Zhou period (circa 5th century BCE). He is best known as the author of The Art of War, a seminal treatise on military strategy and tactics that has influenced both Eastern and Western military thinking, business, and leadership for centuries. Though little is known about his life, his teachings emphasise discipline, deception, adaptability, and the importance of understanding both oneself and the enemy. Sun Tzu’s enduring legacy lies in his holistic approach to conflict, where victory is achieved through intelligence and strategy rather than brute force.

Roger T. Ames is a distinguished American philosopher and sinologist known for his influential translations and interpretations of classical Chinese texts. A professor emeritus at the University of Hawai‘i, he has played a pivotal role in bridging Eastern and Western thought, particularly through his work on Confucianism and Daoism. Ames is celebrated for his nuanced translation of The Art of War, where he emphasises the philosophical depth of Sun Tzu’s insights. In The Folio Society’s edition, he provides a compelling introduction that contextualizes the text within Chinese metaphysics and strategy, highlighting its enduring relevance across disciplines and cultures.

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