The Tao of Deception Unorthodox Warfare in Historic and Modern China

by Sawyer, Ralph D.

• ISBN13: 9780465072057
• ISBN10: 0465072054
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2007-02-13
• Publisher: Basic Books

Summary

The history of China is a history of warfare. Wars have caused dynasties to collapse, fractured the thin facade of national unity, and brought decades of alien occupation. But throughout Chinese history, its warfare has been guided by principles different from those that governed Europe. Chinese strategists followed the concept, first articulated by Sun-tzu inThe Art of War, ofqi (ch'i), or unorthodox, warfare. The concept ofqiinvolves creating tactical imbalances in order to achieve victory against even vastly superior forces. Ralph D. Sawyer, translator ofThe Art of Warand one of America's preeminent experts on Chinese military tactics, here offers a comprehensive guide to the ancient practice of unorthodox warfare. He describes, among many other tactics, how Chinese generals have used false rumors to exploit opposing generals' distrust of their subordinates; dressed thousands of women as soldiers to create the illusion of an elite attack force; and sent word of a false surrender to lure enemy troops away from a vital escape route.The Tao of Deceptionis the book that military tacticians and military historians will turn to as the definitive guide to a new, yet ancient, way of thinking about strategy.

Author Biography

Ralph D. Sawyer, one of America’s leading scholars in Chinese warfare, has worked extensively with major intelligence and defense agencies. After studying at MIT and Harvard and a brief stint of university teaching, Sawyer has spent the past thirty years lecturing and doing international consulting work focused on China.

Table of Contents

Preface	p. ix
A Note on Pronunciation	p. xiii
Dynastic Chronology	p. xv
Historical Experience and Formulations
Incipient Beginnings	p. 3
Spring and Autumn Precursors	p. 17
Sun-tzu's Definitive Formulation	p. 55
Warring States Commanders	p. 69
Warring States Explications	p. 83
Han Dynasty Realizations	p. 97
Three Kingdoms	p. 135
Northern and Southern Dynasties Exemplars	p. 163
Sui and T'ang Conflicts	p. 189
Theory in the Three Kingdoms and Early T'ang	p. 213
Sung Dynasty Theoretical Developments	p. 253
The Ming and Beyond	p. 297
Modern Theories and Implications
Traditional Wisdom Revitalized	p. 323
Modern Embodiments and Implications	p. 375
Notes	p. 403
Selected Bibliographies	p. 451
Selected Index	p. 477
Also by Ralph D. Sawyer	p. 487
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