The Book of War: From Chinese History

Sound Bite

This concise illustrated volume presents a slice of Chinese military history that will appeal to Sinophiles, historians, strategists and the general public. Where Sun-Tzu discussed strategy and tactics, author Long Tang introduces the weapons and techniques used in various periods of Chinese history as well as illustrating the hallmark strategies of outstanding commanders through the stories of famous battles.

About the Book

While Sun Tzu’s The Art of War provides the foundational theories of Chinese warfare, Long Tang’s The Book of War: Tales of the Dragon chronicles the real-world application of these principles, showing how they were used to forge an empire. This work focuses on the pivotal period from 500 BC to 200 BC, an era of continuous conflict known as the Spring and Autumn and the Warring States periods, which saw over 1,800 feudal states consolidated into one unified China. The book offers a detailed look at the military machine that made this unification possible, addressing what the author notes is a significant shortfall of comprehensive surveys on the topic in English.

Readers will discover the tangible details of ancient Chinese armies, from their core military organization to their command-and-control systems, authenticated by the ingenious “Tiger Seal.” The book presents the remarkable technology of the era, illustrating siege engines like the mobile Traction Trebuchet, the formidable Bed Crossbow, and the clever "Cloud Ladder." It also pictures unique defensive armaments such as the “Flying Hook” and “Wolf Fang Smasher,” alongside early gunpowder weapons like the naval “Fire Dragon” and the grenade-like “Thunder Fire Ball.” The text also covers personal arms, including the deadly Mo Dao, a forerunner of the samurai sword, and the revolutionary repeating crossbow, a weapon that could fire ten bolts in fifteen seconds.

Beyond the hardware of war, the book examines the strategic culture that guided China’s greatest commanders. It discusses the critical importance of intelligence gathering, misinformation, and the use of five distinct types of spies as outlined by Sun Tzu. Learn about the application of psychological warfare, from the deceptive "Strategy of Beauties" to Kong Ming’s legendary "Great Bluff." The narrative also introduces the "Six Arts," the holistic education in rituals, music, archery, chariotry, books, and numbers that shaped the character and capabilities of ancient Chinese knights and generals.

The history comes alive through the stories of its key figures and their signature campaigns. The book introduces commanders like Bai Chi, the most successful general in Chinese history, who was responsible for annihilating entire armies at battles like Chang-Ping. It follows the tactical genius of Sun Bin, who masterfully used deception and the “Diminishing Hearth Fires” strategy. Readers will also encounter the Bare Head Brigade, the fearsome berserker troops of the Ch’in army, and witness the dramatic tale of the assassin Jing Ke’s attempt on the life of the man who would become China’s first emperor.

In this book William Tang provides an essential record of the people, weapons, and strategies that shaped one of the world's oldest continuous civilizations. He explains the thinking behind strategies used to motivate the forces and the populace, and he shows how diplomacy and psychology were used to influence the actions of opponents - before and during combat.

In addition to describing offensive and defensive weapons, he discusses the relationship between officers and men, and between the fighting force and the rulers; and illustrates how different personality strengths and weaknesses can shape history.