THE ART OF WAR

For more than two thousand years the words of Sun Tzu, the founder of military science in ancient China, have exerted a powerful influence on the history and development of Eastern and Western philosophical thought, military strategy, and warfare. As a result, The Art of War has long been studied, analyzed, and adapted by scholars, battlefield commanders, and corporate CEOs.

The Art of Warwas written during a time of great social and political upheaval in China. Although it is concerned with warfare, it repeatedly emphasizes the use of restraint, careful analysis, and, most importantly, introspection and cultivation of one's inner self.

The Art of War is also a profoundly nuanced and intimately revealing work of literature. Although often misunderstood as a selection of koans or idiomatic expressions, The Art of War, like the writings of Confucius and Lao Tzu, in reality forms one of the founding pillars of Chinese philosophical thought and is one of the finest examples of the "Golden Age" of Chinese classical prose.

The Art of War continues to offer lessons for those in all walks of life. It is one of those rare texts which will continue to influence the course of human civilization for centuries to come.

Lin Wusun is one of China's foremost translators. He has authored and translated numerous publications on Chinese literature, philosophy, history, and culture. During a career spanning more than five decades, Professor Lin has maintained an intense interest in Chinese and Western thought. He studied philosophy at Dartmouth College, and has conducted research into the writings of Sun Tzu for over 30 years.

His many works include the English translation of the Confucian Analects, as well as his first translation of The Art of War, which was published in 1994 to critical acclaim. He has served as an interpreter, translator, reporter, editor, publisher, administrator, and teacher.

In all of his endeavors he has tried to bridge cultural barriers while promoting an understanding of Chinese history and culture throughout the world.

Professor Lin is currently Executive Vice-President of the Translators Association of China; Editor-in-Chief of Chinese Translation Journal, and Chair of the Chinese National Committee for the Accreditation of Senior Translators. He is also Adjunct Professor of the School of Journalism and Communications at Tsinghua University, Beijing, and Professor of Modern Chinese Thought at the University of Chicago-sponsored Institute for the International Education of Students in Beijing.