A History of Traditional Chinese Military Science

A History of Traditional Chinese Military Science provides a clear and informative survey of traditional Chinese military theory and examines its distinct character in different eras, starting from the primitive time to the end of the Qing Dynasty. Special emphasis is laid on the exploration of dynamics that goes into shaping military theory and culture in ancient China. Apart from representative military works, figures and battle cases, the book draws on military system, technology, tactics, army formations, military topography as well as cultural and archaeological insights. This not only enriches the scope of study and enlivens the narrative, but also makes it an ideal companion for military scholars and anyone interested in Chinese history and military culture.

The chief author, Huang Pumin, is a professor from Renmin University of China and one of the leading scholars in classical Chinese military theory, particularly Sunzi’s Art of War. His books, including A Military History: The Spring and Autumn Period (1998) and A Critical Biography of He Xiu (2002), have received several national book awards and nominations.

Wei Hong once worked as Research Fellow at the Chinese Academy of Military Science. She published A Study of Sunzi’s Military Theory in the Song Dynasty (2011) and the volume on Song, Liao, Xia, Jin and Yuan military theories in A Comprehensive History of Chinese Military Science (2022).

Xiong Jianping is a professor from National University of Defense Technology in China. His major publications include A New Study of Sunzi’s Art of War (2021) and The Intelligence Thought in Sunzi’s Art of War (co-authored with Gao Jinhu, 2019).

The translator, Fan Hao, teaches at Nanjing University, China. Her translations include The Sun between Their Feet (2008), How to Read Literature (2015) and Shakespeare’s Restless World (2016).