Synopses & Reviews
A landmark new translation of the ancient Chinese oracle and book of wisdom
Pose a question, then toss three coins (or cast your yarrow stalks) to access the time-honored wisdom of the I Ching.
The I Ching, or Book of Change, has been consulted through the ages, in both China and the West, for answers to fundamental questions about the world and our place in it. The oldest extant book of divination, it dates back three thousand years to ancient shamanistic practices involving the ritual preparation of the shoulder bones of oxen. From this early form of communication with the other world, it has become the Chinese spiritual book par excellence. An influence on such cultural icons as Bob Dylan, John Cage, Merce Cunningham, Philip K. Dick, and Philip Pullman, the I Ching is turned to by millions around the world for insights on spiritual growth, business, medicine, genetics, game theory, strategic thinking, and leadership, and of course for the window it opens on China.
This new translation, over a decade in the making, is informed by the latest archaeological discoveries and features a gorgeously rendered codex of divination signsand#151;the I Chingand#8217;s sixty-four Tarot-like hexagrams. It captures the majesty and mystery of this legendary work and charts an illuminating path to self-knowledge.
Review
"The strategic advice that [The Art of War] offers concerns much more than the conduct of war. It is an ancient book of proverbial wisdom, a book of life." (John Minford, from the Introduction)
Review
“Consistently eloquent and erudite, this rendition of the I Ching will endure as a classic of the twenty-first century and beyond.” —Anthony C. Yu, Carl Darling Buck Distinguished Service Professor Emeritus in Humanities, The University of Chicago
Review
and#8220;Consistently eloquent and erudite, this rendition of the
I Ching will endure as a classic of the twenty-first century and beyond.and#8221; and#8212;
Anthony C. Yu, Carl Darling Buck Distinguished Service Professor Emeritus in Humanities, The University of Chicago
and#8220;Readers familiar with the classic Wilhelm/Baynes translation can rest assured that John Minfordand#8217;s new version has surpassed it. . . . It is a work of art. But it is also extremely user-friendly, especially for general readers who wish to consult their fortunes with this book. They will find here, in Minfordand#8217;s many-splendored prose, a largesse of wisdom and sheer mystical power.and#8221; and#8212;Leo Ou-fan Lee, Sin Wai Kin Professor of Chinese Culture, Chinese University of Hong Kong
and#8220;A creative masterpiece in itself, this translation by John Minfordand#8212;one of the foremost cultural intermediaries of our dayand#8212;throws fresh light on the great Chinese classic of the occult. It is a kind of unholy resurrection, a cable that disappears into the abyss of a darker time. In it the Bronze Age predicts to the Information Age the shadow of what is to come.and#8221; and#8212;Timothy Mo, three-time finalist for the Booker Prize
and#8220;A nicely produced book with an enthusiastic spirit and scholarly credentials . . . [It] has a freshness and clarity about it and reads well [and] has the authority of a solid translator with great scholarly experience. [It] should certainly join the small handful of books that are worthy of consulting time and time again.and#8221; and#8212;Yijing Dao
and#160;
Synopsis
For more than two thousand years, Sun-tzu's
The Art of War has provided leaders with essential advice on battlefield tactics and management strategies. An elemental part of Chinese culture, it has also become a touchstone for the Western struggle for survival and success, whether in battle, in business, or in relationships. Now, in this crisp, accessible new translation, eminent scholar John Minford brings this seminal work to life for today's readers. Capturing the literary quality of the work, Minford presents the core text in two formats: first, the unadorned ancient words of wisdom ascribed to Sun-tzu; then, the same text with extensive running commentary from the canon of traditional Chinese commentators. A lively, learned introduction and other valuable apparatus round out this authoritative volume.
About the Author
John Minford is dean of the School of Arts and Social Sciences at the Open University of Hong Kong. He has published widely on Chinese literature and translated numerous works, including the Penguin Classics edition of Sun-tzu’s The Art of War.
Table of Contents
The Art of War Acknowledgments
Introduction
A Note on the Text
Suggestions for Further Reading
A List of Chinese Commentators
Cronologies
Dyanasties
Historical Events
The Art of War
Chapter 1: Making of Plans
Chapter 2: Waging of War
Chapter 3: Strategic Offensive
Chapter 4: Forms and Dispositions
Chapter 5: Potential Energy
Chapter 6: Empty and Full
Chapter 7: The Fray
Chapter 8: The Nine Changes
Chapter 9: On the March
Chapter 10: Forms of Terrain
Chapter 11: The Nine Kinds of Ground
Chapter 12: Attack by Fire
Chapter 13: Espionage
The Art of War with Commentary
Chapter 1: Making of Plans
Chapter 2: Waging of War
Chapter 3: Strategic Offensive
Chapter 4: Forms and Dispositions
Chapter 5: Potential Energy
Chapter 6: Empty and Full
Chapter 7: The Fray
Chapter 8: The Nine Changes
Chapter 9: On the March
Chapter 10: Forms of Terrain
Chapter 11: The Nine Kinds of Ground
Chapter 12: Attack by Fire
Chapter 13: Espionage