Download The Art of War Thomas Cleary pdf for Free: A Guide to the Classic Book on Military Strategy and Leadership
Art of War Thomas Cleary pdf: A Guide to the Classic Book on Military Strategy and Leadership
If you are interested in learning about the ancient principles of warfare, leadership, and strategy, you may have heard of The Art of War, a classic book attributed to a Chinese general named Sun Tzu. This book has been widely studied and applied by military leaders, politicians, business executives, and even sports coaches for centuries. But how can you access this timeless wisdom in a modern and accessible way? One of the best ways is to read The Art of War translated by Thomas Cleary, a renowned scholar and translator who has produced one of the most accurate and clear versions of Sun Tzu's masterpiece. In this article, we will give you an overview of what The Art of War is about, why Thomas Cleary's translation is so valuable, and where you can find a pdf version of his work for free.
Art Of War Thomas Cleary Pdf
What is The Art of War and who is Sun Tzu?
The Art of War is a collection of aphorisms or short sentences that summarize various aspects of military strategy, tactics, psychology, and leadership. The book is divided into thirteen chapters, each focusing on a different topic related to warfare. The book covers topics such as planning, deception, maneuvering, terrain, fire attacks, spies, and more. The book is not only about physical combat, but also about how to win conflicts through intelligence, creativity, and adaptability.
The authorship of The Art of War is traditionally attributed to Sun Tzu, a legendary Chinese general who lived in the sixth or fifth century BCE. However, some scholars believe that the book was written by multiple authors over a long period of time, based on different sources and traditions. Regardless of who wrote it, The Art of War reflects the ancient Chinese philosophy and culture that influenced its teachings. Some of these influences include Taoism, Confucianism, Legalism, Yin-Yang theory, and the Five Elements theory.
What is the significance of The Art of War for military strategy and leadership?
The Art of War is considered one of the most influential books on military strategy and leadership in history. It has been studied and applied by many famous figures, such as Napoleon, Mao Zedong, Sun Yat-sen, George Patton, Douglas MacArthur, Colin Powell, and more. The book has also influenced the development of various military doctrines, such as guerrilla warfare, asymmetric warfare, and psychological warfare. The book is not only relevant for military affairs, but also for other fields that involve competition, conflict, or cooperation, such as business, politics, law, sports, and even personal relationships. The book teaches how to analyze situations, assess strengths and weaknesses, exploit opportunities, avoid pitfalls, and achieve goals with minimal effort and maximum efficiency.
Who is Thomas Cleary and why is his translation considered one of the best?
Thomas Cleary is a prolific and respected translator of Asian classics, especially from Chinese, Japanese, and Sanskrit. He has translated many works on philosophy, religion, literature, martial arts, and more. Some of his notable translations include The Tao Te Ching, The Analects of Confucius, The Book of Five Rings, The Flower Ornament Scripture, and The Essential Koran. He has a PhD in East Asian Languages and Civilizations from Harvard University and has taught at various universities and institutions.
Thomas Cleary's translation of The Art of War is considered one of the best because he combines accuracy, clarity, and elegance in his rendition of Sun Tzu's text. He also provides extensive notes and commentaries that explain the historical and cultural context of the book, as well as the different interpretations and applications of its teachings. He also compares his translation with other popular versions and shows how they differ in style and accuracy. His translation is widely praised by scholars, critics, and readers for its fidelity to the original text and its accessibility to modern audiences.
A brief summary of each chapter of The Art of War and its main lessons
In this section, we will give you a brief summary of each chapter of The Art of War and its main lessons. We will use Thomas Cleary's translation as the basis for our summaries.
Chapter 1: Strategic Assessments
This chapter introduces the basic principles of warfare and how to plan for it. Sun Tzu says that war is a matter of life and death for a state and should not be undertaken lightly. He says that before engaging in war, one should assess five factors: the way (the moral alignment of the ruler and the people), the weather (the natural conditions), the terrain (the geographical features), the leadership (the qualities of the commander), and the methods (the organization and discipline of the army). He says that by comparing these factors with those of the enemy, one can determine the outcome of the war. He also says that deception is essential in warfare and that one should always appear weak when strong and strong when weak.
Chapter 2: Doing Battle
This chapter discusses how to conduct battles and how to conserve resources. Sun Tzu says that the best way to win a war is to subdue the enemy without fighting. He says that fighting should be avoided unless it is necessary or advantageous. He says that one should not engage in prolonged wars or siege warfare because they consume too much resources and morale. He says that one should seek to capture the enemy's soldiers and equipment rather than destroy them. He also says that one should be flexible and adaptable in battle and not follow fixed rules or routines.
Chapter 3: Planning a Siege
This chapter deals with how to attack fortified cities or positions. Sun Tzu says that siege warfare is the last resort in warfare and should be avoided if possible. He says that attacking a city is like attacking a fire: one should only do it when there is no alternative or when there is a favorable wind. He says that one should prepare well for a siege by cutting off the enemy's supplies, sowing discord among their ranks, spreading false information, bribing their allies, or finding a weak spot in their defenses. He also says that one should be humane and generous to the captured enemy and treat them well.
Chapter 4: Formation
Chapter 5: Force
This chapter describes how to use force and momentum in warfare. Sun Tzu says that force is the means by which one achieves victory in war. He says that force can be divided into two types: normal and extraordinary. Normal force is the regular and expected use of troops and weapons, while extraordinary force is the unexpected and surprising use of troops and weapons. He says that one should use normal force to engage the enemy and extraordinary force to win the enemy. He also says that one should use momentum to create advantages and disadvantages for oneself and the enemy. Momentum is the speed and direction of movement of troops and weapons. He says that one should use momentum to increase one's own force and decrease the enemy's force.
Chapter 6: Emptiness and Fullness
This chapter explains how to use emptiness and fullness in warfare. Sun Tzu says that emptiness and fullness are relative terms that describe the state of being weak or strong, vulnerable or secure, passive or active, empty or full. He says that one should make oneself appear empty when one is full and full when one is empty. He says that one should make oneself appear weak when one is strong and strong when one is weak. He says that one should make oneself appear passive when one is active and active when one is passive. He also says that one should attack the enemy's emptiness with one's own fullness and defend one's own emptiness with the enemy's fullness.
Chapter 7: Armed Struggle
This chapter discusses how to manage armed forces in warfare. Sun Tzu says that armed struggle is the essence of warfare and requires careful planning and execution. He says that one should know the strengths and weaknesses of one's own army and the enemy's army. He says that one should know the numbers, types, qualities, and conditions of one's own troops and weapons and those of the enemy. He says that one should know how to use different types of troops and weapons for different purposes and situations. He also says that one should know how to reward and punish one's own soldiers and officers, as well as how to treat captured enemy soldiers and officers.
Chapter 8: Adaptations
This chapter teaches how to adapt to changing circumstances in warfare. Sun Tzu says that adaptations are the key to victory in war. He says that adaptations are based on creativity, flexibility, and responsiveness. He says that one should be creative in devising strategies and tactics that suit the situation. He says that one should be flexible in changing plans and actions according to the situation. He says that one should be responsive in taking advantage of opportunities and avoiding dangers according to the situation. He also says that one should be able to adapt to different types of enemies, such as direct, indirect, fierce, timid, clever, foolish, etc.
Chapter 9: Maneuvering Armies
This chapter instructs how to maneuver armies in warfare. Sun Tzu says that maneuvering armies is a matter of skill and artistry in war. He says that maneuvering armies involves moving troops and weapons from one place to another in order to achieve strategic objectives. He says that maneuvering armies requires careful calculation of distances, times, costs, risks, benefits, etc. He also says that maneuvering armies requires coordination of different units, such as infantry, cavalry, chariots, archers, etc.
Chapter 10: Terrain
This chapter advises how to deal with different types of terrain in warfare. Sun Tzu says that terrain is an important factor in war that affects both offense and defense. He says that terrain can be classified into six types: accessible (easy to enter and exit), entrapping (easy to enter but hard to exit), deadlock (hard to enter and exit), narrow (constricted by mountains or rivers), steep (high or low), or distant (far from one's base). He says that each type of terrain has its advantages and disadvantages for both sides and requires different strategies and tactics.
Chapter 11: Nine Grounds
This chapter explains how to handle different situations in warfare based on nine types of grounds or stages of conflict. Sun Tzu says that ground is a relative term that describes the degree of proximity or distance between oneself and the enemy. He says that ground can be divided into nine types: dispersive (when both sides are in their own territory), frontier (when both sides are near the border of their own territory), key (when both sides are in a strategically important place), intersecting (when both sides have access to each other's territory), heavy (when both sides are deep in each other's territory), bad (when both sides are in a difficult or dangerous place), surrounded (when one side is encircled by the other), dying (when one side is facing imminent defeat), and decisive (when one side is about to achieve victory). He says that each type of ground has its implications and requires different actions.
Chapter 12: Fire Attack
This chapter describes how to use fire as a weapon in warfare. Sun Tzu says that fire attack is one of the most powerful and effective methods of warfare. He says that fire attack can be used to burn the enemy's soldiers, equipment, supplies, buildings, etc. He says that fire attack can also be used to create confusion, panic, disorder, and chaos among the enemy. He also says that fire attack requires careful timing, coordination, and preparation. He says that one should know when, where, how, and why to use fire attack.
Chapter 13: On the Use of Spies
This chapter discusses how to use spies or intelligence agents in warfare. Sun Tzu says that spies are the most important and valuable resource in war. He says that spies can provide information, misinformation, sabotage, assassination, and other services for one's own side or against the enemy's side. He says that spies can be classified into five types: local (people from the enemy's territory), inside (people from the enemy's army or government), double (people who work for both sides), dead (people who pretend to be dead or captured to deceive the enemy), and living (people who return with information after completing their mission). He also says that spies require careful management and reward.
A comparison of Cleary's translation with other popular versions and how it differs in style and accuracy
In this section, we will compare Cleary's translation of The Art of War with other popular versions and how it differs in style and accuracy. We will use some examples from the book to illustrate the differences.
The original Chinese text and its challenges for translation
The original Chinese text of The Art of War is written in classical Chinese, which is very different from modern Chinese. Classical Chinese is a concise and elegant language that uses ideograms or characters to represent words or concepts. Each character has multiple meanings and pronunciations depending on the context. The syntax or word order of classical Chinese is also flexible and ambiguous, allowing for multiple interpretations. The text also contains many allusions and references to ancient Chinese history, culture, philosophy, and literature that may not be familiar to modern readers.
These features make translating The Art of War a challenging task that requires not only linguistic skills but also cultural and historical knowledge. A translator has to make many choices and judgments on how to render the text into another language without losing its original meaning, style, and spirit. A translator also has to balance between being faithful to the source text and being intelligible to the target audience.
The historical and cultural context of Sun Tzu's time and how it influences the interpretation of the book
The historical and cultural context of Sun Tzu's time also influences the interpretation of The Art of War. Sun Tzu lived during the Spring and Autumn period (771-476 BCE) and the Warring States period (475-221 BCE) of ancient China. These were times of political turmoil, social unrest, and military conflict among various states and factions. Warfare was a common occurrence and a matter of survival for many people. Warfare was also a complex and dynamic phenomenon that involved not only physical combat but also psychological, political, economic, and diplomatic aspects.
The historical and cultural context of Sun Tzu's time shaped his views on warfare and strategy. He was influenced by the prevailing philosophies and ideologies of his time, such as Taoism, Confucianism, Legalism, Yin-Yang theory, and the Five Elements theory. He was also influenced by the practical experiences and observations of warfare that he witnessed or participated in. He was aware of the changing nature of warfare and the need for adaptation and innovation.
The advantages and disadvantages of literal, poetic, and interpretive translations
There are different approaches to translating The Art of War from classical Chinese to other languages. Some of the most common approaches are literal, poetic, and interpretive translations. Each approach has its advantages and disadvantages.
A literal translation tries to preserve the exact words and syntax of the original text as much as possible. A literal translation can be faithful to the source text and easy to compare with other versions. However, a literal translation can also be obscure, ambiguous, or incomprehensible to the target audience. A literal translation can also miss the nuances, implications, or connotations of the original text.
A poetic translation tries to capture the beauty and elegance of the original text as much as possible. A poetic translation can be appealing and inspiring to the target audience. However, a poetic translation can also be inaccurate, embellished, or distorted from the source text. A poetic translation can also lose the clarity, simplicity, or precision of the original text.
An interpretive translation tries to convey the meaning and spirit of the original text as much as possible. An interpretive translation can be intelligible and relevant to the target audience. However, an interpretive translation can also be subjective, biased, or inconsistent with the source text. An interpretive translation can also add or omit information, opinions, or comments that are not in the original text.
The examples of Cleary's translation choices and how they capture the essence and clarity of Sun Tzu's wisdom
Cleary's translation of The Art of War is a balanced and nuanced translation that combines accuracy, clarity, and elegance. Cleary's translation avoids the extremes of literalism, poeticism, and interpretationism and strives to find a middle way that respects both the source text and the target audience. Cleary's translation also provides extensive notes and commentaries that explain and contextualize Sun Tzu's teachings. Here are some examples of Cleary's translation choices and how they capture the essence and clarity of Sun Tzu's wisdom.
Example 1: Chapter 1, verse 1
The original Chinese text reads:
孫子曰兵者國之大事死生之地存亡之道不可不察也
A literal translation would be:
Sun Tzu said: War is a great matter of the state, a place of life and death, a way of survival and extinction, not to be not examined.
A poetic translation would be:
Sun Tzu said: War is a grave affair of state; It is a place of life and death; A road leading either to safety or ruin; Hence it is imperative that it be studied.
An interpretive translation would be:
Sun Tzu said: War is a matter of vital importance to a nation; It determines whether you live or die; It is your path to success or failure; Therefore you must never neglect it.
Cleary's translation is:
Sun Tzu said: Warfare is the greatest affair of state, the basis of life and death, the way to survival or extinction. It must be thoroughly pondered and analyzed.
Cleary's translation preserves the conciseness and structure of the original text while making it clear and understandable to modern readers. He also uses words that convey the gravity and urgency of Sun Tzu's message.
Example 2: Chapter 3, verse 18
The original Chinese text reads:
故用兵之法十則圍之五則攻之倍則分之敵則能戰之少則能逃之不若則能避之
A literal translation would be:
Therefore use war method, ten then surround it, five then attack it, double then divide it, equal then able fight it, few then able escape it, not like then able avoid it.
A poetic translation would be:
Therefore in your deliberations when seeking to determine military conditions, let them be made on the basis of a comparison. This means that if the enemy is ten to your one, surround him; if five to one, attack him; if twice as numerous, divide him; if equally matched, you may choose to fight him; if fewer, be capable of withdrawing; and if in all respects unequal, be capable of eluding him.
An interpretive translation would be:
Therefore the art of war is based on ratios. This means that you should compare your situation with the enemy's and act accordingly. This means that