The Art of War by Sun Tzu // Ancient Chinese Primary Source

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Күн бұрын

Here we have extracts from Sun Tzu's ancient classic, still relevant today.
Translated by Lionel Giles.
Huge thanks to Antony Cummins for the use of his images from his version of the text, and for his choice of extracts for this video.
Pick up a copy of his clear and easy to understand version here:
www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Art-W...
Video actor and editor: David Kelly
If this channel is something you like, if you think saving primary sources is important, head over to the patreon and join up!
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- Music courtesy of:-
Epidemic Sound
Artlist.io
We try to use copyright free images at all times. However if we have used any of your artwork or maps then please don't hesitate to contact me and we’ll be more than happy to give the appropriate credit.
Thanks to:
By vlasta2, bluefootedbooby on flickr.com - www.flickr.com/photos/bluefoo..., CC BY 2.0, commons.wikimedia.org/w/index...
By SY - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, commons.wikimedia.org/w/index...
Joe Hunt
Terracotta Warrior, Xian
wellcomeimages.org/indexplus/...
Gallery: wellcomeimages.org/indexplus/...
Wellcome Collection gallery (2018-03-21): wellcomecollection.org/works/...
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Пікірлер: 257

@HistoryExplained 3 жыл бұрын

Only 10 minutes in and I can already that it's be the best video on The Art of War on KZfaq. Great job as always!

@SophiaDalke 3 жыл бұрын

The narration is great as always, but I dislike the Giles translation. Though I understand that better translations are not public domain.

@filipeleal6667 3 жыл бұрын

@@SophiaDalke Same

@dragonofthewest8305 3 жыл бұрын

I think "great audiobooks" has a better version because its longer and the woman has a better voice but his channel is really good too

@apart-timeastronaut6530 3 жыл бұрын

(Tell) that (Gonna) be

@BlackSakura33 3 жыл бұрын

Only if he pronounced the author’s name correctly... 😖

@hailgiratinathetruegod7564 3 жыл бұрын

13:41 Anakin should have listen to him

@knightshousegames 3 жыл бұрын

At first I was disappointed that this was just excerpts and not the entire thing, since all the full versions on KZfaq are kind of terrible. But this condensed version is actually a bit easier to digest, I didn't find myself getting bored the same way I would through some parts of the whole thing I still wouldn't mind hearing the whole thing here, but this covers all the most important points well I think.

@myjizzureye 3 жыл бұрын

5:14 Kenny Rodgers philosophy, you got to know when to hold them and know when to fold them, know when to walk away and know when to run.

@kimberleymckenzie9355 6 ай бұрын

He must have been an avid fan of Master Sun. Kenny is the man.

@VoicesofthePast 3 жыл бұрын

Huge thanks to Antony Cummins for the use of his images from his version of the text, and for his choice of extracts for this video. Pick up a copy of his clear and easy to understand version here: www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Art-War-Step-Step/dp/1786782715 ...also I said chasm wrong. Apologies.

@genericalfishtycoon3853 3 жыл бұрын

Huge thanks to you. These have become my favorite videos these days.

@achmadtitofauzan3809 3 жыл бұрын

Do them dirty, in front their squad -rock lee

@scottyj6226 3 жыл бұрын

Rise and rise again,. Untill I make your enemies your footstool.

@guftgufthrope6340 3 жыл бұрын

It seems Sun Tzu's main concern was in preventing military disasters caused by incompetence and ignorance rather than helping already smart generals get smarter. I think that shows who he was writing this for. In a society with hereditary rulers and leaders, you're stuck with whatever kid they have. If the kid's a genius, great, but if not, then it's up to his teachers to make sure he's not an ignorant fool. Hence this manual. Do you really want to leave it to chance that he figures out this stuff? Do you want to wait until there's a war to find out if he ever bothered to set up a spy network? Gotta start early to make sure he doesn't lead you to ruin when the chips are down, make him at the bare minimum somebody that isn't going to gamble everything on a YOLO battle for glory and honor.

@comradeofthebalance3147 3 жыл бұрын

Yes indeed. Although his existence is foggy, it does fit the Autumn and Spring period where the states gradually gain more autonomy before officially descending into fractured kingdoms. There were conflicts between states but more sabotage and state keeping to do rather than all out warfare.

@hc8714 3 жыл бұрын

@@comradeofthebalance3147 actually that understand is very elementary. the conflicts started way before east zhou. Close relatives within clans had been merging or break apart as Zhou authority weakens.

@comradeofthebalance3147 3 жыл бұрын

H C And how is your statement no different to my ‘elementary’ statement

@deejin25 3 жыл бұрын

The only way to be an already smart general is to lead an army into war, If a book were to be written for them it would be like "Keep doing what you're doing, make sure you hire people who can do what you did to replace you as you get promoted. This book is still profoundly relevant as it seems the information is still ignored. To give you an idea of how relevant it is. The Commandant of the Marine corps during the 80's Al Grey made this book required reading for all Marines. So even though it might be seen as basic, these basics are still essential, even the part about captured chariots, foraging off the land (we haven't yet been in a situation that bad as a country in modern times) rewards, punishments etc. If Our leaders thought about how prolonged warfare impoverishes the nation and the consequences of overbearing foreign policy we might have a different relationship with the world. This goes for both parties. Sun Tzu is still an author that needs to be read.

@ganikus8565 3 жыл бұрын

Sun zi is still a legend, and the sunzi bing fa book is a compilation of writings starting around 300 bc to 200 ce... and then came the legend of the general sun zi and his book, that some ignorant in history talk about as history!

@gaslitworldf.melissab2897 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you for featuring China's peculiar mountainscapes. These images are spectacular. It allows one to imagine exactly what they were up against in those regions.

@gaslitworldf.melissab2897 3 жыл бұрын

The absence of commentary makes this channel superb, b/c it allows the source to do *all* of the work. it is truly an excellent source of learning w/o bias. Students of history will love it.

@knight1506 3 жыл бұрын

“Stay strap or get clapped” - Sun Tzu

@100RAmen 3 жыл бұрын

you have learned well sir

@aureavita8653 3 жыл бұрын

You must be one of the original generation of Sun Tzu's disciples

@knightshousegames 3 жыл бұрын

"When in doubt; nade out" - Sun Tzu

@user-rn3bb3dj4p 3 жыл бұрын

Jesus will testify before god before you Christians. He will free exempt himself from the claim of god & son of god you have attributed against him

@knightshousegames 3 жыл бұрын

@@user-rn3bb3dj4p "Christianity? Never heard of it." - Sun Tzu, 500 BC

@danielrobertson4490 3 жыл бұрын

Lovely channel. Amazing editing and clear voice over.

@bibbedcracker121 3 жыл бұрын

“If you wish to defeat me, train for another hundred years.” -Sun Tzu

@bibbedcracker121 3 жыл бұрын

@@SpaceVoice1 no its a reference to something else.

@nulcear5266 3 жыл бұрын

Came here looking for a comment like this

@lgp5619 3 жыл бұрын

"All warfare is based" - Sun Tzu

@leonardticsay8046 3 жыл бұрын

Based and red pilled.

@JamesTaylor-on9nz 3 жыл бұрын

Unironically yes

@genericalfishtycoon3853 3 жыл бұрын

Solid fact. 👌

@steven_003 3 жыл бұрын

Straight facts

@ladofthedamned7796 3 жыл бұрын

Based cringe redpilled

@phrog3885 3 жыл бұрын

This video is insanely underrated! I have been trying to find an audiobook of the whole thing for a while now and your soothing voice also really improves the experience

@Niiiiith 3 жыл бұрын

This is incredible. Thank you for everything you do for us!

@kathrynadkisson8964 Жыл бұрын

It’s really cool to see that it’s ancient wisdom not to make your enemy desperate and/or cornered. There’s nothing more terrifying than someone with nothing left to lose

@KD400_ Жыл бұрын

U have to remember that back then they were at war most of the time. A dangerous man has nothing left to lose or will give up everything to win.

@kimberleymckenzie9355 6 ай бұрын

My thoughts exactly. I was happy to hear that part too. Another way to remind others not to become butchers of men. Leave your enemy room to escape after all they are also people with families waiting for them to return home, win or lose.

@sirewokthefirstidonthaveal2902 3 жыл бұрын

the supreme gamer speaks!

@genericalfishtycoon3853 3 жыл бұрын

@14:46 Atari Grand Master

@CartersKidsSteveInTheEve 3 жыл бұрын

Another excellent primary source! Your work is truly inspired!

@wannabecriminalman 3 жыл бұрын

“Play the objective you scrubs!” -Sun Tzu

@ckingufwgleej3362 3 жыл бұрын

"Spy is the best class" - Sun Tzu

@pedrosampaio7349 3 жыл бұрын

'Sun Tzu said that! And I think he knows a little more about war than y-...' [xX_MasterTzu_Xx🔪ScreamingEagles]

@derekburge5294 3 жыл бұрын

"Hudda hudda," - Laozi

@LeeWatcher5810 3 жыл бұрын

I'm loving this audiobook so far. 10/10

@novaterra973 3 жыл бұрын

All simple common senses, but common senses are often uncommon in real life, so someone has to remind people of them.

@siavashtoosi5017 3 жыл бұрын

WOW fascinating. So simple yet sophisticated

@s.a5332 3 жыл бұрын

Feign ignorance when you pass gas at the dinner table - Sun Tzu

@minator1277 3 жыл бұрын

Truly one of the best historical accounts on this site.

@cnordegren 3 жыл бұрын

This is the best audiobook on the art of war!

@camrendavis6650 3 жыл бұрын

So ancient and yet so practical

@justafan2745 3 жыл бұрын

Very good video!

@aaronjaben7913 3 жыл бұрын

14:40 The Art of Pac Man

@egoborder3203 3 жыл бұрын

Can never get enough of Sun Tzu

@KarnodAldhorn 3 жыл бұрын

I missed: "The supreme art of war is to subdue your enemy without a battle."

@xbgt4022 3 жыл бұрын

"F1 + F3" - Sun Tzu

@ThexXxXxOLOxXxXx 3 жыл бұрын

All shall die before thee with the snapth of a finger.

@OmarSlloum 3 жыл бұрын

"For it is already nearly the right season to harvest the crops"

@karney6583 3 жыл бұрын

Really solid advice

@M_Jono Жыл бұрын

Considering his work is more than 2500 years old its amazing...beyond words

@diamantemine5493 3 жыл бұрын

If fighting ensures victory, then you must fight! Sun Tzu said that

@loszhor 3 жыл бұрын

Well read!

@klyanadkmorr 3 жыл бұрын

Don't Do it ANAKIN, I have the HIGHGROUND!

@spinningspin6053 3 жыл бұрын

Based

@stuffmorestuff6647 3 жыл бұрын

I wish you great fortune and prosperity in life for everything you do

@slojogojo2766 3 жыл бұрын

A lot of nice Manchu art you got there!

@Zenas521 3 жыл бұрын

Well done sir, you are a master of the spoken word. This has been a rare treat for me. Outside the Bible, Sun Tzu's Art of War is one I like to read.

@TheSaneHatter 3 жыл бұрын

"Do not push a desp[erate foe too hard." - Sun Tzu. "Don't push the pink-skins to the thin ice." - Commander Shran. =^=

@MariaMartinez-researcher 3 жыл бұрын

Vulcan High Command approves. 🖖😑

@Alusnovalotus 3 жыл бұрын

The Mongols seem to have proven many of Sun zi’s points and stratagems to devastating effect.

@deejin25 3 жыл бұрын

I'm pretty sure people would pay to download the entire audiobook version of the art of war by this guy.

@LegionHimself 3 жыл бұрын

If fighting is sure to result in victory, then you must fight.

@istvansipos9940 3 жыл бұрын

a full version any time soon?

@MegaGangsta4life 2 жыл бұрын

I have the hardcover copy from Costco...but I like your voice 😂😂😂

@fuferito 3 жыл бұрын

Could you read from Machiavelli's own _Art of War_ ? Most of us know about _The Prince_ but his other written works are not very well known.

@theromanorder 2 жыл бұрын

Yesterday i read the first 15 pages and then i looked up a full adio book of it. Im yet to listen but this is great also this seems like the first 15 pages i asum there is more

@alexb-b7971 3 жыл бұрын

Love your videos. Your speaking is so fluid :D Keep it up! Love all these Asian videos

@spencersolo3712 2 жыл бұрын

Would love to see a "The book of five rings" video one day!

@DensetsuVII 3 жыл бұрын

Oh boyyyy if we're going into the Spring and Autumn Period China stuff I hope we be getting some Mencius, some Zhuangzi, Mozi maybe aah I love this part of history!

@SophiaDalke 3 жыл бұрын

Sunzi was a Spring and Autumn period figure but yeah.

@DensetsuVII 3 жыл бұрын

@@SophiaDalke Oh thank you! I'm quite embarassed - Fixed!

@TanBoonMoh 3 жыл бұрын

Yes! Give us more philosiphical essays of 诸子散文 please

@jannes3290 3 жыл бұрын

Already read the book but just came here to give a like

@tomhammer802 3 жыл бұрын

Remember all of this

@CannibaLouiST 3 жыл бұрын

Should try the Three Kingdoms warlord commentary on the Art of War, too.

@CannibaLouiST 3 жыл бұрын

@Fiamo Scarlette Tsao Tsao's personal commentary is actually printed on most versions of the Art of War today in Chinese.

@ganikus8565 3 жыл бұрын

@KingEdo1984 3 жыл бұрын

can you do Niccolò Machiavelli "The art of war" and "The prince"

@spinningspin6053 3 жыл бұрын

I think Machiavelli is overtly Machiavellian

@dhruboroy9784 3 жыл бұрын

Do Arthshaastra next

@AnalyticalReckoner 2 жыл бұрын

"Mastering the art of war" is another book that might be interesting if you enjoyed this.

@genericalfishtycoon3853 3 жыл бұрын

@14:47 Wow didn't know sun tzu was into Pac Man. Atari really has been around for a long long time.

@j0nnyism 3 жыл бұрын

Well now you know where Namco got their mazes from

@countdowntorevolution9986 3 жыл бұрын

Beautifully read, but it would have been nice to include the famous coda “the art of war is of vital importance to the security of the state...thus, on no account must it be neglected”

@douchbagat7671 3 жыл бұрын

Can I use this in Tarkov?

@LethargicGM 3 жыл бұрын

I stand alone and gaze apon a battlefield Wasteland is all that's left after the fight

@hanaaelmi1256 3 жыл бұрын

Tacitus’ Germania next?

@MrEHD-fj1bz 3 жыл бұрын

10:22 Newton's Laws

@diadokhoi5722 3 жыл бұрын

F1 F3 boom battle won. Sun tsu would be proud. "Mt blade gang"

@rayhamilton4775 3 жыл бұрын

"If your army is bigger you will win" -art of war

@CatroiOz Жыл бұрын

That is not at all what he says.

@stagbeetle1050 3 жыл бұрын

"Sun Tzu said that!"

@mxonia 3 жыл бұрын

19:36 Throw your soldiers into position once there is no escape, and they will prefare death than flight. Sabaton have teached me this line a lot 😅

@NecromancyForKids 3 жыл бұрын

Whence and prefer, but yes

@tallest4eva 3 жыл бұрын

He speaks about raising a 100,000 men and campaigning for years! China really WAS the superpower of the classical era!

@richardque4952 3 жыл бұрын

Sun tzu become genral for wu.commanded 25000 men invaded the kingdom of tsu a kingdom that is far bigger than longdom of wu.tsu mobilized 200 000 men to confront him.due to the large size.the king of tsu decided to divide the army into two this prove fatal.since the two commander see the othrt side as a rival.both men refuse to share the glory.in the end sun tzu after 12 battle completely routed tsu army.despite the fact sun tzu is badly out number.

@joedirt2862 3 жыл бұрын

"Don't bother an army heading home"

@ubertoaster99 3 жыл бұрын

Chasm is pronounced 'Kasm'.

@VoicesofthePast 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks.

@OmarSlloum 3 жыл бұрын

Bruh you just corrected a voice over on his own language. Based

@Ghost_of_Avalon 3 жыл бұрын

Or some say Kosm

@j0nnyism 3 жыл бұрын

I’m flabbergasted to hear another Englishman mispronouncing such a simple word. I hang my head in shame

@BlueBaron3339 3 жыл бұрын

Meddling sovereigns brought to mind Vietnam. Treatment of prisoners, Abu Ghraib. But you'd need to have ignored far more wisdom than those two points to have ordered those wars to begin with.

@scouter1789 3 жыл бұрын

He really did know more about it than you did, Pal.

@ballom29 3 жыл бұрын

14:45 ...hold on a sec !

@fuckthepolice5341 3 жыл бұрын

👋

@mersito3955 3 жыл бұрын

"Git Gud" Sun Tzu

@vit968 3 жыл бұрын

*"Watch the backblast you idiot!"* - Sun Tzu

@Leo-us4wd 3 жыл бұрын

Translations of the Rigvedas

@popefrancis2946 3 жыл бұрын

Yes But it will be very long video

@Leo-us4wd 3 жыл бұрын

@@popefrancis2946 maybe a few interesting sentences, then again there a lot of them

@ronitdhanphole 3 жыл бұрын

What's the point? Vedas are just a bunch of hymns, Arthashastra on the other hand.

@AgentXA564 3 жыл бұрын

Sun Tzu: Attacking fortifications is the worst thing a commander can do. People: So, if we build so many fortifications that the attackers have to take them, we can make them do the worst thing? That's a great idea!

@krushnaji4940 Жыл бұрын

Defending everything you are not defending anything : Sun Tzu

@H_P_Lovecraft 3 жыл бұрын

"If fighting is sure to result in victory, then you must fight! Sun Tzu said that! And I'd say he knows a little more about fighting than you do, pal, because he invented it!"

@tasertag7513 3 жыл бұрын

"And then he perfected it so that nobody could best him in the ring of honor." "Then he used his fight money to buy two of every animal on earth. And then he herded them onto a boat, and then he beat the crap out of every single one!" "And from that day forward any time a bunch of animals are together in one place it's called a zoo! " "Unless it's a farm!"

@richie8811 3 жыл бұрын

add subtitles and this video will be perfect

@MaycroftCholmsky 3 жыл бұрын

So, basically, "git good"

@Dionaea_floridensis 3 жыл бұрын

"All war is based"

@dragonofthewest8305 3 жыл бұрын

This us popular nowadays

@this_is_patrick 3 жыл бұрын

3:01 Try this today and you would be tried for war crimes lmao.

@strictlyeducationalmagick 3 жыл бұрын

Yey ואו

@user-fl8yv7rz6f 3 жыл бұрын

Sun Tzu the stater of the obvious!

@NecromancyForKids 3 жыл бұрын

And yet there are many to this day that do not follow the obvious.

@Ulexcool 3 жыл бұрын

LMAO the dude was a scam, Roman tactics are 1000 years older and conquered half of the world.

@hc8714 3 жыл бұрын

@@Ulexcool china itself is half of the world, lol.

@dongf2618 3 жыл бұрын

well, I find most instruction manuals pretty obvious. But ppl.never follow them anyway.

@pedromeza2398 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you for your excellent video, and I am very sorry that those that down vote don't have the insight to understand The Art of War.

@MetalHeadJimmie 3 жыл бұрын

🖤🐲🤘😈🤘

@mindofthelion712 3 жыл бұрын

This is just ninjutsu with extra steps

@christopherjohnramos2043 3 жыл бұрын

Flank them and spank them - totally Sun Tzu

@uppercutgrandma4425 3 жыл бұрын

"In the future, people will dress and have sex as animals and not every middling attractive girl online (who didn't develop social skills) will actually have asbergers. Put these people in prison"- Sun Tzu

@luszczi 3 жыл бұрын

I've been researching the translations a little and the Internet seems to think that Lionel Giles's is the worst of them all.

@ModFactory 3 жыл бұрын

Why's that?

@SophiaDalke 3 жыл бұрын

AGREED.

@sinisterminister6478 3 жыл бұрын

The problem being with the many translations is that The Art of War was written over 2500 years ago. The language has changed so much over the millennia that even modern Chinese linguistic scholars have a difficult time translating acutely such ancient works.

@francissreckofabian01 3 жыл бұрын

Only 5 musical notes?

@Alderak1 3 жыл бұрын

Many cultures use the pentatonic scale as the base for their music.

@BlackSakura33 3 жыл бұрын

At that time.

@magnuscoles5010 3 жыл бұрын

"snitches get stitches, bitches need cash" - Sun Tzu

@romelnegut2005 3 жыл бұрын

Can you guys definitely say that Sun Tzu is the greatest tactician ever and if not, were do you place him?

@EloNaj 3 жыл бұрын

He was most likely more than one person.

@romelnegut2005 3 жыл бұрын

@@EloNaj What makes you say that?

@EloNaj 3 жыл бұрын

@@romelnegut2005 I read some historians they claim that he is most likely a composite character whose work is a collection of a number of unknown strategists.

@romelnegut2005 3 жыл бұрын

@@EloNaj That's interesting.

@SophiaDalke 3 жыл бұрын

The greatest tactician even was Admiral Yi Sunsin. Undefeated in nearly two dozen battles despite being routinely outnumbered, sometimes by as much as ten to one. He is basically the sole reason why Korea didn't cease to exist in the Imjin War.

@johnfisk811 3 жыл бұрын

Excellent work but (trivia) chasm is kas'm not chas'm.

@johnfisk811 3 жыл бұрын

@DARPA That is strange. Being as I am British. My old English mistress would have awarded 5 smacks of the ruler to anyone saying chas-um. I have to sidewith her and everyone else I know in Britain. Late of Prince Albert's Own Yeomanry and the Royal Anglian Regiment.

@VoicesofthePast 3 жыл бұрын

Sadly I agree with John. Woops. Next time I say chasm on the channel it shall be correct!

@QuizmasterLaw 3 жыл бұрын

Unfortunately Giles translation while well written is inaccurate. It's about 60% Sun Tzu 40% Giles. It's still worth reading but more as a thought provoker than as an accurate insight into past or present Chinese strategy.

@kimberleymckenzie9355 6 ай бұрын

Where do i find the original works of Sun Tzu? As good as this is, I felt a lot of something was missing in this version and has too much added spices which may or may not be in the original work.