The Art of War

Other Translations of The Art of War
Of the scores of versions of The Art of War that have been published in the United States since the
1960s, a considerable number use the book as a jumping-off point for their own purposes—mainly,
how to win: in business, film-making, martial arts, litigation. Here are some of the better editions.
Ames, Roger T. Sun Tzu: The Art of Warfare. New York: Bal-lantine Books, 1993. Contains both the
original Chinese text and the English translation. Ames was the first to publish a version based on the
Yin Chüeh Shan text—ancient bamboo strips found in Linyi, China, in 1972; provides a fair amount
of cultural and philosophical background.
Clavell, James. The Art of War, by Sun Tzu. New York: Dela-corte Press, 1983. The Lionel Giles
version as emended and rewritten by Clavell.
Cleary, Thomas. The Art of War. Boston: Shambhala, 1988. Cleary is a good translator, and his
introductions are superlative.

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———. The Lost Art of War. San Francisco: HarperSan-Francisco, 1996. Also known as The Art of
War II and Sun Tzu II—written by Sun Pin, said to be a descendant of Sun Tzu.
Denma Translation Group. Sun Tzu, The Art of War: A New Translation. Boston: Shambhala, 2001.
The most recent and authoritative translation; includes valuable explanatory essays and a
commentary. The translators used a version of the text known as the Yin Chüeh Shan, the oldest
version ever found, dating from c.140-118 B.C.; it was copied onto thin bamboo strips, preserved for
centuries, and discovered in 1972.
Griffith, Samuel B. Sun Tzu: The Art of War. With a foreword by B. H. Liddell Hart. New York:
Oxford University Press, 1963. Griffith is an expert in the analysis of military matters who also
provides an analysis of Sun Tzu’s influence on Mao Tse-tung and the Japanese military. Liddell Hart
is also a brilliant writer on military affairs.
Sawyer, Ralph D., and Mei-chün Lee Sawyer. Sun Tzu: The Art of War. New York: Barnes and Noble,
1994. For readers interested in Chinese history and military weaponry.
Wing, R. L. The Art of Strategy. New York: Doubleday, 1988. The Art of War with commentary that
focuses on the strategic realm; suggests that war not be waged save to preserve one’s territory.