Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Yes, if i simply posted the missing chapters, there would be a complete Sun Tzu on Free Republic.

However, I had posted the work to provoke discussion and it is now effectively in the back shelves so far as discussion is concerned.

Also, I had made a decision to post only the sayings of Sun Tzu and to omit the commentary.

At the time it was necessary to manually format each paragraph with paragraph endings, so the job was time consuming even without including the commentary. Now, it is much easier to post a lengthy treatise.

My thought is that if I post the whole of a translation with the commentary it might provoke more discussion today in the context of the ongoing preparation for war against Iraq.

The Giles translation is the easiest to post as it is in the public domain and there are online Gutenberg copies available. It is also a translation in which I have a reasonable degree of confidence.

Huang should be mentioned for the benefit of those who want to read further as I have more confidence in his translation, but it is not available for copying as it is not yet in the public domain.

I must admit that I was a bit disappointed that there was not more discussion provoked, especially in a group so heavily populated with people who still understand the uses and limitations of military force.

I think that Sun Tzu is relevant to the Iraq situation (of course it has perpetual relevance).

For insatance, there is much talk about fighting within the city of Baghdad and Saddam boasts about his intention to present a large butcher's bill to anyone who tries to take it.

Sun Tzu has insights on the taking of cities and on the mounting of sieges of cities.


38 posted on 01/31/2003 11:58:11 AM PST by Clive
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 37 | View Replies ]


To: Clive
I was thinking of posting the main page of the Gutenburg text. Would you mind if I did? You were the first to post this material, so I thought I'd ask first. The main page has hyperlinks to all of the chapters and commentaries.

40 posted on 01/31/2003 3:57:43 PM PST by Alpha One
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 38 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson