Zuo Zhuan
First page of the book
Author(s)	Zuo Qiuming
Original title	左傳
Country	Zhou Dynasty China
Language	Classical Chinese
Subject(s)	History of China during the Spring and Autumn Period
Publication date	no later than 389 BC

Zuo Zhuan (Chinese: 左傳), or Chunqiu Zuo Zhuan, sometimes translated as the Chronicle of Zuo or the Commentary of Zuo, is among the earliest Chinese works of narrative history, covering the period from 722 to 468 BCE. It is one of the most important sources for understanding the history of the Spring and Autumn Period (Chunqiu). Together with the Gongyang Zhuan and Guliang Zhuan, the work forms one of the surviving Three Commentaries on the Spring and Autumn Annals.

Zuo Zhuan is traditionally attributed to Zuo Qiuming, as a commentary to the Spring and Autumn Annals. Most notable modern scholars of this book such as Yang Bojun (楊伯峻) hold that the work was compiled during the Warring States Period, with a compilation date not later than 389 BCE.

Liang Qichao (梁启超) further proposed from internal and comparative textual analyses that the extant editions of Zuo Zhuan and Guoyu derive from a pre-Liu Xiang edition of "Guoyu" that originally had passages from the two. The neatly delineated, chronologically complementary distribution of accounts between the two was to him evidence that Liu Xiang extracted historical accounts parallel to those in the Annals to compile what was to be called the Zuo Zhuan; accounts lacking a Chunqiu parallel were left in Guoyu in the original format under chapters by state; hence the name, organization, and text of the Guoyu 國語, or Discourse of States, that we have today.

The book contains the earliest reference to weiqi (the board game of go) in the 25th Year of Duke Xiang of Lu (548 BCE in the Gregorian calendar)

With its vivid and concise language, Zuo Zhuan is also a gem of classical Chinese prose. This work and the Shiji or Records of the Grand Historian, were regarded as the ultimate models by many generations of prose stylists in ancient China.

Contents[link]

Zuo Zhuan follows the sequence of 12 dukes of the State of Lu, starting in the first year of Duke Yin of Lu and finishing in the 27th year of Duke Ai of Lu. Altogether, the 18,000 character work records the history of the various vassal states of the Zhou Dynasty over a period of 254 years.

Note: Zuo Zhuan contains an appendix starting in the fourth year of the reign of Duke Dao of Lu (463 BCE).

Translations[link]

• Legge, James (1872). The Ch'un ts'ew, with the Tso chue. The Chinese Classics. V. London: Trübner. 
  • part 1: books 1–8
  • part 2: books 9–12

References[link]

• Yang Qichao (1995). 중국고전학입문 中國古典學入門. Seoul: Hyongsong Sa. ISBN 978-89-7346-111-0. 
• Yang Bojun (1990). The Annotation of Zuozhuan Chunqiu: On Preface. Beijing: Zhonghua Shuju. ISBN 7-101-00262-5. 
• Burton Watson (1989). The Tso chuan : selections from China's oldest narrative history. New York: Columbia University Press. ISBN 0-231-06714-3. 

External links[link]

Chinese Wikisource has original text related to this article: 左傳 (Zuo Zhuan)

• Chunqiu Zuozhuan Bilingual text of Zuo Zhuan with side-by-side Chinese original and Legge's English translation
• Zuo Zhuan Fully searchable text (Chinese)
• The Zuozhuan Digital Concordance, by St. John Page and Isabel García Hidalgo. The English data is based on Legge's translation, with missing sections not covered by Legge translated by Page and added to cover the full text.

Karen Mok
Karen Mok (2009)
Chinese name	莫文蔚
Pinyin	Mò Wénwèi (Mandarin)
Jyutping	mok6 man4 wai3 (Cantonese)
Birth name	Karen Joy Morris
Origin	Hong Kong
Born	(1970-06-02) 2 June 1970 (age 42) Hong Kong
Occupation	singer, actress, composer, producer, designer
Genre(s)	Cantopop, C-Rock, Alternative pop, Pop rock
Instrument(s)	Piano, Oboe, Gu Zheng
Label(s)	Star Records (1993-1995) Rock Records (1996–2001) Sony BMG (2002–2008) Universal Music (2009-present)
Years active	1993 - present
Spouse(s)	Johannes (2011 - present)
Official Website	Karen's Official Website
Awards Hong Kong Film Awards Best Supporting Actress 1996 Fallen Angels Golden Bauhinia Awards Best Supporting Actress 1996 Fallen Angels Golden Melody Awards Best Female Mandarin Artist 2003 [i] Best Mandarin Album of The Year 2008 L!VE is… KAREN MOK MTV Asia Awards Inspiration Award 2008

Karen Joy Morris, known more commonly in Chinese speaking communities as Karen Mok or Mok Man-Wai, (born 2 June 1970) is a three-time Golden Melody Award-winning Hong Kong-based actress and singer-songwriter.

Biography[link]

Mok attended Diocesan Girls' School from primary to secondary grade in Hong Kong. When she was a F.5 student, she received the 1st Hong Kong Outstanding Students Awards. She later left Hong Kong in 1987 and studied abroad.^[1] She attended United World College of the Adriatic near Trieste, Italy from 1987 to 1989, and majored in Italian literature when studying at the University College London, University of London. Mok is the sister of the writer and producer Trevor Morris, and a descendant of Alfred Morris, the first principal of King's College, Hong Kong. She speaks English, Cantonese, Mandarin, Italian, and French.^[2] She is Eurasian: her father is half-Chinese and half-Welsh, while her mother is half-Chinese, quarter-Iranian, and quarter-German.^[3][4]

Mok is often credited as Karen Mok in Chinese movies, but as Karen Joy Morris (her birth name) in Hollywood movies such as "Around the world in 80 days" starring Jackie Chan. She supplied the voice of Princess Kida for the Cantonese dub of Disney's "Atlantis: The Lost Empire" (2001). Mok performed in the 10th anniversary Asian tour of the hit Broadway musical Rent in the lead role of Mimi in 2005 and 2006.

At the Beijing Olympics in 2008, she carried the torch^[5] and performed at the Opening and Closing Ceremonies^[6][7]. In October 2008, Karen Mok launched her own brand of perfume in Hong Kong.^[8]

Karen has completed many endorsement agreements with leading companies such as among others Canon^[9], Kappa^[10], Cadillac^[11], Clear^[12], Chow Tai Fook^[13], Lux^[14], Titus^[15].

She married her first boyfriend Johannes at a church near Florence, Italy, on 1 October 2011^[16].

Activism[link]

Mok is an advocate for animals and one of only five Asian celebrities to make People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals Asia-Pacific's (PETA) first-ever Best-Dressed 2008 list.^[17] Mok has joined efforts to help bears in China whose bile is used for medicinal purposes/^[18]

In 2007, Mok was involved with MTV EXIT, a campaign against human trafficking in Asia. She presented Traffic: An MTV EXIT Special, a documentary on trafficking.^{[citation needed]}. Karen currently serves as ambassador for UNICEF, SPCA, Animals Asia Foundation, Habitat for Humanity, and Enlighten-Action for Epilepsy.

Filmography[link]

Discography[link]

Albums[link]

EPs[link]

Movie/TV Soundtracks[link]

Awards[link]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Karen Mok's Official Site(English)
• Karen Mok at the Internet Movie Database
• Karen Mok at the HKADb.net
• Karen Mok at the Hong Kong Movie DataBase

Sun Tzu
Statue of Sun Tzu in Yurihama, Tottori, Japan
Born	c. 544 BC (traditional)
Died	c. 496 BC (traditional)
Occupation	Military General and Tactician
Ethnicity	Chinese
Period	Warring States
Subjects	Military strategy
Notable work(s)	The Art of War

Sun Wu (simplified Chinese: 孙武; traditional Chinese: 孫武; pinyin: Sūn Wǔ), style name Changqing (長卿), better known as Sun Tzu or Sunzi^[1] (simplified Chinese: 孙子; traditional Chinese: 孫子; pinyin: Sūnzǐ; pronounced [swə́n tsɨ̀]), was an ancient Chinese military general, strategist and philosopher who is traditionally believed to be the author of The Art of War, an influential ancient Chinese book on military strategy. Sun Tzu has had a significant impact on Chinese and Asian history and culture, both as an author of The Art of War and through legend.

Sun Tzu, also known as Sun Tze or Sun Wu in other translations, was a historical figure whose authenticity is questioned by historians. Traditional accounts place him in the Spring and Autumn Period of China (722–481 BC) as a military general serving under King Helü of Wu, who lived c. 544–496 BC. Modern scholars accepting his historicity place the completion of The Art of War in the Warring States Period (476–221 BC), based on the descriptions of warfare in the text, and on the similarity of text's prose to other works completed in the early Warring States period.^[2]

Traditional accounts state that his descendant, Sun Bin, also wrote a treatise on military tactics, titled Sun Bin's Art of War. Both Sun Wu and Sun Bin were referred to as Sun Tzu in classical Chinese writings, and some historians believed that Sun Wu was in fact Sun Bin until Sun Bin's own treatise was discovered in 1972. During the 19th and 20th centuries, Sun Tzu's The Art of War grew in popularity and saw practical use in Western society, and his work continues to influence both Asian and Western culture and politics.

The oldest available sources disagree as to where Sun Tzu was born. The Spring and Autumn Annals states that Sun Tzu was born in Qi,^[3] while the later Records of the Grand Historian (Shiji) states that Sun Tzu was a native of Wu.^[4]

Both sources agree that Sun Tzu was born in the late Spring and Autumn Period of China (722–481 BC), and that he was active as a general and strategist, serving the king of Wu, King Helü, in the late sixth century BC, beginning around 512 BC. Sun Tzu's victories then inspired him to write The Art of War. The Art of War was one of the most widely read military treatises in the subsequent Warring States Period (475–221 BC), a time of constant war among seven nations (Zhao, Qi, Qin, Chu, Han, Wei and Yan) who fought to control the vast expanse of fertile territory in Eastern China.^[5]

One of the more well-known stories about Sun Tzu, taken from Shiji, illustrates Sun Tzu's temperament as follows: Before hiring Sun Tzu, the King of Wu tested Sun Tzu's skills by commanding him to train a harem of 180 concubines into soldiers. Sun Tzu divided them into two companies, appointing the two concubines most favored by the king as the company commanders. When Sun Tzu first ordered the concubines to face right, they giggled. In response, Sun Tzu said that the general, in this case himself, was responsible for ensuring that soldiers understood the commands given to them. Then, he reiterated the command, and again the concubines giggled. Sun Tzu then ordered the execution of the king's two favored concubines, to the king's protests. He explained that if the general's soldiers understood their commands but did not obey, it was the fault of the officers. Sun Tzu also said that, once a general was appointed, it was his duty to carry out his mission, even if the king protested. After both concubines were killed, new officers were chosen to replace them. Afterwards, both companies performed their maneuvers flawlessly.^[6]

Shiji claims that Sun Tzu later proved on the battlefield that his theories were effective (for example, in the Battle of Boju), that he had a successful military career, and that he wrote The Art of War based on his tested expertise.^[6] However, Zuo Zhuan, an earlier historical text which provides a much more detailed account of the Battle of Boju, does not mention Sun Tzu at all.^[7]

Sun Tzu's descendant, Sun Bin, also became a famous scholar of the military arts.^[6]

The Art of War[link]

A bamboo version of The Art of War

The Art of War (simplified Chinese: 孙子兵法; traditional Chinese: 孫子兵法; pinyin: Sūn​zǐ​ Bīng​ Fǎ) is attributed to Sun Tzu. It presents a philosophy of war for managing conflicts and winning battles. It is accepted as a masterpiece on strategy and frequently cited and referred to by generals and theorists since it was first published, translated, and distributed internationally.^[8]

There are numerous theories concerning when the text was completed, and concerning the identity of the author or authors, but archeological recoveries have proven that the Art of War had roughly achieved its current form by at least the early Han dynasty (206 BC – AD 220).^[9] Because it is impossible to prove definitively when the Art of War was completed before this date, the differing theories concerning the work's author(s) and date of completion are unlikely to ever be completely resolved.^[10] Some modern scholars believe that, contrary to popular belief, it contains not only the writings of the original author, but also commentary and clarifications from later military philosophers, such as Li Quan and Du Mu.

Of the military texts written before the unification of China in the 2nd century BC, six major works survived, including The Art of War. During the Song Dynasty in the late 1st millennium AD, these six works were combined with a Tang Dynasty text into a collection called the Seven Military Classics. As a central part of that compilation, The Art of War formed the foundations of orthodox military theory in China. Illustrating this point, the book was required reading to pass the tests needed for imperial appointment to military positions.^[11]

According to Simpkins & Simpkins, Sun Tzu's Art of War uses language that may be unusual in a Western text on warfare and strategy. For example, the 11th chapter states that a leader must be "serene and inscrutable" and capable of comprehending "unfathomable plans". They state that the text contains many similar remarks that have long confused Western readers lacking an awareness of the East Asian context. The meaning of such statements are clearer when interpreted in the context of Taoist thought and practice. Sun Tzu viewed the ideal general as an enlightened Taoist master, which has led to The Art of War being considered a prime example of Taoist strategy.^[12]

The book is not only popular among military theorists, but has also become increasingly popular among political leaders and those in business management. Despite its title, The Art of War addresses strategy in a broad fashion, touching upon public administration and planning. The text outlines theories of battle but also advocates diplomacy and cultivating relationships with other nations as essential to the health of a state.^[8]

In 1972, scholars uncovered a collection of ancient texts written on unusually well-preserved bamboo slips. Among them were the Art of War and Sun Bin's Military Methods. Although Han Dynasty bibliographies noted the latter publication as extant and written by a descendant of Sun, it had since been lost. The finding of Sun Bin's work is considered to be extremely important, both because of Sun Bin's relationship to Sun Tzu, and because of the work's addition to the body of military thought in late Chinese antiquity. The discovery as a whole significantly expanded the body of surviving Warring States military theory. Sun Bin's treatise is the only known military text surviving from the Warring States period discovered in the twentieth century, and bears the closest similarity to the Art of War of all surviving texts.

Historicity[link]

Some scholars have expressed doubt in Sun Tzu's historicity and the traditional dating of the Art of War. Their skepticism is fueled by factors that include possible historical inaccuracies and anachronisms in the text, as well as the likelihood of the execution of the king's favorite concubines. This skepticism, which sometimes cause scholars to completely deny the existence of a historical figure named Sun Wu (Sun Tzu), has led to acrimonious debate between skeptics and traditionalists, especially in China. Attribution of the Art of War's authorship varies among scholars, and have included people and movements including Sun; Chu scholar Wu Zixu; an unknown author; a school of thought in Qi or Wu; Sun Bin, and others.^[13]

Traditionalists attribute the authorship of The Art of War to the historical figure Sun Wu, who is chronicled in the Records of the Grand Historian and the Spring and Autumn Annals. He was reputedly active in the late 6th century BC, beginning c. 512 BC. The appearance of features from the Art of War in other historical texts is considered to be proof of his historicity and authorship. Certain strategic concepts, such as terrain classification, are attributed to Sun Tzu. Their use in other works, such as by the compilers of the Methods of the Sima, is considered proof of Sun Tzu's historical priority.^[14]

Skeptics that identify issues with the traditionalist view point to possible anachronisms in the Art of War that include terms, technology, philosophical ideas, events, and military techniques. They argue that there is a disparity between the large scale wars and sophisticated techniques detailed in the text, and the more primitive small scale battles that many believe predominated the 6th century BC. However, according to Ralph D. Sawyer, it is very likely Sun Tzu did actually exist and not only served as a general, but also wrote the core of the book that bears his name.^[15] Sawyer argues that the teachings were probably taught to the succeeding generations in the family or a small school of disciples, including Sun-Tzu's descendant, Sun Bin, and were revised and expanded upon.^[15]

Legacy[link]

Sun Tzu's Art of War has influenced many notable figures. Traditional histories recount that the first emperor of a unified China, Qin Shi Huang, considered the book invaluable in ending the Age of Warring States. The Art of War was introduced in Japan, c. AD 760, and the book quickly became popular among Japanese generals. The work also significantly influenced the unification of Japan. Mastery of its teachings was honored among the samurai, and its teachings were both exhorted and exemplified by influential daimyos and shoguns, such as Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and Tokugawa Ieyasu.^[16]

Admiral of the Fleet Tōgō Heihachirō, who led Japan's forces to victory against Russia in the Russo-Japanese War, was an avid reader of The Art of War.^[17]

Communist Chinese leader Mao Zedong partially credited his victory over Chiang Kai-shek and the Kuomintang in 1949 to The Art of War. The work strongly influenced Mao's writings about guerrilla warfare, which further influenced communist insurgencies around the world.^[16]

General Vo Nguyen Giap, the military mastermind behind victories over French and American forces in Vietnam, was an avid student and practitioner of Sun Tzu's ideas. America's defeat here, more than any other event, brought Sun Tzu to the attention of American military leaders. Ho Chi Minh translated the work for his Vietnamese officers to study.^[18][19]

The Department of the Army in the United States, through its Command and General Staff College, has directed all units to maintain libraries within their respective headquarters for the continuing education of personnel in the art of war. The Art of War is mentioned as an example of works to be maintained at each individual unit, and staff duty officers are obliged to prepare short papers for presentation to other officers on their readings.^[20]

Sun Tzu's The Art of War is listed on the Marine Corps Professional Reading Program (formerly known as the Commandant's Reading List).^[21] During the Persian Gulf War in the 1990s, both General Norman Schwarzkopf, Jr. and General Colin Powell practiced Sun Tzu's principles of deception, speed, and attacking the enemy's weakness.^[16]

Mark McNeilly writes in Sun Tzu and the Art of Modern Warfare that a modern interpretation of Sun and his importance throughout Chinese history is critical in understanding China's push to becoming a superpower in the 21st century. Modern Chinese scholars explicitly rely on historical strategic lessons and The Art of War in developing their theories, seeing a direct relationship between their modern struggles and those of China in Sun Tzu's time. There is a great perceived value in Sun Tzu's teachings and other traditional Chinese writers, which are used regularly in developing the strategies of the Chinese state and its leaders.^[22]

Popular culture[link]

In 1996, a 13-episode TV series titled The Art of War – Legend of Sun Wu the Master of War (孫子兵法 – 孫武兵聖傳奇) was produced, starring Sun Yanjun as Sun Tzu.^[23]

In 2008, producer Zhang Jizhong adapted Sun Tzu's life story into a 40-episode historical drama TV series titled Bing Sheng (兵聖; also called The Ultimate Master of War: Sun Tzu), starring Zhu Yawen as Sun Tzu.^[24]

Notes[link]

References[link]

• Bradford, Alfred S. (2000), With Arrow, Sword, and Spear: A History of Warfare in the Ancient World, Praeger Publishers, ISBN 0-275-95259-2 .
• Hanzhang, Tao; Wilkinson, Robert (1998), The Art of War, Wordsworth Editions, ISBN 978-1-85326-779-6 .
• McNeilly, Mark R. (2001), Sun Tzu and the Art of Modern Warfare, Oxford University Press, ISBN 0-19-513340-4 .
• Sawyer, Ralph D. (1994), The Art of War, Westview Press, ISBN 0-8133-1951-X .
• Sawyer, Ralph D. (2005), The Essential Art of War, Basic Books, ISBN 0-465-07204-6 .
• Sawyer, Ralph D. (2007), The Seven Military Classics of Ancient Classics, Basic Books, ISBN 0-465-00304-4 .
• Simpkins, Annellen; Simpkins, C. Alexander (1999), Taoism: A Guide to Living in the Balance, Tuttle Publishing, ISBN 978-0-8048-3173-4 .
• Tung, R.L. (2001), "Strategic Management Thought in East Asia", in Warner, Malcolm, Comparative Management:Critical Perspectives on Business and Management, 3, Routledge, ISBN 0-415-13263-0 .

External links[link]

Find more about Sun Tzu on Wikipedia's sister projects:
	Images and media from Commons
	Quotations from Wikiquote
	Source texts from Wikisource

• Works by Sun Tzu at Project Gutenberg
• Sun Tzu's Art of War at Sonshi
• Sun Tzu and Information Warfare at the Institute for National Strategic Studies of National Defense University

Li Ang (李昂; real name Shih Shu-tuan with Li Ang being her pen name) (born April 7, 1952, in Lukang, Taiwan) is a Taiwanese feminist writer. After graduating from Chinese Culture University with a degree in philosophy, she studied drama at the University of Oregon, after which she returned to teach at her alma mater. Her major work is The Butcher's Wife (殺夫: 1983, tr. 1986), though she has a copious output. Feminist themes and sexuality are present in much of her work. Many of her stories are set in Lukang.^[1][2]

Work[link]

The Butcher's Wife is critical of traditional Chinese patriarchy. The heroine is sold by her dead father's brother into marriage with a brutal butcher much older than she. He dominates her sexually and takes pleasure in frightening her in various ways, including a visit to the slaughterhouse, after which the heroine in a disoriented state of mind murders him with a butcher's blade.^[3]

Li Ang is known for her idiosyncratic, candid and penetrating insights on gender politics in the social life in contemporary Taiwan.^[1] Beginning her writing career at the age of 16, she has published nearly twenty novels and collections of short stories centering on women in such topics as pubescent female psychosexuality, feminism and gender, sex and female subjectivity. Her bold and successive broaching of subjects bordering on the taboo within the cultural context of Taiwan has earned her extensive critical acclaim both in the world of Chinese letters and internationally. Translated into different languages and published world-wide, many of her works have been reviewed by leading newspapers in many countries, including The New York Times, and made into films and T.V. series. In 2004, Li Ang was awarded the “Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres” by the French Minister of Culture and Communication in recognition of her outstanding contribution to world literature.^[2]

Bibliography[link]

• Ang, LI (2002). The Butcher's Wife. London: Peter Owen. ISBN 978-0-7206-1161-8. 

References[link]

Further reading[link]

• Chinese Writers on Writing featuring Li Ang. Ed. Arthur Sze. (Trinity University Press, 2010).

External links[link]

• List of translations of her fiction (scroll down).
• Website devoted to Li Ang maintained at MIT.

Tai Wu (Chinese: 太戊, born Zi Mi (Chinese: 子密) or Zi Zhou (Chinese: 子伷), was a Shang Dynasty King of China.

In the Records of the Grand Historian he was listed by Sima Qian as the ninth Shang king, succeeding his brother Yong Ji (Chinese: 太庚). He was enthroned with Bo (Chinese: 亳) as his capital. He appointed Yishe (Chinese: 伊陟) and Chenhu (Chinese: 臣扈) as his higher officers.

In the 7th years of his reign, a sang tree (Chinese: 桑) and millet (Chinese: 谷) were found growing together in his palace. In the 11th year of his reign, he ordered Wu Xian (Chinese: 巫咸) to pray at Shanchuan (Chinese: 山川). In the 26th year of his reign, the Queen of West Rong (Chinese: 西戎) sent an envoy to Shang, the king later sent Wangmeng (Chinese: 王孟) on a return visit. In the 31st year of his reign, he appointed Zhongyan (Chinese: 中衍) of Fee vassal (Chinese: 费侯) as position of Chezheng (Chinese: 车正). In the 35th year of his reign, he wrote a poem called Yanche (Chinese: 寅车). In the 46th year of his reign, there was a great harvest of crops. In the 58th year of his reign, he built the city of Pugu (Chinese: 蒲姑). In the 61st year of his reign, the nine east Barbarians Yi tribes (Chinese: 东九夷) sent envoys to Shang.

He ruled for 75 years, was given the posthumous name Tai Wu and was succeeded by his son Zhong Ding (Chinese: 太戊).^[1][2][3]

Oracle script inscriptions on bones unearthed at Yinxu alternatively record that he was the seventh Shang king succeeding his uncle Xiao Jia (Chinese: 大戊), given the posthumous name Da Wu (Chinese: 大戊) and succeeded by his brother Lu Ji (Chinese: 中丁).^[2][3]

References[link]

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