Chinese Strategists

About the Book

The two Chinese classics that this volume consists of – Wu Zi’s Art of War and Conversations with Tang Taizong – were written a thousand years apart. However, the latter carries regular references to the former, and the principles of warfare, leadership, strategy and organisation were themes eagerly discussed throughout Chinese history.

 

Even a cursory reading of these books provides ample reasons why General Wu Zi, who lived in the earlier part of the Warring States period (475-221 BC) never lost a battle in his life. And also why Emperor Taizong managed to found the long-lasting Tang Dynasty (618-906) that southern Chinese still proudly refer to as the basis of their culture.

 

Today, centuries later, these master strategists still overwhelm us with their insights and words of wisdom.

 

About the Author

Dr Ooi Kee Beng was born and bred in Penang, and lectured at Stockholm University between 1996 and 2004 on Chinese Philosophy, Chinese History and General Knowledge of China. He was Sweden’s national representative in Taijiquan at the 1st and 2nd World Wushu Championships (1991 and 1993), and at the European Wushu Championships (1992 and 1994). He held several Chinese calligraphy exhibitions in Stockholm in the 1990s.

 

He translated the Chinese military classics into Swedish, such as Wei Liao Zis krigskonst (2001), Wu Zis krigskonst (2001) and Sunzis krigskonst (1997, with Dr Bengt Pettersson). These texts are used for officer training at the Stockholm Military Academy. Articles on Chinese culture that he has authored include “Vad ska vi med taijiquan till?” (“What’s Taijiquan good for?”, in Orientaliska studier nr. 100-101, 1999, “Lao Zis 79:e” (“Lao Zi’s 79th”, in Orientaliska studier nr. 93-94, 1997, published by the Association of Oriental Studies, Stockholm University, and “Taiji Quan som terapi” (“Taiji Quan as therapy”) in Wushu no. 2, 1995, Stockholm.

 

He is presently a Fellow at Singapore’s Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (ISEAS), where he coordinates its Malaysia Study Programme. His fields of interest include modern language philosophy, Chinese philosophy, nation building with a special focus on Malaysia, political economics and the philosophy of science.