For more than two thousand years, Sun-tzu's "The Art of War" has provided leaders with essential advice on battlefield tactics, managing troops and terrain, and employing cunning and deception. An elemental part of Chinese culture, it has also become a touchstone for the Western struggle for survival and success.

Parallel title in Chinese characters.

Preface --A note on the translation and pronunciation -- Chronology of approximate dynastic periods -- General introduction and historical background -- Introduction -- The art of war in translation -- 1. Initial estimations -- 2. Waging war -- 3. Planning offensives -- 4. Military disposition -- 5. Strategic military power -- 6. Vacuity and substance -- 7. Military combat -- 8. Nine changes -- 9. Maneuvering the army -- 10. Configurations of terrain -- 11. Nine terrains -- 12. Incendiary attacks -- 13. Employing spies -- Tomb texts and lost writings -- Notes to the general introduction and historical background -- Selected notes to the introduction -- Notes to the translation -- Notes to the Tomb Texts and Lost writings -- Selected bibliography -- Glossary -- Index.