China 1995-26 STAMP set Mint

The Art of War of Sunzi

Technical details:

Scott No: 2636-40
Serial number: 1995-26
Values in set: 5
Date of issue: December 4, 1995
Designers: Chen Quansheng
Size: 30*50mm
Perforation: 12
Sheetcomposition: 32
Printing process: offset

SN: (5-1)
Title: Portrait of Sunzi
Value: 20 fen

SN: (5-2)
Title: Teaching how to fight in Palace of Wu Country
Value: 20 fen

SN: (5-3)
Title: Enter Ying City after Five Battles
Value: 30 fen

SN: (5-4)
Title: Battle at Ailing
Value: 50 fen

SN: (5-5)
Title: Meetings of Sovereigns to Form Alliances at Huangchi
Value: 100 fen

Background info

Sun Wu, author of "The Art of war of Sunzi", courtesy - named Changqing, was a native of Le An of State Qi (Huimin county, Shandong Prov.) in the later years of Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 B.C.). At Wu Zixu's seventh recommendation, he was received in audience by King He Lu of State Wu for his military theories and was immediately made a general. As he showed up in the conquering wars, Sun Wu quickly proved himself of great strength in military affairs. Due to his remarkable command, State Wu took over the overlord place of State Jin.

"The Art of War of Sunzi" is not only an illustrious martial classics in ancient China, but one of the oldest writings on war art in the world. It consists of 13 chapters. They are: Laying Plan; Waging War; Attack by Stratagem; Tactical Dispositions; Energy; Weak Points and Strong; Manoeuvring; Variation of Tavtics; The Army on the March; Terrain; The Nine Varieties of Ground; The Attack by Fire and The Use of Spies. There are only about 5 thousand more characters, but the intelligence they contain is immeasurable. It presents exquisite discussions on various aspects of antique military theories, nevertheless touching, as one sees, almost all the categories and branches of modern military science. Since its appearance, "The Art of War of Sunzi" has been highly appreciated and resorted to by strategists throughout the history and was honored as "the Greatest Martial Classics". Noticeable in this book are also many dictums and aphorisms of rich understanding that reveals the universal principles of the war, such as: "if you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles"; "attack him where he is unprepared, appear where you are not expected"; "to wait at ease while the enemy is toiling and struggling"; "avoid the strong, attack the weak", and so on. All these statements echo with sophisticated philosophy.

Today, the enduring masterpiece of "The Art of War of Sunzi", bearing an age of 25 hundred years, with versions of more than a dozen foreign languages, witnesses its influence everywhere. It passed through boundaries and made fame around the world. Results of researches based upon the book have been applied to other fields beyond military sphere, as to politics, diplomatic affairs, economy and sports, etc.. As further exploration goes on, "The Art of War of Sunzi" will sure have much more to offer to us mankind