# The Art of War — Chapters explained

> Chapter companions for The Art of War by Sun Tzu.

- [Dedication](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_art_of_war_se/chapters/dedication.md): The translator dedicates this work to his brother, Captain Valentine Giles, expressing the hope that a text over two millennia old may still offer valuable lessons for the modern soldier.
- [Preface by Lionel Giles](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_art_of_war_se/chapters/preface-by-lionel-giles.md): Lionel Giles introduces his translation of Sun Tzǔ's The Art of War, criticizing previous translations by Père Amiot and Capt. E. F. Calthrop for inaccuracies and omissions. He explains his methodology, including paragra
- [Sun Wu and His Book](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_art_of_war_se/chapters/sun-wu-and-his-book.md): This chapter provides a biography of Sun Wu (Sun Tzǔ) as recorded by Ssǔ-ma Chʽien, detailing his test with King Ho Lu's concubines, his appointment as general, and his military successes. It also discusses scholarly deb
- [The Text of Sun Tzǔ](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_art_of_war_se/chapters/the-text-of-sun-tz.md): This chapter traces the textual history of Sun Tzǔ's Art of War, from its early circulation in the Han dynasty through the discovery of Chi Tʽien-pao's lost edition by Sun Hsing-yen in the 18th century. It details the ch
- [The Commentators](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_art_of_war_se/chapters/the-commentators.md): This chapter provides a detailed historical overview of the many commentators who have annotated Sun Tzǔ's 'The Art of War', from Tsʽao Kung in the 2nd century AD through the Sung dynasty. It discusses the contributions,

> 18 more chapter companions — [open a free preview](https://www.betterreads.dev/reader?bookId=the_art_of_war_se_520kb&preview=1) to unlock the rest.

- [Appreciations of Sun Tzǔ](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_art_of_war_se/chapters/appreciations-of-sun-tz.md)
- [Apologies for War](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_art_of_war_se/chapters/apologies-for-war.md)
- [Bibliography](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_art_of_war_se/chapters/bibliography.md)
- [The Art of War](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_art_of_war_se/chapters/the-art-of-war.md)
- [Laying Plans](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_art_of_war_se/chapters/i-laying-plans.md)
- [II: Waging War](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_art_of_war_se/chapters/ii-waging-war.md)
- [III: Attack by Stratagem](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_art_of_war_se/chapters/iii-attack-by-stratagem.md)
- [IV: Tactical Dispositions](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_art_of_war_se/chapters/iv-tactical-dispositions.md)
- [Energy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_art_of_war_se/chapters/v-energy.md)
- [VI: Weak Points and Strong](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_art_of_war_se/chapters/vi-weak-points-and-strong.md)
- [VII: Manoeuvring](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_art_of_war_se/chapters/vii-manoeuvring.md)
- [VIII: Variation of Tactics](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_art_of_war_se/chapters/viii-variation-of-tactics.md)
- [IX: The Army on the March](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_art_of_war_se/chapters/ix-the-army-on-the-march.md)
- [X: Terrain](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_art_of_war_se/chapters/x-terrain.md)
- [XI: The Nine Situations](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_art_of_war_se/chapters/xi-the-nine-situations.md)
- [XII: The Attack by Fire](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_art_of_war_se/chapters/xii-the-attack-by-fire.md)
- [XIII: The Use of Spies](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_art_of_war_se/chapters/xiii-the-use-of-spies.md)
- [Endnotes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_art_of_war_se/chapters/endnotes.md)

HTML index: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_art_of_war_se/chapters