While Confucius' writings reflect China
Periods of peace seldom lasted for long in Chinese history. The country was prone to attacks from the north and the west, as well as to internal strife. Its defenses were stretched thin along its borders, and when nomadic tribes organized focused strikes on any point along the vast border, they could usually successfully invade before any Chinese reinforcements were able to arrive.
In order to prevent or at least curb such attacks, the feudal lords of the Zhou 周dynasty (1046-221 BCE) started to build defense walls. During the Warring States period (475-221 BCE), rival forces built walls along their borders to prevent attacks.
The first Emperor of the Qin 秦 dynasty221) -207 BCE), Qin Shi Huang Di 秦始皇帝 (259-210 BCE), interconnected and extended the old fortification walls along China's northern border, forming the Great Wall of China, to stop the invading Barbarians from the north. The fortification was constructed of two parallel stone-faced walls with the space between them filled with rubble, and topped with a path paved with bricks. The outer of these two walls was jagged in defense against potential attackers. At strategic points along the wall towers were built, and the gates had additional defense walls. Very little has survived of this original wall, which was to the north of the Great Wall known to us today. Thousands of laborers died during its construction in the bitterly cold mountains of the north.
The Chinese repeatedly renovated the Great Wall, which enormously reduced the ability to attack it from the north. Its remains, known to us today, are mostly from the Ming 明 dynasty (1368-1644 CE). During periods of active defense, the battalions that manned the walls communicated by means of torches and flags.
We can learn much about the Chinese army in ancient times from the mausoleum of Emperor Qin Shi Huang Di, discovered in 1974, east of the modern city of Xian
During the Zhou dynasty and the Shang dynasty (1600-1046 BCE) that preceded it, there was constant inter-tribal warfare. The warriors then were knights in armor, who rode in wooden or bronze chariots on their way to battle. They wore bronze helmets, and carried a sword and an axe. Each chariot held a driver, a warrior and an archer. Such knights comprised the core force in the army of Imperial China until the end of the nineteenth century. Behind them marched the infantry, usually peasants dressed in tunic and trousers, who had been forced to leave their fields.
In ancient China
During the Shang dynasty, the Chinese army used powerful bows made of bentwood, whose arrows were able to reach over 700 meters and were far more powerful than those used by Western archers. During the Han 汉 dynasty (206 BCE-220 CE), the Chinese developed more technologically advanced bows, which became their "secret weapon" against the invading nomads. It was customary to boast that one Chinese archer was comparable to ten nomads. This kind of weapon remained in standard use by the Chinese army until modern times.
The enormous Chinese army confronted Huns, Turks and other invaders. Likewise, it had to intervene in internal struggles, following the changes in dynasties. Such confrontations demanded strategic thought. One expression of such thinking is found in The Art of War 兵法, the oldest book in the world to discuss the art of war. It was written in the 6th century BCE by Sun Zi 孫子, a legendary general whose actual existence remains doubtful. The Art of War has been widely used by soldiers in China
Sun Zi's book analyzes total war, in the modern sense of the term. Among other things, it deals with the preparations for war and with psychological warfare. A central idea in the book is that deception is a key to winning a war, and that truly great generals can overcome the enemy without recourse to war. Confucius, a contemporary of Sun Zi, opposed militarism in any form, including the ideas proposed in the book. The Confucians brought change to the Chinese conception of an ideal society, in replacing the knight with the sage and moral man.
The philosopher Mo-Ti (or Mo Zi 墨子) (479-381 BCE) also opposed war. He called the military commanders "murderers", as they aspired to glory on the backs of innocent people. He considered war heroes as criminals who had become heroes simply because they were good at killing. Similarly, he thought that funeral ceremonies should replace victory celebrations; glory can only bring harm to those who possess it. Among others, he wrote that he treated well both those who treated him well and those who treated him badly; this was his way to achieve goodness.
Between the period of the Han dynasty and that of the Tang 唐 dynasty (618-907 CE), the status of the army diminished, losing importance in society, as the status of government officials rose. Honorable people did not serve in the army and scholars were anti-militarist. The powerful ruling families dedicated their time to hunting and to training as archers. Emphasis was put on the moral code more than on military activity. Despite this widespread anti-militarism in China
Foreign rulers thus soon gained an advantage over the Chinese in regard to military standards, by diverting their resources away from the educated elite and developing instead their military elites.
Prior to this, since the 9th century CE, the Chinese had held a military advantage derived from their invention of gunpowder 火药, one of the greatest achievements of China
Formulas for the production of explosive compounds had been written as early as 300-650 CE. Documentation referring to the invention of gunpowder appeared for the first time in the 9th century in a Daoist book of instructions on how to produce it: mixing coal, potassium nitrate and sulfur. In the context of this description, it was recommended, however, not to mix these ingredients, especially not with the addition of arsenic, because those who had done so in the past had not only singed their beards but also burned down the building they had worked in!
Implementation of the use of gunpowder started during the Tang dynasty. As early as the year 1000 CE, the Chinese began to use it to produce simple bombs and grenades.
By the time of the Song 宋 (960-1279 CE) and Yuan 元 (1280-1368 CE) dynasties, the use of gunpowder had become widespread and weapons like cannons, missiles and fire balls appeared for the first time.
During the early Ming dynasty, military units were equipped with primitive firearms. The Ming government borrowed cannons and gunners from Portuguese Macao[1] in order to defend themselves against the Manchurians. Later, the Chinese began to use Western firearms or their imitations, but their weapons technology was way behind that of the West. In the 16th century, the Spanish introduced powerful cannons to the Chinese, who used them immediately in southern China
Another military area in which China Africa , Ming emperors had sent fleets into the Indian Ocean to rule the southern seas.
As far as military organization and recruiting soldiers were concerned, the Chinese found a unique solution, reflecting the central place of the family in Chinese society. As part of the reforms of Wang An Shi 王安石 (1021-1086 CE), scholar, administrator and poet in the time of Emperor Shen Zong 神宗 (ruled between 1067-1085 CE), the bao jia 保甲 system was implemented. In this system, every ten households constituted a bao 保, and every ten baos constituted a jia 甲 , meaning 100 households. Every household had to send one of its sons to this new military force, which soon proved to be much more efficient than the regular army. Rich families were also required to breed animals for riding, to supply the army. The militias founded by Wang An Shi were based on soldiers and peasants. Some militias included peasants who were part-time soldiers, and some included soldiers who were part-time peasants.
The Chinese army was not only comprised of male soldiers. Sun zi, in his book Art of War, contended that women too could take part in military activity. Once, when talking with He Lu 阖庐, King of Wu 吴, the king told him that he had read his book and asked if it was possible to implement his theory on women. When Sun zi answered in the positive, the king sent him 180 women from his harem and asked him to treat them like his soldiers. Sun Zi divided the women into two groups, and at the head of one of them he placed the king's favorite concubine. When the sound of the drums signaled the start of drill exercises, all the women burst into laughter. Responding to this, Sun Zi immediately ordered the beheading of the two concubines who stood at the head of each group. Order was instantly restored.
The Chinese writings mention several women warriors who reached key positions. The most famous of these was the legendary Hua Mu Lan 花木兰 whose story is told in a song by an anonymous poet in the 5th or 6th century CE. According to the song, Hua Mu Lan was a warrior recruited into the army, who built herself a brilliant career. Her father had been called to serve but was too old, and so was to send his son instead. Since he had no son, his daughter disguised herself as a man, mounted a horse, and presented herself in his place. She served in the army as a man for 12 years as an outstanding soldier, and reached a high rank without anybody noticing that she was in fact a woman. The emperor himself even offered her a ruling position, but she turned it down in order to return home. Later, when her fellow soldiers came to visit her, they were shocked at seeing her sitting and spinning. Even today, she symbolizes filial piety.
Following the foundation of the People's Republic of China
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一夫当关万夫莫开
[Once] a guard closes a gate, [even] ten thousand [enemy] soldiers cannot open it
This proverb is used to describe a strategically important place that is difficult to access. One such a place is Badaling 八达岭，a pass in a section of the Great Wall that defends Beijing
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居安思危
Literally: While living in peace, think of danger.
While living in peace provide against danger.
A parallel English proverb:
The more you sweat in peacetime, the less you bleed during war.
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未曾出兵先筹败路
Before sending troops [to battle], first plan a path of retreat
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一人拼命万夫莫当
[When] one man is ready to risk his life, ten thousand men cannot defeat him
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门神打灶王
Literally: Gate God fights against Kitchen God.
This idiom is used to describe someone who fights against his relatives.
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剑拔弩张
With swords drawn and with bows stretched
This idiom is used to describe an explosive situation or mutual hostility.
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打蛇先打头擒贼先擒王
Killing a snake, first hit its head; capturing a thief, first capture their leader
Capturing the leader is most important in fighting the enemy.
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千军易得一将难求
It is easy to find a thousand soldiers, [but] it is hard to find one good general
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风无常顺兵无常胜
[As in rowing a boat], the wind is not always beneficent, [so] too does an army not always win
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军棋斗胜纸上谈兵
Military victory in chess - a war discussed [only] on paper
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兵者诡道也
Every war is based on deceit
, Art of War I, 18. Sun Zi
A parallel proverb in the Bible:
"כי בתחבולות תעשה לך מלחמה" (משלי כד, 6).
(Proverbs, 24, 6). . For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war
"Wise counsel", meaning "tricks" in the Bible.
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强将手下无弱兵
Literally: Under the command of a strong general, there are no weak soldiers.
A qualified leader employs talented people, or creates a suitable atmosphere.
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将欲败之必先辅之将欲取之必先与之
If you wish to defeat the enemy, first get him help [in order to pacify him]; if you want to defeat the enemy, you should give him initial [advantage]
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知己知彼百战不殆
Know yourself and know the enemy, [and] in a hundred wars, you will not be defeated.
Art of War III, 18., Sun Zi
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In music, there are no more than five tones. However, out of various combinations of them it is possible to create more melodies than can be heard.
The number of basic colors does not exceed five. However, out of various combinations of them it is possible to create a greater range of colors than can be seen.
The number of basic tastes does not exceed five. However, out of various combinations of them it is possible to create more flavors than can be tasted.
In battle, there are no more than two types of attack: direct and indirect. However, out of these two, in various combinations, it is possible to maneuver endless options.
Art of War, V, 7-10. ,Sun Zi
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狡兔撞鹰以攻为守
A crafty rabbit strikes an eagle – uses attack as a defense
Alternatively, just the second part:
以攻为守
Use attack as a defense
The best defense is attack.
In Hebrew, they say:
הקם להורגך השכם להורגו (ברכות . נח , א).
Literally: He, who arises to kill you, kill him first.
Berachot (Talmudic tractate) 58, 1.
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一将功 成万骨枯
One general achieves his glory, and ten thousand bones turn to dust
Thousands die, so that the ruler may become great.
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以毒攻毒
Literally: Use poison as an antidote to poison.
Use the enemy's tactics to defeat him.
In English: Fight fire with fire.
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鸡窝里抓鸡
Literally: Catching a hen in a chicken coop.
Catching someone who has no way to run away.
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骄兵必败
A boasting army will certainly be defeated
In the Bible it is written:
אל יתהלל חוגר כמפתח (מלכים א, כ 11).
Let not him that girdeth on his harness boast himself as he that putteth it off.
(1 Kings, 20, 11).
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将在谋而不在勇兵在精而不在多
[The value of] a general [lies] in [his] strategy [and] not in [his] courage; [The value of] soldiers [lies] in [their] excellence [and] not in [their] quantity
The same idea is echoed in the proverb:
多用兵不如巧用计
Better have a good strategy than many soldiers
In the Bible:
טובה חוכמה מכלי קרב (קהלת ט', 18).
Wisdom is better than weapons of war (Ecclesiastes 9, 18).
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子曰三军可夺师也匹夫不可夺志也
The Master said: Three armies can be deprived of their commanding general, [but even] an ordinary man cannot be deprived of his will.
Analects IX, 25.
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三十六计走为上计
Out of 36 strategies, the best is to escape
The only way out is to leave.
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暗打狐狸明打狼
Hunt foxes while hiding and hunt wolves openly
Coping with different rivals requires different strategies.
In English:
Horses for courses.
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明枪易躲暗箭难防
It is easy to hide from a revealed sword, [but] it is hard to guard against a hidden arrow
A parallel proverb in English:
Better the devil you know than the devil you don't.
Better the devil you know than the devil you don't.
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兵随将令草随风
orders, [as] grass follows the wind
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百发百中
Literally: One hundred shots, one hundred on target.
This idiom is used to express perfect accuracy.
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千求不如一吓
A thousand requests are not as effective as one threat
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明修饯道暗度陈仓
Repairing the way, while bypassing secretly
This idiom is used to describe an overt action intending to camouflage a covert stratagem and is expressed in the following story:
In 205 BCE, Liu Bang 刘邦 was crowned as Han 汉 king but the army of his rival Xiang Yu 项羽 was more powerful than his own army. Liu Bang was forced to withdraw his 30,000 soldiers to his stronghold in the mountains in Han Zhong 汉中. The main route to the stronghold was a path of wooden planks, facing a cliff. Liu Bang burnt this path immediately after his soldiers had passed it, intending to make Xiang Yu believe that he had no intention of returning. Six months later, Liu Bang sent his people to rebuild the path. Xiang Yu thought that Liu Bang was planning to attack him from this path, and assumed that the attack could not be carried out before construction of the path would be complete. In the meantime, however, Liu Bang secretly lead his forces along a dangerous path in Chen Cang 陈仓, and took Xiang Yu by surprise. This was the beginning of Liu Bang's struggle against Xiang Yu for control of central China
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老鼠骑水牛大的没有小的能
A rat rides a buffalo – the bigger one does not have the capabilities of the smaller one
Said of a small weak individual that frightens the big and the strong.
A parallel idiom in Hebrew:
אימת יתוש על הפיל (שבת עז).
Literally: A mosquito threatening an elephant. (Sabbath, 77 (Talmudic))
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百战百胜
Literally: Hundred battles, hundred victories.
Literally: Hundred battles, hundred victories.
Victory in every battle.
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兵糊涂一个将糊涂一群
A confused soldier [harms only] himself, [while] a confused general [harms] multitudes
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龙争虎斗
Literally: A battle between a dragon and a tiger.
Literally: A battle between a dragon and a tiger.
A battle between giants.
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兵马未动粮草先行
Before an army [starts] moving, it has to have provisions
Before doing something, make some preparations to ensure its success.
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打草惊蛇
Hits the grass and scares a snake
Acts too hastily and alerts the enemy.
二虎相斗必有一伤
Literally: [When] two tigers fight, one will surely get hurt.
When two powerful people fight, one will surely get hurt.
Therefore, better try to avoid wars.
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