Strife and Annihilation: Warfare in Spring and Autumn China, 770-481 BC

By Ralph D. Sawyer

The third of Ralph D. Sawyer's highly regarded studies of early Chinese warfare, Strife and Annihilation focuses on the Spring and Autumn period, 770-481 BC, when the collapse of the Chou's overarching authority condemned the realm to nearly three centuries of unremitting consternation and suffering. Internecine warfare brought about vast increases in the scope and lethality of combat, the multiplication of military forces, perfection of metallurgical techniques, and the annexation or extinguishment of more than a hundred states. Strategic concepts emerged and tactical thought evolved, culminating in Sun-tzu's infamous Art of War . In addition to recounting the conflicts and analyzing the dynamics that defined the period, Strife and Annihilation discusses the era's military forces, sieges and assaults, chariots and vessels, fortifications and weapons, the nature and experience of battle, and sedentary China's antagonistic relationship with the peripheral peoples, including the Jung and Ti. It concludes with a contextual study of the Art of War and Confucius' perspective on warfare. Based upon the same research as for a Sinological monograph, it's written for all interested readers, irrespective of background or expertise.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0DGD8R7BW
• ISBN13: 9798338335567
• Release Date: September 2024
• Publisher: Independently published
• Length: 514 Pages
• Weight: 1.89 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.0" x 1.2" x 6.0"