The Only Rule

Renowned scholar and Peking University professor Li Ling offers a fresh interpretation of "The Art of War".

著名学者、北大教授李零，全新解读《孙子兵法》

Written during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, "The Art of War" is the world's earliest extant military treatise, wielding profound influence both in China and abroad. Its content is vast and profound, with meticulous logic, spanning military affairs, politics, diplomacy, management, and life conduct. It is not only a "sacred canon of military science" but also a "treasury of wisdom," transcending time and space with enduring allure.

Studying "The Art of War" has always been challenging, and writing about it well is even more difficult. Since his secondary school years, Li Ling has held a deep affection for "The Art of War", which is rare among scholars specializing in pre-Qin studies. Moreover, his research on "The Art of War" spans a long period and yields extensive achievement, surpassing that of many researchers.

Beginning with textual analysis, he interprets "The Art of War" through the lenses of military cultural history and intellectual history. With profound insights and broad perspectives, he brings a vibrant new understanding to this timeless classic.

成书于春秋战国之际的《孙子兵法》，是世界上现存最早的军事学著作，在中外都极具影响力。其内容博大精深，逻辑缜密，涉及军事、政治、外交、经营、处世等，既是"兵学圣典"，又是"智慧宝典"，已超越时空而具有永恒魅力。

对《孙子》一书，历来不易研究，更不易写好。从中学时代开始，李零即对《孙子》情有独钟，这在研究先秦的学者里是少见的；并且他研究《孙子》时间长，成果多，超越了很多研究者。

他从研究文本入手，结合军事文化史和思想史解读《孙子》，内容深湛，视野广博，可谓把《孙子》这部千古名著读出了活泼的新义。