Ancient Chinese warfare

Dedication -- Preface -- A note on pronunciation -- Chapter 1. Preliminary orientations and legendary conflicts -- Chapter 2. Ancient fortifications, i -- Chapter 3. Ancient fortifications, ii -- Chapter 4. The Hsia -- Chapter 5. Warfare in the Hsia -- Chapter 6. The Shang Dynasty -- Chapter 7. Shang capitals, citadels, and fortifications -- Chapter 8. Chaos, contraction, and resurgence -- Chapter 9. King Wu Ting, I -- Chapter 10. King Wu Ting, II -- Chapter 11. The last reigns -- Chapter 12. The Shang martial edifice -- Chapter 13. Troops, intelligence, and tactics -- Chapter 14. Metallurgical evolution in China -- Chapter 15. Early weapons and the axe -- Chapter 16. Knives, daggers, and swords -- Chapter 17. The ko or dagger-axe -- Chapter 18. Spears and armor -- Chapter 19. Ancient archery -- Chapter 20. The chariot in China -- Chapter 21. The horse in China -- Chapter 22. The chariot in battle -- Chapter 23. Chariot limitations and difficulties -- Chapter 24. Ancient logistics -- Chapter 25. Musings and imponderables -- Notes -- Integrated bibliography;In Ancient Chinese Warfare, a preeminent expert on Chinese military history uses recently recovered documents and archaeological findings to construct a comprehensive guide to the developing technologies, strategies, and logistics of ancient Chinese militarism. The result is a definitive look at the tools and methods that won wars and shaped culture in ancient China.

The history of China is a history of warfare. Rarely in its 3,000-year existence has the country not been beset by war, rebellion, or raids. Warfare was a primary source of innovation, social evolution, and material progress in the Legendary Era, Hsia dynasty, and Shang dynasty--indeed, war was the force that formed the first cohesive Chinese empire, setting China on a trajectory of state building and aggressive activity that continues to this day.

In Ancient Chinese Warfare, a preeminent expert on Chinese military history uses recently recovered documents and archaeological findings to construct a comprehensive guide to the developing technologies, strategies, and logistics of ancient Chinese militarism. The result is a definitive look at the tools and methods that won wars and shaped culture in ancient China.

The history of China is a history of warfare. Rarely in its 3,000-year existence has the country not been beset by war, rebellion, or raids. Warfare was a primary source of innovation, social evolution, and material progress in the Legendary Era, Hsia dynasty, and Shang dynasty -- indeed, war was the force that formed the first cohesive Chinese empire, setting China on a trajectory of state building and aggressive activity that continues to this day. In Ancient Chinese Warfare , a preeminent expert on Chinese military history uses recently recovered documents and archaeological findings to construct a comprehensive guide to the developing technologies, strategies, and logistics of ancient Chinese militarism. The result is a definitive look at the tools and methods that won wars and shaped culture in ancient China. One of the leading scholars of Chinese military history offers a definitive guide to the ways in which military strategy and technology shaped the face of ancient Chinese civilization.