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Post by Otagiri Tatsuzou on Nov 23, 2007 15:42:08 GMT -5
Learning from the Stones: A Go Approach to Mastering China's Strategic Concept, ShiAuthored by Dr. David Lai. www.strategicstudiesinstitute.army.mil/pdffiles/PUB378.pdfWith over 2,000 years of influence from Sun Tzu’s teaching, along with the influence of other significant philosophical and military writings, the Chinese are particularly comfortable with viewing war and diplomacy in comprehensive and dialectic ways and acting accordingly. Indeed, many of these observations have become proverbial components of the Chinese way of war and diplomacy. The most notable ones are: bing yi zha li (war is based on deception), shang-bing fa-mou (supreme importance in war is to attack the enemy’s strategy) qi-zheng xiang-sheng (mutual reproduction of regular and extraordinary forces and tactics) chu-qi zhi-sheng (win through unexpected moves) yin-di zhi-sheng (gain victory by varying one’s strategy and tactics according to the enemy’s situation) yi-rou ke-gang (use the soft and gentle to overcome the hard and strong) bishi ji-xu (stay clear of the enemy’s main force and strike at his weak point) yi-yu wei-zhi (to make the devious route the most direct), hou-fa zhi-ren (fight back and gain the upper hand only after the enemy has initiated fighting) sheng-dong ji-xi (make a feint to the east but attack in the west) and so on. All of these special Chinese four-character proverbs are strategic and dialectic in nature. All bear some character of flowing water.
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Post by Otagiri Tatsuzou on Nov 23, 2007 15:49:50 GMT -5
There is no Western equivalent to the concept of “shi.” Chinese linguists explain it as “the alignment of forces,” the “propensity of things,” or the “potential born of disposition,” that only a skilled strategist can exploit to ensure victory over a superior force. Similarly, only a sophisticated assessment by an adversary can recognize the potential exploitation of “shi.”
Indeed, shi is such an important concept that Sun Tzu, the Chinese grand master of military strategy, uses it for the title of a chapter in his Art of War, the world’s oldest military treasure. In this chapter, Sun Tzu has discussed four key aspects of shi. First, it is the idea of qi and zheng. Zheng is the regular way of doing things, or in military terms, the regular order of battle. A commander deploys troops in regular (zheng) ways. However, the commander must mobilize his troops to engage the enemy in extraordinary (qi) ways. Zheng is, in essence, a given. It is open knowledge to friends and foes. Yet qi is a variable and its variation inexhaustible. The second aspect of shi is about creating an overwhelming force with irresistible unleashing power (a grindstone against eggs, and the strike of a hawk at its prey). The third aspect of shi is about developing a favorable situation with great potential to achieve the political objectives. Finally, shi is about taking and maintaining the initiative. As Sun Tzu puts it, “those skilled at making the enemy move do so by creating a situation to which he must conform.”
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Post by inume on Nov 23, 2007 18:09:23 GMT -5
Thank you for posting this. ;D I'm currently reading the Book of the Five Rings.
Admittedly, when I clicked on this thread I thought it was going to be about the Zen of the Rolling Stones.
Don't question why she needs to be so free/She'll tell you it's the only way to be
No more will my green sea go turn a deeper blue/I could not foresee this thing happening to you
I'll never be your beast of burden/My back is broad but it's a hurting
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Post by mrcunningham on Nov 23, 2007 20:02:28 GMT -5
Don't question why she needs to be so free/She'll tell you it's the only way to be
No more will my green sea go turn a deeper blue/I could not foresee this thing happening to you
I'll never be your beast of burden/My back is broad but it's a hurting Ha! Brilliant. Only masters of shi know how come brown sugar tastes so good.
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Post by Henmei on Nov 24, 2007 0:49:52 GMT -5
Admittedly, when I clicked on this thread I thought it was going to be about the Zen of the Rolling Stones. Strange, I always think another band when I see your posts.
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