What is the best version of The Art of War?-Comparison of 10 versions

The Art of War is a short book of thirteen chapters on military strategy and warfare, written in ancient China around 500 BC. The work was written by Sun Tzu, a Chinese general, military man and philosopher who lived during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods.

To date, there are dozens of English translations of Sun Tzu’s Art of War. Since most readers are unable to read the original text of Sun Tzu’s Art of War and cannot read the source material, they are not sure that what they are reading about Sun Tzu’s Art of War is of any value. We have seen books that claim to be The Art of War, but we simply cannot find anything in them that is completely relevant to Sun Tzu’s original text. They are either completely invented by the author or come from Chinese sources other than The Art of War. Fortunately, most of the versions we’ve examined here aren’t that bad.

I will present the features, strengths and weaknesses of these 10 translations according to when they were written, with different emphases, so you will find the version that interests you more in the process. After introducing these 10 translations, I will share my personal favorite translation.

What is the best translation of the book “The Art of War” by Sun Tzu?

It is worth noting that each translation has its own strengths and nuances, reflecting the interpretation and expertise of the translator. As with many ancient texts, which version to read depends on what you want to get out of it. Some readers may prefer a more straightforward, accessible translation, while others may prefer a more scholarly, comprehensive approach.

The most often used ‘canon’ translation is the one by Lionel Giles.

If you want a more relaxed read, I would recommend John Minford’s translation.

If you want to read it from a strategic perspective, I would recommend reading Ralph D. Sawyer’s translation of Sun Tzu’s The Art of War.

If you are interested in the philosophy behind Sun Tzu’s Art of War, I recommend Thomas Cleary’s version.

If you are interested in the translation of the most original version of the Art of War, Roger Ames’ version will be more helpful. He has translated not only the 13 chapters of the Art of War in our modern common version, but also the surviving parts of the earliest version of the Art of War.

1.The Art of War – Lionel Giles Translation 1910

Giles‘ translation flows smoothly, logically, and relatively accurately conveys the original’s theories and philosophies of soldiering. He includes extensive footnotes and historical background to help the reader understand the text.

This is one of the earliest and most widely known translations. It is considered a classic and has been used as a standard reference for many years.

2.The Art of War – Samuel Griffith Translation 1963

Griffiths‘ own good command of Chinese and his thorough study of The Art of War give his translation a high degree of integrity.The book gives an excellent introduction to Sun Tzu’s life and the historical context of the times.In addition to giving a context in which The Art of War was written, he also does quite a job on showing its influence on Mao.

His translation, The Art of War, was included in the UNESCO Chinese Masterpieces Series and became the most widely translated English translation of the Art of War, published many times, making it the most far-reaching English translation of Sun Tzu’s The Art of War.

3.The Art of War – James Clavell Translation 1983

James Clavell himself did not translate a direct translation of Sun Tzu’s Art of War; it is merely a recompilation and understanding of Giles’ older translation.This is the book for readers who want a little more explanation about what the nineteenth-century author thought Sun Tzu meant, mixed in with the text itself. It aims to explain Sun Tzu’s ideas, which in most cases Sun Tzu himself did not provide.

If you want to read Sun Tzu’s own words without any artificial embellishment or speculation, then this version is not the best. Read it if you have already read Sun Tzu’s Art of War and want to expand your mind and read some broader interpretations.

4.The Art of War – Thomas Cleary Translation 1988

Thomas Cleary is a prolific translator of Asian philosophical and martial arts texts. Cleary has been an avid student of ancient Chinese Buddhism and philosophy, and has gone on to translate several Zen classics.

His translations offer an exploration of the relationship between Sun Tzu’s Art of War and Chinese Taoism, with the aim of conveying the philosophical ideas behind it.He emphasizes that The Art of War is a book with “rich humanistic connotations,” considering it not only a military work but also a philosophical one, and thus he explores the philosophical connotations behind The Art of War in his book. His translation aims to provide a broader context for understanding Sun Tzu’s principles.

5.The Art of War – Roger T. Ames Translation 1993

The strength of Ames’ translation is in his work as a historian of the text. He explains in great detail the historical background of the text and its relation to other Chinese military and philosophical works. He also attempts to explain the differences between the Chinese and Western worldviews.

Roger T. Ames’s translation was one of the first to use the Yinqueshan Han Tombs version of The Art of War by Sun Tzu as the original.

The Yinqueshan Han Tombs are tombs for family members at Yinqueshan.In 1972 the famous volumes on martial arts — “The Art of War by Sun Tzu were unearthed out of the tombs after being lost for two thousand yearsIt is the earliest version of Sun Tzu’s The Art of War found to date, and is closer to Sun Wu’s hand-set original, but with some parts missing.

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6.The Art of War – Ralph D. Sawyer Translation 1994

In this translation, Chinese warfare scholar Ralph D. Sawyer places Art of War in its proper historical context, outlining several battles that Sun-tzu either conducted or that may have influenced him, and offers an edition that is uniquely accurate and accessible.

The book is therefore dominated by the scholarship surrounding Sun Tzu and his times, including over a hundred pages of footnotes and another hundred or so pages of extensive historical information, of which the translation is a small part.

7.The Art of War – Stephen Kaufman Translation 1996

This version seems to have the least respect for the original Chinese text, ignoring entire phrases in the original text, the specific meanings of the ideograms used, and the order and weight of the phrases, and adding many of the author’s own ideas to it.

If you want to read a more authentic version of Sun Tzu’s Art of War, you won’t like this. If you want to further explore the content of Sun Tzu’s Art of War from various angles, it can be one of the options, because other people’s ideas can inspire us.

8.The Art of War – Gary Gagliardi Translation 1999

The only translation that shows the original Chinese with a transliteration of each character side-by-side with the English sentence translation. Includes a glossary explaining Sun Tzu’s definitions of the key Chinese concepts.

For the fluency of its translation and the beauty of its language, it has been a bestseller on all major websites since its publication and won the Independent Publishers Award for Multicultural Nonfiction in 2003.

9.The Art of War – The Denma Translation Group Translation 2001

In the English translation of Sun Tzu’s The Art of War published by the American Denma Translation Group, they strive to preserve the rhythmic tone of the original text in the translation process. In the translation, the authors adopt the strategy of word-by-word direct translation and try their best to reproduce the original style in the language style. As the authors say in the preface, they hope that through this way, readers can introduce sound, form and meaning into their minds through repeated recitations, and realize the beauty and length of the original text.

However, whatever the purpose, the translators should consider how to maximize the readers’ appreciation of the cultural essence and textual characteristics of the original text under the premise of ensuring readability. Therefore this version is less readable and most obscure. If you are paranoid about the original meaning of Sun Tzu’s Art of War, this book may make you feel comfortable.

10.The Art of War – John Minford Translation 2002

Capturing the literary quality of the work, Minford presents the core text in two formats: first, the unadorned ancient words of wisdom ascribed to Sun-tzu; then, the same text with extensive running commentary from the canon of traditional Chinese commentators. A lively, learned introduction and other valuable apparatus round out this authoritative volume.

John Minford, because of his many years of study of Chinese culture, has made this translation largely faithful to the original text.

How long does it take to read Sun Tzu’s Art of War?

The average reader, reading at a speed of 300 WPM, would take 45 minutes to read The Art of War by Sun Tzu. We assumed a speed of 300 WPM for this calculation.

Is Sun Tzu’s Art of War hard to read?

The Art of War is short and easy to read. In many ways it is actually the easiest war book to read. Simply worded, simple concepts, and not overly technical (if at all) in terms of weapons and tactics. It’s also a short book, much shorter than Clausewitz’s book on war or other behemoths.

Understanding it and applying it to your life and how to benefit from the ideas and tactics is another matter.

Have the US military read “Sun Tzu’s Art of War”?

The Department of the Army in the United States, through its Command and General Staff College, lists The Art of War as one example of a book that may be kept at a military unit’s library.

What age should read The Art of War?

“The Art of War” is a master class about the ancient Chinese warrior and philosopher Sun Tzu. It provides the rationale that must be considered when developing a conflict resolution strategy. In short, this wonderful classic is suitable for all ages. Children over 6 years old can read. You can choose the children’s version of Sun Tzu’s Art of War for better understanding by children.