When did China's ancient military thought begin?

China's ancient military thought sprouted in the early days of slave society in the 2nd/kloc-0th century BC (22nd century BC).

Since the establishment of the Xia Dynasty of slavery, war has become the highest form of class struggle. A military thought with "fighting with life" as the core came into being. The military thoughts in the embryonic stage all call for conquering the "disobedient", "hanging the people" and "respecting the sky and protecting the people", and use divination to drive the foot soldiers to fight under the guise of providence and heavy punishment. The operation mode is group array frontal killing.

The concept of war based on benevolence was formed at the end of slave society and basically matured.

1, benevolence is the pillar of war. Kindness makes people close, while righteousness makes people happy. These two are the core of combat effectiveness and the basis of winning the war.

2. Fame is a standard of war. If you think you are an unknown teacher, you will be opposed by everyone and decide success or failure.

Ancient military thoughts in the initial formation period (Xia, Shang and Western Zhou);

1. time: about 2/kloc-0 BC/century-8th century BC, China was a slave society.

2. The main features of the war are: the weapons are mainly wood and stone tools, and the combat mode is basically group hand-to-hand combat in dense formation. It was only after the Shang Dynasty that chariots gradually took advantage and formed a phalanx with chariots as the core in the battle.

Third, military thinking:

1 is a special means of military internal rule. Because there was less external aggression at that time, the army mainly undertook the task of governing princes and suppressing slave resistance.

2. It is based on "ceremony" and "punishment".

3. Superstition is heavy, forming a view of war based on destiny. During the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, there was an example of the battle between Song and Chu.

Representative Works: Military and Military Records.

Extended data:

Ancient military thoughts in mature period (Spring and Autumn Period and Warring States Period);

1. Time: From the 8th century BC to the end of the 3rd century BC, it was a transitional period from slave society to feudal society.

2. The main features of the war are: during this period, the changes and development of the war are more obvious.

1. From the form of war, the wars of hegemony and annexation are very intense and frequent, about 600 times, and the number of soldiers is gradually increasing, from thousands to hundreds of thousands; The war also lasted for a long time. In previous wars, the problem was solved in World War I, and then it was fought for months or even years.

2. From the military technology point of view, the manufacture of iron weapons has reached a fairly high level; Military fortification technology has also been greatly improved, and some countries have built defensive cities and the Great Wall. Offensive and defensive equipment has also begun to increase, such as the use of ladders.

3, military thought:

(1) is to form a relatively complete concept of war, such as "soldiers, the great event of the country, the place of life and death, and the way to survive, which must not be ignored." It has been accepted by all countries.

(2) There are always some guiding principles in the war, such as "winning without fighting" and "knowing ourselves and knowing ourselves, winning every battle".

(3) Military struggle, political struggle and diplomatic struggle are carried out simultaneously or alternately. For example, the battle of Jin and Chu, to a certain extent, reflected this idea.

This period produced some famous military monographs. Of the seven martial arts works that have always been regarded as classics of military science in feudal society, five were produced in this period, including Sun Zi, the most influential foundation work of military theory in China and even in the world.

Representative works: Sun Tzu, Woods, Sun Bin's The Art of War, Sima Fa, Wei Liaozi, Tamia Liu, etc.

Baidu Encyclopedia —— China's Ancient Military Thought