What stages did the formation and development of China's ancient military thought go through?

In the 2nd/kloc-0th century BC (22nd century BC), China established the Xia Dynasty of slavery, from which war became the highest form of class struggle. At this time, although people's understanding of war is at a low level, there has been a military thought centered on the concept of destiny to guide war.

Slave owners launched predatory wars against foreigners or suppressed their slaves' resistance by force, all with the call of conquering "disobedient people", "hanging people to punish crimes" and "respecting heaven and protecting the people", and used divination to drive their soldiers to fight under the guise of providence and heavy punishment and reward. The operation mode is group array frontal killing. After the Shang Dynasty, the battle was gradually dominated by chariots.

Military command needs unified action and strict management. This thought guided the military struggle in Xia, Shang and Zhou Dynasties. Through the war practice in this period, people have initially realized that the masses can defeat widows, and the strong can defeat the weak, which embodies the simple materialistic concept.

During the Western Zhou Dynasty, military works such as military records and military affairs appeared. Although it has long been lost, there are still some quotations in later books such as Zuo Zhuan and Sun Tzu's Art of War.

From the beginning of the 8th century BC to the end of the 3rd century BC, that is, during the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, China gradually entered the feudal society from the slave society. The development of productive forces and the change of social system have caused the change of soldiers' composition and the improvement of weapons, and the military system and combat mode have also changed.

In order to meet the needs of these new situations, full-time generals appeared to command the army, and many strategists and military books representing the emerging landlord class appeared. The famous art of war of Sun Tzu marks the maturity of the military thought of the feudal ruling class.

It is the earliest systematic and comprehensive work on military theory in the world, revealing a series of laws guiding war, laying the foundation of China's military thought, guiding the later war practice and military theory research, and enjoying a high reputation in the world.

"The Art of War" puts forward that military struggle must use tactics skillfully, that is, "the upper line is effective" and "fighting for the world", and holds that "conquering the enemy without fighting" is the most ideal war outcome expected by a brilliant strategist.

It broke the fatalism view of slave society, and pointed out with simple dialectics and materialism that the victory of war does not depend on ghosts and gods, so long as we can "know ourselves and know ourselves", we can "be invincible". Put forward the operational ideas of "winning by combination, winning by surprise" and "attacking by surprise"

Sun Tzu's Art of War also pointed out that the victory or defeat of a war is determined by factors such as politics, economy, climate, geography and personnel, so the feudal ruling class should cultivate politics and conform to the people's hearts. These thoughts are also valued by other contemporary art books and military works of Sun Tzu's Art of War. During the Warring States period, people's understanding of war went further.

For example, Woods, a military strategist handed down from generation to generation, discusses the essence of war, discusses the root causes of war, divides wars into several types, defines them, and puts forward strategies to deal with various wars.

Sun Bin's Art of War, written by Sun Bin, a military strategist, advocates abandoning the idea of "the responsibility of benevolence and righteousness, the way of propriety and music" and demands that social chaos be solved by means of war; His operational thought particularly emphasizes "noble potential" and surprise victory. These ideas are the inheritance and development of the military thought of Sun Tzu's Art of War.

Extended data

guiding principle

1, the idea of heavy fighting. Sun Tzu's Art of War begins with a clear meaning, shouting loudly: "Soldiers, the important events of the country, the place of life and death, and the way of survival must be observed." It is believed that war is a top priority related to the life and death of the people of the country and must be carefully studied and treated.

2. Think carefully. That is, be cautious about the war and don't talk easily. "The Art of War" wrote: "The death of the country cannot be recovered, and the dead cannot be resurrected. Therefore, a wise monarch should be cautious and a good general should be warned."

3. Prepare for war. It means to plan ahead. Influenced by the situation at that time and his thoughts, Sun Tzu put forward the idea that we must pay attention to preparing for war, and warned people not to forget to prepare for war at all times, so as to "use the method of fighting, rely on me to treat me; You can't attack it without relying on it. "

4. The idea of being good at fighting. Is to fight with soldiers.

First, pay attention to the multi-factor winning theory with "Tao" as the primary factor. "Tao" is politics, and it is "to make the people consistent with the world." So you can die with it, you can live with it, and you are not afraid of danger. Of course, while paying attention to Tao, the other four factors of "heaven, earth, generals and law" can not be ignored.

The second is the theory of temple calculation winning. Temple is a way to hold a military meeting in the temple to discuss and plan the war before the ancient war. Sun Tzu's Art of War advocates calculating the war before the war, planning and planning the overall situation of the war, and formulating feasible strategic guidelines.

The third is the winning theory of paradox. "The Art of War" said: "Soldiers are also cunning." Therefore, he proposed that "it can be expressed, but it can't be; Use without revealing; Far and near; Far and near. Profit and lure it; Take it casually; Get ready; If you are strong, avoid it; Grab it angrily; Humble and arrogant; Work hard; The sophistry method of "pro-separation", and then achieve the purpose of "attacking it unexpectedly."