Peaceful?

This is coolbert:

In the eyes of some observers, China has been a rather powerful, but generally historically speaking, peaceful, even benevolent power. NOT an aggressive, warlike nation. It has been said of China, "it is fortunate that China is such a peaceful nation, otherwise it could conquer the world!!"

This has not always been the case!

Several books from antiquity written by Chinese authors demonstrate that the Chinese have had a long experience with war and the art of successfully waging war. And entire philosophy of war that is profound.

The book, "The Art of War", by Sun Tzu, is generally accepted to have been written around 500 B.C. Any commentator, writer, historian of military affairs MUST be familiar with this book. Quotations from this work are bandied about freely and liberally by the knowledgeable [sometimes the NOT so knowledgeable].

According to Joseph Campbell, 500 B.C. occurs within the period in Chinese history referred to as Early and Middle Chou [pronounced "Joe"]: 1027-480 B.C. More specifically, the period from 771-480 B.C. is called the Period of the Great Protectors. This was, according to Campbell, "The Chinese age of disintegrating feudalism and the rise of contending princely states".

Subsequent to 480 B.C. occurs what is called the Late Chou Period, which lasted until 221 B.C. This is also called the Period of the Warring States. This period culminated in the unification of China under the Chin Dynasty. The word China of course comes from the name Chin.

As has been mentioned in a previous blog entry, during the Chin Dynasty, China was an expansionist, aggressive, imperialistic power. Dominion over territories to the far west, as far as Lake Balkash, was established by the Chin. [the same thing occurred during the Tang Dynasty also].

The Chin, according to Campbell, "established the first Chinese military empire, build the Great Wall, burned the books of the philosophers, and initiated in grand style that politics of despotism - - alternately barefaced and masked - - which has been the vehicle of Heaven's Mandate in the Middle Kingdom [the Chinese like to refer to themselves as "Celestials", occupying an abode half way between heaven and earth, all others being barbarians] ever since."

During this time, another book was written in China, "The Book of the Lord Shang", which demonstrates that "China too . . . has a background for power politics in it's own past".

According to this book:

"If a country is strong and does not make war, . . . there will be villainy within and the Six Maggots, which are, to wit: rites and music, poetry and history; the cultivation of goodness, integrity; kindness and morality; detraction of warfare and shame at taking part in it. In a country that has these twelve things, the ruler will not be able to make people farm and fight, with the result that he will become impoverished and his territory diminish. Therefore, I would have people told that if they want gain, it is only by plowing that they can get it; if they fear harm, it will only be by fighting that they can escape . . . If things are done that the enemy would be ashamed to do, there is an advantage."

Heavy stuff indeed. This book, along with Sun's, demonstrates that a whole philosophy of warmaking did exist in China, even in antiquity. The "Book of the Lord Shang" describes, albeit, a philosophy moderns would discern as being ruthless and cynical. Power politics as understood by moderns.

It is reputed that Mao saw himself as fulfilling the role of a latter day Chin Emperor. Restoring China to greatness. Fulfilling a mandate [through communism and world-wide revolution] "ordained" not by GOD, but by the works of Marx and Engel's. [Mao's Little Red Book seems to contain a lot of paraphrasing of Sun's comments on war. This would seem to suggest that Mao was familiar with and had read "The Art of War". Had Mao also read "The Book of the Lord Shang"?? Not sure. Shang can be translated as "sage" or wisdom. Mao was never one to NOT think of himself as lacking in sageness or wisdom. Perhaps Mao was influenced by this book as well?].

"If things are done that the enemy would be ashamed to do, there is an advantage."

Concerning the above quote from the "Book of the Lord Shang". Contrast with this quote:

"We must be prepared to use techniques and methods that even our enemies shrink from using!!" [J.Edgar Hoover, commenting on the communist menace to the U.S. and how American can defend itself against same].


coolbert.