L'arte della guerra

Di Sun Tzu

Cura e traduzione di Riccardo Fracasso
Edizione integrale

Composto nel IV secolo a.C. da un anonimo che si riallacciava alla tradizione della scuola di Sun Tzu, L’arte della guerra (Bingfa) è il più antico, famoso e studiato fra i trattati di strategia militare. In tredici stringati capitoli, l’opera espone per princìpi fondamentali una dottrina bellica improntata al più schietto utilitarismo, fornendo preziose indicazioni su valutazioni preliminari e gestione logistica di un conflitto, strategie e manovre di attacco e ritirata, rapporti psicologici con le proprie truppe e col nemico, conformazione dei terreni e fattori atmosferici, peculiarità e strutturazione di una rete spionistica. Dopo essere stato per oltre due millenni l’indispensabile livre de poche delle alte gerarchie militari cinesi, in anni recenti il Bingfa è stato applicato al campo delle strategie economico-aziendali, e ha in parte ispirato il personaggio di Gordon Gekko nel film Wall Street. La presente edizione è la prima traduzione italiana condotta con rigore filologico sulle principali edizioni cinesi.

«Con un nemico compatto si stia pronti al confronto, ma un nemico troppo forte va fuggito. Lo si irriti per confonderlo e si ostenti debolezza per aizzarne l’arroganza. Lo si stanchi se cerca riposo e si cerchi di dividerne i ranghi qualora siano uniti.»


Sun Tzu
(«Maestro Sun») è l’appellativo onorifico di Sun Wu, personaggio dai contorni biografici incerti, originario dello stato di Qi e attivo nel sud della Cina verso la fine del VI secolo a.C.


Cura e traduzione di Riccardo Fracasso
insegna cinese classico a «Ca’ Foscari» ed è specializzato in paleografia, filologia e storia delle religioni. Oltre a numerosi saggi specialistici apparsi su riviste internazionali, ha pubblicato A Technical Glossary of Jiaguology e la traduzione commentata dello Shanhai jing (Libro dei Monti e dei Mari. Cosmografia e mitologia nella Cina antica). Ha inoltre curato l’edizione italiana del Baizhan qilüe (Cento strategie non ortodosse).

• Lingua: Italiano
• Editore: Newton Compton Editori
• Data di uscita: 16 dic 2013
• ISBN: 9788854128286

Sun Tzu

Sun Tzu, also known as Sun Wu or Sunzi, was an ancient Chinese military strategist believed to be the author of the acclaimed military text, The Art of War. Details about Sun Tzu’s background and life are uncertain, although he is believed to have lived c. 544-496 BCE. Through The Art of War, Sun Tzu’s theories and strategies have influenced military leaders and campaigns throughout time, including the samurai of ancient and early-modern Japan, and more recently Ho Chi Minh of the Viet Cong and American generals Norman Swarzkopf, Jr. and Colin Powell during the Persian Gulf War in the 1990s.

Anteprima del libro

102

Indice

Introduzione di Riccardo Fracasso

I. Valutazioni di base (Ji)

II. Conduzione del conflitto (Zuozhan)

III. Pianificazione dell’attacco (Mougong)

IV. Disposizioni (Xing)

V. La forza (Shi)

VI. Vuoti e pieni (Xushi)

VII. Manovre di eserciti (Junzheng)

VIII. Le nove variabili (Jiubian)

IX. Muovere l’esercito (Xingjun)

X. Conformazione del terreno (Dixing)

XI. I nove terreni (Jiudi)

XII. Attacco col fuoco (Huogong)

XIII. L’uso delle spie (Yongjian)

APPENDICE. L’ESPERIMENTO DI WU

BIBLIOGRAFIA

Titolo originale: Bingfa

Traduzione di Riccardo Fracasso

Prima edizione ebook: dicembre 2010

© 1994, 2008 Newton Compton editori s.r.l.

Roma, Casella postale 6214

ISBN 978-88-541-2828-6

www.newtoncompton.com

Edizione elettronica realizzata da Gag srl

L’arte della guerra

Sun Tzu

A cura di Riccardo Fracasso

Edizione integrale

Newton Compton editori

Introduzione

di Riccardo Fracasso

L’arte della guerra (Bingfa) è di gran lunga il più famoso e studiato fra i trattati di soggetto militare prodotti nella Cina antica; di esso si sono proficuamente avvalse generazioni di strateghi e militari per circa ventiquattro secoli, e la sua grande influenza non è venuta scemando nemmeno in tempi a noi prossimi, come testimoniano ad esempio vari scritti teorici e le gesta belliche del presidente Mao Tse-tung o talune recenti ap­plicazioni nel campo delle strategie economico manageriali¹ .

Le notizie relative al presunto autore sono scarse e inatten­dibili, e ruotano essenzialmente attorno all’aneddoto qui tra­dotto in appendice. Sappiamo che Sunzi² (Maestro Sun) fu appellativo di un personaggio di nome Sun Wu, nato nello stato settentrionale di Qi e attivo nei territori sudorientali di Wu verso la fine del VI secolo a.C.; a ciò possiamo aggiungere una menzione della sua sepoltura nei pressi della capitale del paese di adozione³ e dei riferimenti bibliografici alla sua opera scritta nei cataloghi bibliografici di alcune storie dinastiche⁴ .

Al di là della storicità effettiva del personaggio, la formula «Sunzi disse», che apre tutti i tredici capitoli (pian) dell’opera, è comunque una prova evidente che egli non scrisse L’arte della guerra in prima persona. Il complesso problema della paternità rimane tuttora aperto, e anche l’identificazione tra Sun Wu e il suo discendente Sun Bin, tentata dallo studioso giapponese Takeuchi Yoshio⁵ , è stata nettamente smentita dal ritrovamento a Yinqueshan di una serie di listelli di bambù che riportano distintamente i trattati militari dei due Sun⁶ .

Anche se il nome esatto dell’autore è per il momento de­stinato a rimanere sconosciuto, un attento esame testuale ci consente tuttavia di delimitare con una certa accuratezza il periodo di composizione. L’ampiezza delle armate menzionate nel testo e la loro organizzazione, gli accenni all’impiego della balestra (entrata in uso verso la fine del V secolo), i riferimenti alla teoria dei Wuxing (Cinque Elementi/Cinque Fasi), e certi usi terminologici (come l’attribuzione del titolo di zhu al sovrano anziché agli alti funzionari) sono indizi che consen­tono di situare con certezza la compilazione nel periodo detto Zhanguo o degli Stati Combattenti (ca. 450 221 a.C.); l’as­senza di riferimenti alla cavalleria consente inoltre di conside­rare l’opera come anteriore al 320, data in cui i contingenti a cavallo furono ufficialmente introdotti nell’esercito dal re Wu Ling di Zhao. La datazione più attendibile è quindi quella già proposta da Griffith: ca. 400 320 a.C.⁷ .

La breve opera attribuita a Sunzi (che conta circa 5000 ca­ratteri⁸ , come il Daode jing di Laozi) non fu certo scritta con intenti letterari, ma come manuale pratico e sintetico per ad­detti ai lavori; non a caso la sua circolazione rimase per secoli limitata agli ambienti burocratico militari⁹ . Il testo alterna una serie di indicazione tecniche precise e specifiche (descri­zione dei terreni d’azione, uso offensivo del fuoco, organizza­zione della rete spionistica ecc.) all’esposizione di princìpi di ordine generale, attingendo a diverse scuole di pensiero e amalgamando il tutto all’insegna del più spiccato utilitarismo.

Tutto è finalizzato alla vittoria, perché vincere è l’unica cosa che conti in caso di guerra, e vince veramente solo chi sappia imporsi ottenendo il massimo profitto nel minor tempo pos­sibile (meglio se senza combattere) e col minimo delle perdite. Un tale obiettivo si raggiunge con una meticolosa valutazione iniziale atta ad evitare le situazioni potenzialmente svantag­giose, variando inesauribilmente i piani e la disposizione tattica con manovre irregolari e imprevedibili, sfruttando sapien­temente i vuoti e i pieni dello schieramento nemico, ma­scherando l’entità reale delle proprie forze, e avvalendosi di ogni altro stratagemma in grado di garantire il successo finale.

La guerra fine a se stessa, lo scontro campale ad ogni costo e l’annientamento delle forze avversarie non vengono presen­tati come obiettivi primari, e il testo non lesina anzi gli inviti alla prudenza nell’aprire un conflitto, all’oculatezza nella ma­novra e all’umanità verso il nemico sconfitto, che non va as­salito quando è in rotta e che deve

Recensioni su L'arte della guerra

[whbiii · Valutazione: 2 su 5 stelle]

Vapid martial homilies.

[lydia1879 · Valutazione: 3 su 5 stelle]

“Move not unless you see an advantage, use not your troops unless there is something to be gained, fight not unless the position is critical.”

I read The Art of War by Sun Tzu through an app called Serial Reader, which breaks up longer books, novellas and short stories into manageable pieces that a reader can read in 12 minutes a day. I love to use Serial Reader when I’m waiting for the bus, in the line at the post office, whenever I feel like I have a few moments, but not necessarily long enough to take out a book and find my place.

I also really like Serial Reader because I tend to read things I wouldn’t otherwise read, but so far I’ve really enjoyed all the stories and novels that I’ve read.

I found The Art of War to be surprisingly readable, considering it was written around the 5th century, BCE and has been translated countless times since then. It’s much more philosophical than I had anticipated, and in a way, deeply spiritual.

Of course it’s dry. It is. It is an ancient military self-help book, none of it is relevant to me. There are lots of lists about the different kinds of ground an army might fight on, different types of weather, how to traverse it all.

And yet I found it interesting.

I appreciated that this translator (and, I suppose, author) warned against fighting at all. If you want to occupy a town, best to get the enemy to surrender to you painlessly, so that the town is in tact and nothing is destroyed. Sun Tzu really speaks to the desperation of war, how the last thing anyone wants to do in a war is fight, but if you have to fight, this is what you need to do.

I’m glad I read this text. I often found myself reading it and wondering about all the people, leaders, warriors, stay-at-home mothers who’d read it before, who were reading it with me. What did they learn from it? How did they feel reading it? Was it more relevant to their lives than it was to mine?

That, in and of itself, is a fascinating thing to think about, don’t you think?

[goofyocean110 · Valutazione: 2 su 5 stelle]

This is a manual and reads like one. Better to take in very small doses, digest and discuss rather than to read continuously.

[saltvand-1 · Valutazione: 4 su 5 stelle]

I decided to read The Art of War because of references to it in the best/only good general marketing book I read during my commerce education: Marketing Strategy and Competitive Positioning. I was curious to see why a modern marketing handbook would have references to a classic handbook in ancient warfare, and why The Art of War is such a famous book.

I can see now why the book is famous: it is because its warfare principles are generally applicable to competitive situations - including marketing and politics (maybe office politics too?)

I expected a heavy brick of an analytic strategy book, but it is the opposite: a thin, minimalist poetry book.

It is a piece of art. The pattern of words is aesthetically pleasing and produces vivid imagery of ancient armies moving and camping in harsh terrains; yet the strange scenery and poetic style conveys core strategic principles for competition with great accuracy.

Essentially, The Art of War encourages careful consideration of the dynamics of all situational variables (listing them), and discourages impulsive and dumb warfare, which is any warfare driven by an irrational motive, or which can not be won quickly with minimal loss.

[madepercy-1 · Valutazione: 5 su 5 stelle]

I have read this several times in a variety of translations. This version is formatted like a poem and is a quick read. Interesting that Sun Tzu echoes many of the issues raised by Thucydides. I remember an Instructor Gunnery during my Regimental Officers Basic Course from the United States artillery beginning every lesson with: "Sun Tzu says...". And, "If a 155 round lands on a tank, the tank is toast". So much in such a short book and it was quite possibly written before Thucydides was born.

[beammey · Valutazione: 5 su 5 stelle]

I wasn't sure what to expect when I picked up this book, to be honest. I just made a promise to myself I would read more classics and this was a short one to get in so I can reach my reading goal. However, I ended up really, really enjoying it. I'm not a soldier by any stretch of the imagination, but there is good, solid advice in this book that is still relevant thousands of years after it was written. It's worth a read for sure, and it's so short you can get through it quickly. I would recommend it. 5 out of 5 stars.

[jculkin-1 · Valutazione: 4 su 5 stelle]

I read this and let my mind wander a little, but not too much. Invariably whatever I think about mixes with the words, and elegant, clear observations come out. It's like guided meditation.

[dtn620 · Valutazione: 4 su 5 stelle]

There was a lot of repetition in this book, but maybe it's to enforce some of the most important things to remember when conducting a war.

I was surprised by how much from this ancient text seems applicable today. I guess that can be chalked up to the knowledge and foresight of Sun Tzu, as well as our sad inability to change our violent ways.

One particular bit of text seemed particularly relevant:

When the army engages in protracted campaigns the resources of the state will not suffice.

Good advice.

[melissarochell-1 · Valutazione: 3 su 5 stelle]

Classic, brilliant techniques put so simply. Yet, naturally, reading this as a modern day civilian, I applied it to my modern day battles such as in business, relationships, Los Angeles traffic...the typical. As a naturally paranoid person, I feel it did me more harm than good. In addition, I prefer to (perhaps ignorantly) avoid seeing things as if they are wars. Some things will never change though because I will always act shy and giggle right before I slaughter my enemy.

[kidsisyphus · Valutazione: 2 su 5 stelle]

If you're already self-actualized (read: me), this is nothing but a bunch of shih.

[sumit_nangia-1 · Valutazione: 4 su 5 stelle]

My first "android" book :)
3 days of boring lectures and you complete a whole book !!!!
A Sun Tzu's masterpiece on competition in a battlefield.An obstinate struggle to survive,to fight with a person's best spirits and a anecdote of survival in tough times. The book talks about various moves of enemies and optimum strategic judgement according to opponent's strength and weakness.
Main categories under which the comprehensive book is divided are: Laying plans, waging war, strategic attacks, energy, tactical dispositions, army on march, fire attacks and use of spies.
A book one of its kind. Precise, short statements without any kind of obfuscation, a provident manifestation of a probable war like situation.Indeed, a complete war time reference manual.

[wonderperson · Valutazione: 5 su 5 stelle]

No wonder the words in this book have such wide applications across a whole massive spectrum of professions to situations.

[spooks101-1 · Valutazione: 5 su 5 stelle]

An enduring classic, an absolute must-read for every business person and military mind the world over.

[msaucier818 · Valutazione: 4 su 5 stelle]

A very quick read of a classic. I had always been meaning to get around to this book, and I did not realize how short it was. The version I have contains more commentary than the actual writing, and I did not bother with the commentary.

The book is basically a series of maxims that describe how to lead as a general at war. I think its appeal is universal, and many of the ideas can be applied as strategic thinking in other aspects of life. I don't think it was all that profound, but then again, its ideas have been used for centuries. It was nice to be able to read where a lot of them came from.

[mgeorge2755 · Valutazione: 5 su 5 stelle]

Quite possibly the most influential book on military tactics of all time. I was incredibly surprised by its brevity. A must-read for any historian. 

[auntieclio · Valutazione: 3 su 5 stelle]

Inspiration comes from many places and The Art of War is one of those books mentioned frequently in my circles. It's one of those books I've been meaning to get to for years and, while I am not sorry that I finally got to it, its usefulness to me is limited.Most of the non-strategic advice is good leadership advice. Things such as being a leader means setting the standard for how the work should be done, including getting one's hands dirty with the lowliest tasks. I've read plenty of stuff about leadership, and setting the example, that there really wasn't anything new for me here.Since I'm not interested in military strategies, the rest was dry.From a strictly historic perspective, I can understand the importance of this treatise. But as an outstanding example of leadership and strategy in the 21st century? I'm not seeing it.

[joeyee-4 · Valutazione: 2 su 5 stelle]

Don't like this edition. The history is boring and confusing (chi, Ch'i, ch'i all mean different things) 1 star for the edition and history part.

The actual Art of War is good. 3 stars.

[lorelorn_2007 · Valutazione: 4 su 5 stelle]

When you go to buy The Art of War, you will have several editions to choose from. If not, you're in the wrong shop; go and find another. I recommend going through each edition and pick the one whose translation you find easiest to read.It's difficult to review this book. The Art of War is not the kind of book you read. It's the kind of book you reflect on. For best results, reflect and then bring your reflections to a group who have also read the book. Everyone will find a passage or two that really struck a note for them, and for different reasons. Prepare to talk long into the night.

[dvf1976 · Valutazione: 4 su 5 stelle]

This audio book had Joe Montenga narrating the text.It was pretty cool to have the Simpsons's Fat Tony quoting a 500 BC Chinese War Scholar.(The analysis of the text was a real snooze-fest!)

[bfertig_2 · Valutazione: 2 su 5 stelle]

This is a manual and reads like one. Better to take in very small doses, digest and discuss rather than to read continuously.

[darwin.8u · Valutazione: 5 su 5 stelle]

A great translation. That was meant to be funny since I don't read Chinese and can't possibly really know how good his translation is. However, this is a great book and belongs right next to your other war strategy greats.

[pdexperiment626 · Valutazione: 5 su 5 stelle]

This is a beautiful and scholarly presentation of a truly elegant piece of ancient literature. Griffith puts forth his interpretation of "The Art of War" based on a revision of his Ph.D. thesis presented some years ago. Commentaries from several sources are included along side of Griffith's own translation. Footnotes are ubiquitous in the text explaining various discrepancies in interpretations, translations and historical contexts. There is a nicely-done introduction discussing various scholarly debates surrounding "The Art of War" including, original authorship, and date of creation. Beyond the content, the presentation of the book is beautiful. The cover is silk fabric with silk-screened golden Chinese characters on the cover. There is also an attached black ribbon bookmark. The pages are thick construction done with a glossy-print and includes many beautiful color plates placed throughout the text.Really, I believe this to be an exquisite presentation of this piece of literature. Not only is the presentation exceptional, the scholarly content is both attainable and interesting. This is an excellent piece to have in any library.

[adawnt · Valutazione: 3 su 5 stelle]

I heard a lot of people talking about "The Art of War." In business, during news commentary...everywhere. I find it funny, when reading it, to see something very simple. Descriptions of the appropriate duties of the army and generals are basic, and the "secrets" of successful conquering is good common sense. I suppose the reason it seems so enlightening is the lack of common sense in the huge majority of people. Saying that, this was a great opporunity to see some of the basis for business practices overseas and at home. There are many people who think about business as warefare. These tactics will be used, and should be understood. Because common sense is no longer common, and probably wasn't in ancient China, this is a great guide to dealing with conflict...if you want to win.

[justagirl_1 · Valutazione: 3 su 5 stelle]

All the guff about it being the greatest management text in history is of course utter nonsense, but it's an interesting read. I preferred and would recommend the Hagakure if you're after samurai warrior philosophy.

[rozmarins · Valutazione: 4 su 5 stelle]

Hmm, this book can really be used in company`s management, because some war strategies are quite similar to organization management. For example, need for clear and not doubtful commands, advice to put best soldiers (workers) on first line, importance of understanding ones own weaknesses and strengths etc.Overall, it`s boring literature if one don`t think how to use those advices in life.[more: rozmarins.blogspot.com]

[9days_1 · Valutazione: 4 su 5 stelle]

A classic that is as valuable for war strategies as it is for work and everyday relations.My edition is from Shambhala, and translated by Thomas Cleary (famed for his translations of Miyamoto Musashi's work, as well as his biography).In this edition, each of the passages is interpreted by 11 different people (from Li Quan to Zhang Yu), for scope and perspective. While it's not necessary to include so many interpreters, I find that the different perspectives (and wording) sometimes made Master Sun's wisdoms clearer.

[chellinsky · Valutazione: 5 su 5 stelle]

A subtle and fascinating philosophy on how to wage war. Knowledge of assured victory is key for Sun Tzu. At once it is esoteric and simple giving the reader the opportunity to find new angles and places to learn with each repeated reading. Intense and interesting. (Shambhala translation)

[soylentgreen23 · Valutazione: 3 su 5 stelle]

How ironic that the copy I found in my apartment should have a foreword by James Clavell, author of "Shogun;" my Mum is forever mixing up China and Japan herself, and often remarks about the former when in fact I lived in the latter.The book, meanwhile, is an interesting couple of hours' read, but without a more thorough guide I don't see how I could use Sun Tzu's ideas to conquer Wall Street, as some have proposed.

[ablueidol · Valutazione: 5 su 5 stelle]

Love the notion that the greatest leader is one that defeats the challege before it is known that the challenge exists. Here we are obsessed with the hero leader who battles with the mighty demons and after much struggle wins. I see this in schools where the head turns around a failing school and is seen as a great leader. But all too often they miss the greater leadership of the head who intervenes with a timely word here, a school event there keeps the school on track, Much better to read the straight translations rather then the art of war for the board room which often miss the point

[redthing · Valutazione: 2 su 5 stelle]

I had to read this for an English class. I'm still trying to figure out why.Maybe I'll be better at strategy games?