this post was submitted on 05 Dec 2025
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To be entirely fair, a lot of historians are fairly sure that the Art of War was written specifically for the commanders - which at this time could mean "battle hardened warlord king" or "spoiled prince who has literally never set foot outside the palace". In an age of nobility going to war, this was more a primer for "hey here's how to at least command like you know what you're doing and also how to not get your soldiers to stab you to death".
"well sir, it's not just I, your lowely captain, saying that it would great to have food and not be outnumbered all the time. The great wise and ancient respected Sun Tsu also says it".
"If the honorable Sun Tsu says it, then let us gather some food immediately!"
Sun Tzu's Art of War .... also known as .... How To Command An Army For Dummies
Also, the professional officers in parts of Chinese history were, themselves, a bit... oddly educated, and having a basic handbook might've been useful for some of them as well.
"Ah, General Shang, I see you have mastered the art of lifting large objects! Keep up the good work!" - Song Dynasty Bureaucrat-Scholar Who Is Very Happy To See The Officer Corps Is Not Educated Enough To Overthrow Him
Those generals might not know anything about logistics or strategy, but you can rest assured their education on poetry and calligraphy was top-notch!
My understanding is they were fearsome fighters that slew enemy soldiers by the hundreds.
Source: The interactive history series Dynasty Warriors
Actually, that makes a whole lot of sense. You only have to write explicit instructions out for idiots. Everybody else will just get the fucking idea
Also to be fair, people are creatures of habit, not originality. Much of what we understand as 'common sense' is only so because it's long-established in our culture and taught to us. What is groundbreaking in one era is something even children know in another.