The Art of War(after view)

When deciding the topic for this paper I thought that Sun Tzu's The Art of War would be an easy and short topic to present. In delving into the background and symbolism of the text I found that I had to some how not only describe a text but the culture if I was to put the text into context. No paper can fully or fairly represent any culture. This paper is meant to be a roller coaster ride through some of many areas relating to Sun Tzu's The Art of War. I hope that the glances and images of this paper and the symbolism behind them will encourage you to look deeper into this text and the culture that created it. I hope that this paper gives the text and the Chinese people the respect and honor they deserve. Sun Tzu's The Art of War is considered to be the best text on strategy. This work was not the product of a University or a western corporation but an ancient Chinese general around the third to fourth century BC 1993. This text contains only 5600 words/ideograms yet when the context and symbolism are understood this text becomes a very complex work of strategy and philosophy. In conclusion this text has to be read and understood. This commentary leaves out so much and when you are describing a text with a holistic approach you will always misrepresent the text to certain degree. When I started this paper I did not realize the full scope of the text. I only hope I have given the Art of War and the Chinese people the respect they deserve by illustrating the complexity, simplicity, scope, and practicality of the text, which was written about 2,500 years ago. I see myself as an ambassador for a culture not of my own, and this paper as fulfilling a responsibility to present an aspect of that culture. I hope people from the West can appreciate this paper and the East can take some pleasure in showing the West that a 2,500 year old text from a supposed developing region has as much if not more relevance in the developed West today. I think this text shows that we in the West must rethink our concept of development and superiority. In business, which is increasingly competitive we need to utilize all the skills we have. Knowledge is one of these skills and other cultures collectively have more then the West and they are enhancing their own knowledge and skills by looking to the West. We have to do the same. The West's perceived intellectual superiority will lead to intellectual complacency while the rest of the world overtakes us.(450)