The Art of War
The Art of War (孫子兵法), written by Sun Tzu, is one of the most influential treatises on the fundamental principles, stratagems, and logistics of war.[1]
It was significant for not only conventional military forces but also for the Hidden Ones' covert action philosophy. Its influence can be witnessed in the way the Chinese Hidden Ones translated the name of their organization: 無形者 (Mandarin: Wúxíngzhě, Cantonese: Mòuyìng-tsé), literally meaning 'Those who are Formless'. The term 無形 (Mandarin: wúxíng, Cantonese: mòuyìng) or Formless refers to a state of being imperceptible, such that actions and intentions are indiscernible, and this quality is referenced in the sixth chapter, "Weak Points and Strong" (虛實):
「故形兵之極，至于無形; 無形，則深間不能窺，智者不能謀。亅 (Chapter VI, line 6)[2]
"In making tactical dispositions, the highest pitch you can attain is to conceal them; conceal your dispositions, and you will be safe from the prying of the subtlest spies, from the machinations of the wisest brains." (Translated by Lionel Giles, 1910)[3]
"Therefore the pinnacle of troop formation lies in being formless; be formless, and even the most immersed of spies would not be able to pry, nor would the wisest be able to scheme." (Original wiki translation)
In 756, as the last surviving Hidden One of the Great Desert, Li E, made his escape from the Golden Turtles' captivity within the Mengshan Giant Buddha, he composed himself for a Leap of Faith by reciting this line, having made peace with the loss of his mentor Éléna and his other comrades. Before the guards pursuing him could reach him, he dived from the Buddha's eye into the river below with the affirmation that he was a "Hidden One of the Great Tang".[4]
Appearances[edit | edit source]
- Assassin's Creed: Dynasty (mentioned only)
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Sun Wu. Introduction to The Art of War. Illustrated Edition, pp. 8–20. Translated by Lionel Giles. Introduction by Jan Willem Honig. New York, NY: Fall River Press, 2014.
- ↑ 孫武 [Sun Wu]. 孫子兵法: 虛實 [The Art of War: Weak Points and Strong]. Chinese Text Project. Retrieved on 16 April 2023.
- ↑ Sun Wu, "Weak Points and Strong", translated by Lionel Giles, pp. 124–135.
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Dynasty – The Hidden Ones (Part 1)