The Art of War: The Wisdom of Fighting to Win

★ Life-changing books chosen by Bill Gates, Elon Musk, and Masayoshi Son

What's more important than winning every time is
The foundation of life that allows you to get back up even when you fall

We all stand in the midst of life's battlefield. Failing an exam, being frustrated in an interview, breaking a trusted relationship, suffering losses in an investment, the very foundation of our lives is shaken. In those moments, humanity desperately realizes that a single victory doesn't guarantee everything, and that more important than every victory is the foundation upon which we can rise again, even if we fall. Sun Tzu's adage, "Baekjeon Bultae" (百戰不殆), pierces this very truth. Only those who remain unperturbed in a hundred battles remain unshaken.
Many misunderstand Sun Tzu as a master of victory. However, he didn't believe winning every battle was paramount. What he emphasized was "the art of winning a hundred battles without fear," the idea that even a hundred battles would be a "baekjeonbultae." Sun Tzu didn't yearn for victory. He calmly said, "Fight after winning." Entering a battle and then hoping to win is a gamble, but fighting after establishing the conditions for victory in advance is a strategy. In today's competitive society, this teaching holds even greater weight. Hasty success easily crumbles, and businesses that pursue only short-term results don't last. Rather, the true winner is one who avoids unnecessary battles and wins without fighting. The Art of War is not simply a book on war, but a philosophy for enduring life.

The "Bultae" strategy that won't be jeopardized even after a hundred battles
Revived with 97 Storytelling

The core of "The Art of War" lies precisely in this point. Sun Tzu asks not simply, "How can we win?" but, "How can we build a foundation that will last, not just achieve momentary success?"
So, Sun Tzu speaks of the principle of "baekjeonbaekseung" (百戰百勝), which means winning a hundred battles, rather than "baekjeonbultae" (百戰不殆), which means fighting a hundred battles without danger. He says that rather than rushing into a fight and then trying to win, you should first understand your opponent, improve on your weaknesses, and establish the conditions for victory before making your move.
Although written 2,500 years ago, Sun Tzu's insights remain relevant to modern society, encompassing politics, economics, business, and even human relationships. In "The Art of War," spanning just 13 chapters and 6,000 characters (5 pages), he explored the true meaning of victory and encapsulated the entirety of warfare. His theories encompass everything from predicting victory and defeat, understanding the terrain and seizing control, command structures and morale management, to employing spies and psychological warfare. At its core, his insights are no different from those of today's human behavior, psychological analysis, and organizational management.

From reading classics to experiencing classics

Hyundai Jisung Classics presents "The Art of War" not as a simple translation, but as a storytelling-focused interpretation. While preserving the profound resonance of the classic, it has been refined into a practical strategy book that modern readers can enjoy and immediately apply to their daily lives.
Above all, Sun Tzu's teachings are unraveled through 97 historical examples. Through engaging storytelling, readers can learn how to manage emotions from Xiang Yu's tragedy, how to utilize talent from Liu Bang's success, and how to master situational awareness from Zhuge Liang's strategy. These engaging stories transform the abstract concepts of the classics into practical and concrete guidance. Furthermore, 47 images encompassing battle scenes, ancient landscapes, and modern Chinese landscapes vividly capture the historical context and the traces of historical figures.
Another distinguishing feature is its expandability. It includes commentary connecting Lao-tzu's philosophy with Sun-tzu's The Art of War, a reading of his business and investment philosophy, and even the Thirty-Six Strategies, a later military strategy. Beyond simply reading a classic, it serves as a life strategy notebook, ready to be opened and utilized at any time. The faithful comparison of the original text, annotations, and detailed commentary are friendly for beginners and offer depth to established readers.
A rigorous interpretation that preserves the original meaning of the text is provided with footnotes. The original Chinese text and its pronunciation are provided alongside, and Chinese characters with special meanings are explained separately. Furthermore, locations are indicated using numbers to allow for direct comparison between the Korean translation and the original text.

The reason world leaders seek guidance from Sun Tzu, the 2,500-year-old strategist, is simple: the book doesn't address "how to win," but "how to avoid collapse." This explains why Bill Gates called it "the book that shaped me," and Elon Musk emphasized it as a must-read for CEOs. SoftBank's Masayoshi Son even developed the management strategy "Sun's Square Law," named after himself and Sun Tzu, based on the book. Thus, "The Art of War" is not just an ancient book on military strategy; it's an invincible philosophy for enduring an uncertain world. This modern intellectual edition delivers this message in the most three-dimensional and practical way possible. Readers will conclude that they have not simply read a classic, but have gained the strength to persevere through life.