Standing at the end of a continuous literate tradition that dates back to Sun-tzu's Art of War, the expansive Ming dynasty Ruminations in a Grass Hut (Ts'ao-lu Ching-lüeh or Cao-lu Jinglüe) not only represents the final formulation of China's indigenous military tactics and highly sophisticated concepts, it remains the subject of conscious PRC study in the quest to develop "military science with unique Chinese characteristics." The book consists of 152 individualized discussions upon subjects as diverse as defense against foreign peoples, spies and military intelligence, assessment, logistics, vacuity and substance, deception, unorthodox warfare, and command and control, all loosely organized into twelve thematic sections. In a sort of modified casebook approach, several battles drawn from the great sweep of China's military history are cited in each chapter to illustrate the subject in application. In themselves, the 600 illustrations provide an extensive introduction to China's historic practice of warfare, as well as a window on its evolution as chariots gave way to cavalry, dagger-axes to swords and sabers, and finally even its powerful bows and crossbows to cannon and muskets in the early Ming. Ralph D. Sawyer, the translator, is a historical scholar and strategic consultant who specializes in Chinese military and intelligence issues. His analytical writings include Ancient Chinese Warfare; Conquest and Domination in Early China: Rise and Demise of the Western Chou; The Tao of Spycraft: Intelligence Theory and Practice in Traditional China; The Tao of Deception: Unorthodox Warfare in Historic and Modern China; Lever of Power: Military Deception in China and the West; and Fire and Water: The Art of Incendiary and Aquatic Warfare in China. His translations, all of which feature extensive historical introductions and detailed notes, include the Seven Military Classics of Ancient China, Sun-tzu's Art of War, Sun Pin Military Methods, One Hundred Unorthodox Strategies: Battle and Tactics of Chinese Warfare, The Tao of War: The Martial Tao Te Ching, Strategies for the Human Realm: Crux of the T'ai-pai Yin-ching, and Zhuge Liang: Strategy, Achievements, and Writings.
