Few Westerners know very much about the armies of China. Much of what we think we know is not totally correct, and is often based on the tales from WWII. We tend to think of Chinese soldiers as not being very fierce, of rife ineptitude in regards to leadership and an inability to carry out battle plans.

Nothing could be farther from the truth. A nation or kingdom does not survive if it does not allow for a strong offensive or defensive force. One thing about Chinese dynasties is that most of them lasted for a very long time before being brought down by either outside forces or corruption from within. In many ways, the Chinese were often ahead of European counter-parts in terms of tactics and in terms of weaponry. This was true in the case of military development as often times it was from China that new technology found its way into Europe. Gunpowder is a classic example of this.

The author divides what is really a huge subject into four stages.

Ancient Chinese Armies 1500-200BC
Imperial Chinese Armies 200 BC - AD 1260
Medieval Chinese Armies 1260-1520
Late Imperial Chinese Armies 1520 - 1840

It was 1840 when European powers started having a major influence and interfered with Chinese politics so anything after that takes things out of the realm of being solely Chinese.

Each section is then divided into smaller units that cover the various dynasties and its leaders. A general history of the times is provided along with the tactics and doctrines of the time. Weapons and their use are also covered as are defensive strategies. Significant battles of the period are also briefly discussed along with the consequences of these events.

Throughout there are outstanding illustrations, photos of extant equipment, artwork on various objects that lead to some of the conclusions in terms of outfit and arms of the time, and a superb selection of maps and charts.

As with all books I review, I read the entire volume over a period of weeks. While it is not one that can be digested in a single sitting, it provides a superb basis for further study if one wishes to know more of a specific time period. I was also quite enlightened as to how much mis-information I'd carried through the years. As a student of history, I found it to be an excellent reference and it is one that I know you will find equally as enjoyable.

July 2006

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