(Ecns.cn) – "All warfare is based on deception. Hence, when able to attack, we must seem unable; when using our forces, we must seem inactive; when we are near, we must make the enemy believe we are far away; when far away, we must make him believe we are near."
As the Nostradamus of warfare, Sun Tzu's lessons have always been considered a perfect guide for winning at war. Even today, his The Art of War is still the ultimate handbook for people who want to learn how to strategize and use tactics in their life and work.
In South Korea, the book has been warmly welcomed by the public for decades, and it has created the highest sales record in the country's publishing history to become a permanent bestseller.
When wandering in the Kyobo Book Center, the largest and most famous book store in South Korea, occasional customers or bookworms will definitely see various editions of The Art of War, including a Korean edition, Chinese-Korean bilingual edition, classical edition, new edition, annotated edition, illustrated edition, and picture-story edition. These are intended for readers of different ages. Both children and the adults can select the editions that suit them.
South Korea is a country keen to learn about Sun Tzu and his master work. Since 1953, more than 100 related books have been published in Korean, including Jung Bee-suk's four-volume bestseller based on The Art of War.
Apart from books, many audio and video products and even video games borrow concepts from The Art of War in South Korea. For example, a Korean video game called "Wind, Forest, Fire, and Mountain," borrows a concept from The Art of War, which means "move as swift as wind, stay as silent as a forest, attack as fierce as fire, and have undefeatable defenses like a mountain."
It is obvious that the spread of The Art of War has broken boundaries in different nations, with the philosophy embodied within the book integrating into local cultures. After 2500 years, The Art of War still shines with splendor.
