Sign Up Now
Get instant access to over 1 million+ study documents
OR
Already registered? click here to login
By creating your account, you agree to our terms of service, privacy policy and student honor code.
Lai and Clausewitz
Clausewitz (1989) defined war as an “act of human intercourse” (p. 149), and just as in intercourse there are various modes of expressing oneself or making a point so too in warfare are there various strategies. Lai (2004) makes the case that the Western way of war is based in part on the theories of Clausewitz and on the idea that technological superiority is a major component of victories strategy. On the other hand, Lai (2004) suggests that there is something to be said for the Eastern way of war, which focuses on ethics, long-term strategy, the concept of “shi,” which refers to intelligence, deception, deterrence and stratagem, and diplomacy.
Clausewitz operates in the tradition of force—i.e., that force is what wins battles and that battles are fought on the battlefield. Lai’s focus on the Chinese way of war based on the Art of War by Sun Tzu suggests that battles are fought in the mind, in the culture, and in the human intercourse that extends beyond the battlefield. The Chinese extrapolate the war from its physical and finite aspects and conceptualize war in an abstract sense, seeing how as in chess a good strategy is one that opens up the board so that alliances and relationships can be established making one’s position invulnerable to attack.
Lai indicates that tactics on the battlefield can win wars, as the U.S. has shown to some degree, thanks in no small part to its use of dominant force, fire power and technical innovation. However, the Chinese are beginning to integrate technological innovation as a stratagem into their overall way of war; which means that they are now combining technological superiority with diplomacy whereas the West is primarily focused still on applying force as its only means of leverage.
References
Clausewitz, C. (1989). On War. New Jersey: Princeton University Press.
Lai, D. (2004). Learning from the Stones: A Go Approach to Mastering China’s Strategic Concept, Shi, vi–6. Carlisle, PA: Strategic Studies Institute, US Army.
By suggesting that the Chinese methods of parenting are better -- or that at least Chinese mothers produce more skillful and successful children -- Chua is touching upon the popular American concern. Just consider that there are a billion like Chua back in China! Chua again appeals to similar rhetoric when she tries to defend her argument. Trying to convince her readers that rote repetition is a good method
Wandering in the Garden and Soul Mountain In comparing and contrasting the literary techniques of "Wandering in the Garden, Waking from a Dream" and "Soul Mountain," one of the biggest contrasts between the two stories is perspective: Gao Xingjian's "Soul Mountain" is written in the 2nd person, while Pai Hsien-yung's "Wandering in the Garden" is written in 3rd person. The narrator in each story is omniscient, which is their biggest similarity
Chinese History Through Literature The country of China is one of the worlds oldest and for many centuries the country went heavily unchanged although the power moved from one familial dynasty to another. By 1919, the population of China was fundamentally fed up by the oppressive government and demanded reforms. The attempts made by the last emperor were too little too late and by October of that year, the rebellion of
This is not to suggest that either the United States or the Soviet Union were necessarily desiring this conflict, because "based on the scattered evidence now available from Soviet archives," Stalin was "wary and reluctant" in his support of the North, and only finally agreed to offer military equipment and advice when it became clear that China would intervene should the Soviet Union fail to offer support (Cumings 144).
768). Yet the widespread slaughter of people in the name of total war was a principle varying point between Asian and Western powers during the 19th century. Despite whatever moral and philosophical objections Clausewitz might have raised to total war, he certainly saw value in involving as much of a population as possible in its martial efforts. In this respect, he conceived of war from a decidedly nationalistic viewpoint, in
Chinese History The Shang dynasty marked one of the earliest recorded periods of history in ancient China, for which substantial archeological evidence exists. Although Chinese culture did not necessarily flourish during the Shang, a system of writing was first developed, its characters etched on the so-called oracle bones. The Shang dynasty was a bronze-based society that extended from 1700 to 1027 BCE. The form of government practiced during the Shang was