Sīmǎ fǎ 司馬法
The Methods of the Sīmǎ attributed to 司馬穰苴 (Sīmǎ Rángjū, fl. mid-6th c. BCE in legend, 周)
About the work
A one-juan classical military text in 5 篇, traditionally attributed to Sīmǎ Rángjū (Tián Rángjū) of Qí (mid-6th c. BCE) but in actual form a Warring-States-era compilation — possibly drawing on his teachings, edited under King Wēi of Qí (4th c. BCE) when Qí court compilers gathered military principles into form. The 5 篇 (in the received recension): Rén běn 仁本, Tiānzǐ zhī yì 天子之義, Dìng jué 定爵, Yán wèi 嚴位, Yòng zhòng 用眾. The original Hàn zhì records Sīmǎ fǎ in 155 piān; the present 5 piān is a substantial reduction. Within the Wǔ jīng qī shū canon (1080) this is the third-ranked work.
Abstract
The Sīmǎ fǎ is the third Wǔ jīng qī shū military classic. Composition window: bracketed by Warring States editorial work in Qí (4th c. BCE) on materials traceable to Sīmǎ Rángjū. The frontmatter brackets to ca. -400 to -300.
The bibliographic record: Hàn shū yìwén zhì (司馬法 155 piān); Suí shū jīngjí zhì (3 juan); Wǔ jīng qī shū canonisation; SKQS Zǐbù — Bīngjiā lèi.
Translations and research
- Ralph D. Sawyer, The Seven Military Classics of Ancient China (1993) — translation with apparatus.