A GO Approach to Mastering China's Strategic Concept, Shi
Gam 206
Critical Review FINAL
Dr. David Lai’s article, Learning From the Stones: A Go Approach to Mastering China’s Strategic Concept, Shi, discusses the differences in strategic thinking focusing between the United States and China. Dr. Lai suggests that the Chinese strategy of war is related to the early game of Go. Dr. Lai relates the game Go and the strategic concepts in Sun Tzu’s Art of War. He goes on to discuss that the American strategy is a ‘linear method.’ Dr. Lai argues that American strategists could better understand Chinese strategy. In Dr. Lai’s article, he discusses the concept of shi and how it ties to the game Go, the American strategies and games American strategies reflect, how Sun Tzu 's Art of War is an epitome of the Chinese ways of war, and how the game Go is played. Dr. Lai discusses the concept of shi that Sun Tzu, “the Chinese grand master of military strategy, uses it for the title of a chapter in his Art of War, the world’s oldest military treasure.” (Lai, 7) Sun Tzu discusses four key aspects of shi; the first called qi and zheng, meaning variable and its variation inexhaustible and the regular ways of doing things, respectively. The second aspect is about creating an overwhelming force with irresistible unleashed power. The third aspect describes taking a positive situation with potential and using it to achieve political objectives. The last aspect is about taking and maintaining the initiative. Sun Tzu discussion of shi also talk about other key concepts such as “deception, stratagem, intelligence, deterrence, etc.” (Lai, 8) The author cleverly offers a new approach to understand Sun Tzu’s ideas, which is by learning the game Go. As described in class, Go is a ancient Chinese game that is still popular today. (Cunningham, Go Lecture) Go used to be a game for the upper class while Chess would be for the lower class citizens. This game is for strategic thinkers who have to employ stratagems and tactical
Critical Review FINAL
Dr. David Lai’s article, Learning From the Stones: A Go Approach to Mastering China’s Strategic Concept, Shi, discusses the differences in strategic thinking focusing between the United States and China. Dr. Lai suggests that the Chinese strategy of war is related to the early game of Go. Dr. Lai relates the game Go and the strategic concepts in Sun Tzu’s Art of War. He goes on to discuss that the American strategy is a ‘linear method.’ Dr. Lai argues that American strategists could better understand Chinese strategy. In Dr. Lai’s article, he discusses the concept of shi and how it ties to the game Go, the American strategies and games American strategies reflect, how Sun Tzu 's Art of War is an epitome of the Chinese ways of war, and how the game Go is played. Dr. Lai discusses the concept of shi that Sun Tzu, “the Chinese grand master of military strategy, uses it for the title of a chapter in his Art of War, the world’s oldest military treasure.” (Lai, 7) Sun Tzu discusses four key aspects of shi; the first called qi and zheng, meaning variable and its variation inexhaustible and the regular ways of doing things, respectively. The second aspect is about creating an overwhelming force with irresistible unleashed power. The third aspect describes taking a positive situation with potential and using it to achieve political objectives. The last aspect is about taking and maintaining the initiative. Sun Tzu discussion of shi also talk about other key concepts such as “deception, stratagem, intelligence, deterrence, etc.” (Lai, 8) The author cleverly offers a new approach to understand Sun Tzu’s ideas, which is by learning the game Go. As described in class, Go is a ancient Chinese game that is still popular today. (Cunningham, Go Lecture) Go used to be a game for the upper class while Chess would be for the lower class citizens. This game is for strategic thinkers who have to employ stratagems and tactical
References: Lai, David. "LEARNING FROM THE STONES: A GO APPROACH TO MASTERING CHINA’S STRATEGIC CONCEPT, SHI." (2004): 1-41