Hu Qian Jing (The Tiger Seal Manual)
Hu Qian Jing (The Tiger Seal Manual) is a comprehensive military treatise compiled by the Northern Song dynasty military theorist Xu Dong, completed in 1004 AD. The title "Hu Qian" (Tiger Seal) symbolizes the key to military authority and victory. This work systematically summarizes and integrates pre-Song military thought and warfare experience. Its content spans strategy, tactics, logistics, meteorology, geography, and military formations. Its purpose was to provide commanders with a complete practical reference manual, making it an important text for studying Song dynasty military thought and the development of ancient Chinese military science.
Core Framework
The guiding principle of the text is the hierarchy of "first discuss human strategy, then discuss geographical advantage, and finally discuss heavenly timing." Xu Dong placed human planning—strategic decision-making, army administration, and talent selection—in the primary position. He next emphasized utilizing the geographical environment, with celestial timing and weather serving as auxiliary considerations. This structure reflects the practical Northern Song military science focus on rational analysis and human agency, developing ideas from earlier military texts.
The work consists of 20 volumes divided into 110 chapters, with detailed and well-organized content:
1. Strategy & Army Administration: The initial sections focus on national war preparedness, commander selection, military governance, and morale, emphasizing the principles of "plan first, then act" and tactical flexibility.
2. Tactics & Combat Methods: The core sections provide detailed analyses of various combat methods. These include offensive and defensive strategies for different terrains, battle formation deployment (with illustrated diagrams), command signals (flags and drums), espionage, siege and defense of cities, naval warfare, and fire attacks. This section holds significant value as a historical military source.
3. Logistics & Support: Dedicated chapters discuss logistical support issues such as military supplies, medical care, and warhorse management, reflecting an emphasis on a comprehensive war support system.
4. Ancillary Knowledge: The text also contains content on weather divination and omen interpretation, characteristic of its era, yet showcasing the ancient mindset of attempting to account for all factors in warfare.
Hu Qian Jing was compiled during a critical period of conflict between the Song and Liao dynasties, with clear practical aims for national defense. It holds an important place in military history:
1. Systematic Integration: The work represents a major compilation and synthesis of pre-Song military achievements. It directly influenced later official compilations like Wujing Zongyao (Complete Essentials for the Military Classics).
2. A Pivotal Link: It marks a transition in ancient Chinese military science from earlier tendencies toward mystical "heaven-human resonance" towards the more practical, rational approach characteristic of the Song era.
3. Technical Historical Value: Its records on weaponry, siege and defense technology, and the evolution of battle formations provide valuable data for researching the history of ancient Chinese military technology.
In summary, Hu Qian Jing is not only a practical military manual but also a significant synthesis of military science that reflects the evolution of early Northern Song military thought, blending historical wisdom with contemporary needs.
