1, time: from about 2/kloc-0 BC to the 8th century BC, China was a slave society.

2. The main characteristics of the war are: the weapons are mainly wood and stone tools, and the combat mode is basically group melee frontal killing in dense formation. After Shang dynasty, chariots were gradually dominant, and a phalanx formation with chariots as the core was formed in the battle, which produced some budding military thoughts.

3. Military thoughts: First, military affairs as a special means of internal rule. Because there was less external aggression at that time, the army mainly undertook the task of governing princes and suppressing slave resistance. The second is to take "ceremony" and "punishment" as the foundation of running the army. Third, superstition is heavy, forming a view of war based on destiny. During the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, there was an example of the battle between Song and Chu.

Representative works: military affairs, military records.

The second stage: towards maturity (Spring and Autumn Period and Warring States Period)

1 Time: The 8th century BC to the end of 3rd century BC was a transitional period from slave society to feudal society.

Characteristics of war: during this period, the changes and development of war are obvious. First, from the form of war, the wars of hegemony and annexation are very intense and frequent, about 600 times, and the number of soldiers is gradually increasing, from thousands to hundreds of thousands; The war also lasted for a long time. In previous wars, the problem was solved in World War I, and then it was fought for months or even years. Second, from the military technology point of view, the manufacture of iron weapons has reached a fairly high level; Military fortification technology has also been greatly improved, and some countries have built defensive cities and the Great Wall. Offensive and defensive equipment has also begun to increase, such as the use of ladders.

3. Military thinking: First, form a relatively complete concept of war, such as "soldiers, state affairs, places of life and death, and ways of survival." Has been accepted by all countries; Second, we have always adopted some guiding principles of war, such as "victory without fighting" and "know yourself and know yourself, and fight every battle." Third, military struggle, political struggle and diplomatic struggle are carried out simultaneously or alternately. For example, the battle of Jin and Chu, to a certain extent, reflected this idea.

This period produced some famous military monographs. Five of the seven martial arts works, which have always been regarded as the classics of military science in feudal society, were produced in this period, including Sun Tzu's Art of War, the most influential basic work of military theory in China and even in the world.

Masterpieces: Sun Tzu, Woods, Sun Bin's Art of War, Sima Fa, Wei Liaozi, Tamia Liu, etc.

The third stage: rich development period (from Qin Dynasty to Five Dynasties)

1' Time: From the 3rd century BC to the middle of the10th century, China experienced five dynasties, namely Qin, Han, Jin, Sui and Tang Dynasties, which was the rising stage of feudal social development.

2. Characteristics of war: After the Qin Dynasty unified the world, it entered the era dominated by iron weapons, and cavalry became the protagonist of war forces, and a new service, the naval division, emerged.

3. Military thinking: First, strategic thinking tends to be perfect and mature, and Zhuge Liang's "Longzhong Dui" became a model for decision-making at that time. Second, there have been many military books summarizing the experience of military struggle, which are characterized by illustrating problems through war examples. Such as "Li Wen Tian Zi"

The fourth stage: the period of system perfection (from Song Dynasty to early Qing Dynasty)

1, Time: From about 960 AD to 1840 AD, China experienced the Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties (early stage), which was the late stage of feudal society and an important period for the formation of China's ancient military ideology.

2。 Characteristics of war: firearms are gradually widely used, and the war has entered the era of cold weapons and hot weapons.

3. Military thoughts: First, martial arts began to be incorporated into the national education system, establishing the orthodox position of the art of war; Second, there are many art books with complete categories, totaling 18 15, accounting for more than 3/4 of the total number of ancient art books; Third, the art of war is general and self-contained. Song Renzong listed seven military classics as required books for martial arts. China's scattered military thoughts in ancient times formed a system.