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gongs and drums
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Sun Zi, the Chinese author of the world's earliest manual of military strategy (Bingfa, or 'Art of War', written in the 5th century BC), explains how a commander should maintain control over his army during an engagement:
'Gongs and drums, banners and flags are employed to focus the attention of troops. When soldiers are united by these signals, the bravest cannot advance alone, nor can the cowardly withdraw. This is the art of handling an army.'
Quoted Penguin Encyclopedia of Classical Civilizations, Viking 1993, page 256
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