Hua Yuan 華元: The Earliest Record of Stealth in Chinese Strategic Warfare
The earliest recorded instance of stealth in Chinese strategic warfare occurred in 594 BCE when the Song 宋 capital, under siege for five gruelling months, found itself in a state of desperation...
The Role of Ye Bu Shou 夜不收 and Zhuosheng 捉生 in Military Intelligence During the Ming 明-Qing 清 Transition
This essay utilises the core analysis from the 2005 article by Qí Měiqín 祁美琴 on Ye Bu Shou 夜不收 and Zhuosheng 捉生 as foundational references.
An Overview of the Black-Clad Masked Operatives
When we think of stealth today, images of covert military operatives or the iconic black-clad ninja 忍者 often come to mind, their faces hidden behind dark masks, moving through the night with near-supernatural skill
Ye Bu Shou 夜不收 – An Overview
In ancient China, the concept of warfare extended far beyond battlefield confrontations. Intelligence gathering, reconnaissance, and stealth were key components of military success, and among the many operatives who specialized in these tasks, the Ye Bu Shou 夜不收 – night scouts or patrols..
The Origins of Assassins 刺客 and Their Connection to Retainers in Ancient China
The role of cìkè 刺客, or 'assassins', is deeply intertwined with the historical practices of stealth, warfare, and political maneuvering in Ancient China. While assassins are often thought of as independent mercenaries, many of them were actually retainers
Dié 諜 – ‘spy/reconnaissance scout’
An important Chinese character related to the ancient Chinese arts of stealth is dié 諜 – “spy/reconnaissance scout”
The Penetrators 通士
The stealth operatives behind the mask of mystery.