Warrior Women

Years ago, when America went to Iraq to wage war, I remember seeing in TV Baghdad's night sky lighted up as if there was a firework for some kind of celebration. War in ancient time couldn't be so colourful, I suppose. In ancient China, swords and spears were used and drums must have had played a great role too. A native of Qi for instance was asked to experiment with a troupe consisting of solely women. Do you know the front from the back and the left from the right? The man had asked and when the women assured him that they did, with a roll of a drum, he had instructed them to turn right. The women however did not move and had burst out laughing! This went on for some time and finally, the man said If the rules are not clear and orders are not understood, the commander is to be blamed. If orders are clear and are not carried out, the officers are to be blamed. Henceforth, he executed two of the leaders who happened to be the king's favourite concubines. The next time he sounded the drums, the women turned left and right, advanced and retreated, knelt and stood up exactly as told. The man who trained the women was Sun Wu, writer of the world famous and oldest military treatise, Art of War.