Ancient Chinese wisdom gives young Kenyans inspiration

NAIROBI/JINAN — "The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting," says Eddy Paul Kirimi, a student at the Confucius Institute at the Kenyatta University in Nairobi, Kenya. "If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles."

Kirimi was quoting from The Art of War, the Chinese classic by strategist Sun Tzu, dating to the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 BC).

The ancient book, which has influenced people all around the world, continues to inspire reflection among young Kenyans.

The Sun Tzu Book House, which opened recently at the university's Confucius Institute, features various iterations of the author's work, including some printed on silk, others on wood or scrolls, and is the first Sun Tzu Book House opened abroad by authorities from East China's Shandong province.

Kirimi says that The Art of War opens the minds of young Kenyans to overcoming problems and planning for a better future, adding that it enables them to experience Chinese culture and learning.

"It is not a book that advocates strength, yet it focuses on strategic wisdom and philosophy that I find useful in life and work," he says.

"The most important lesson I learned from it is that in every situation, you have to be courageous and strong, and then think it through to complete everything and achieve success."

In 2023, Kirimi spent six months studying Chinese at Shandong Normal University, and fell in love with the country's culture, which prompted him to seek a better understanding of Chinese civilization and promote exchange between Kenya and China.