Overcome Hardness by Hardness, Overcome Hardness by Softness: comparing The Tale of Igor’s Campaign and Records of the Grand Historian

Abstract

The Tale of Igor’s Campaign and Records of the Grand Historian are classic books of Russian and Chinese antiquity. Both of them are based on historical facts and combine the features of “literature, history and philosophy”. The main characters of the both works contain deep-rooted characteristics and typical fea­tures of the national cultures. Firstly, Igor was brave and resolute and went on a campaign for glory. Liu Bang assessed the situation, sacrificed his reputa­tion, saved his life and waited for an opportunity to strike back. One considers an attack a defense, and the other considers a retreat an offensive. Secondly, both of them behave rationally, their behavior is determined, respectively, by the de­sire for fame and the desire to preserve life. One considers glory, imbued with heroism and consciousness of suffering, as the goal of life. And according to an­other, humiliation and preservation of life are prerequisites for achieving victory. Thirdly, the pursuit of fame and the pursuit of life have different consequences. In Russia, “victory on the verge of defeat” can bring sanctity and a sense of glory. In China, the best solution is to “throw back the enemy’s troops without a fight”.