Lu Ban Shu 魯班書, or the “Book of Lu Ban,” is a collection of texts traditionally attributed to Lu Ban 魯班, a legendary Chinese craftsman and inventor from 507 – 444 BCE. Regarded as the father of Chinese carpenters and builders, Lu Ban 魯班 is associated with various inventions, from carpentry tools to early mechanisms and even siege devices used in warfare. However, the Lu Ban Shu 魯班書 itself focuses less on inventions and more on a range of practical, mystical, and ritualistic skills meant for artisans and craftspeople.
The Lu Ban Shu 魯班書 can be roughly divided into two parts: one part dealing with practical work and construction techniques, and the other part containing spells, incantations, and charms. The former provides guidance on various building practices, from wood joinery techniques to measurements, and is valued for its wisdom in traditional construction. The latter, however, delves into superstitious practices, such as curses to protect buildings or to ward off bad luck, which were once considered essential knowledge for builders to safeguard their works or handle disputes.
The Lu Ban Shu 魯班書 is also thought to have influenced later martial arts traditions, as some of the principles around measurements, spatial awareness, and even certain incantations were adapted to stealth and martial arts practices. The books influence on Chinese craftsmanship and traditional practices has been considerable, often passed down through artisan guilds and secret societies for centuries.
What excites us as researchers of Chinese stealth traditions, is the critical mention of stealth practices within the Lu Ban Shu 魯班書, offering rare insights from a period where uncovering concrete evidence remains highly challenging. Lǔ Bān 魯班 and Sūnzǐ 孫子 (Sun Tzu), the author of The Art of War 孫子兵法, may have lived during the same period in history, and the significance of this cannot be overstated.
A page from the Lu Ban Shu 魯班書. Private Collection
Sections of the Lu Ban Shu 魯班書 were banned in various periods of Chinese history. The ban wasn’t always strictly enforced but typically became more prominent during times when the government cracked down on folk practices deemed to threaten state control or spread superstitions that conflicted with Confucian principles. While many of the practical, non-mystical sections survived, some craftsmen were known to keep copies of the full text hidden, passing them down secretly within families or guilds. This preserved the Lu Ban Shu’s 魯班書 mystical knowledge as a sort of underground tradition, particularly among builders, carpenters, and certain martial arts circles that saw value in its blend of craftsmanship and essoteric knowledge.
