193763887 the Art of War in Plain English Digital Edition With Active Table of Contents

8/12/2019 193763887 the Art of War in Plain English Digital Edition With Active Table of Contents

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The Art of Warin plain EnglishBy Sun Tzu*Edited by A. N.PearcePublished bye-eye digital editions at SmashwordsCopyright e-eyedigital editions 2012

ISBN: 978-1-4660-1970-6

e-eye digitaleditions 2012www.e-eyebooks.com

IntroductionThis edition ofSun Tzu's masterpiece `The Art of War' has been considerablysimplified from the original 1910 translation by Lionel Giles.The lengthy andoften laborious footnotes have been done away with, andclarifications where appropriate have been included in Master Sun'stext, retaining its original charm and delightful use oflanguage.

This is not alarge book (just over 10,000 words) because it need not be. Everyslender sentence contains a lifetime of expertise.Although `TheArt of War' is best known as the superlative military treatise, itswisdom has carried far beyond into almost every area of life and itis considered one of the very finest instructional manuals of alltime.

SUN TZU is thought to have been born in the late Springand Autumn Period of China (722481 BC) and to have been an activegeneral and strategist serving the King of Wu around 512 BC. SunTzu's `The Art of War' is the most widely readmilitary treatises in the world and essential reading for soldiers,strategists, politicians, business executives, and all thosedetermined to succeed in life.


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Table of Contents:Introduction1. LayingPlans2. WagingWar3. Attack bySubterfuge4. TacticalDispositions5. Energy6. Weak Points andStrong7.Manoeuvring8. Variation inTactics9. The Army on theMarch10. Terrain11. The NineSituations

12. The Attack byFire13. The Use ofSpiesFree e-booksfrom e-eye digital editions

1. Laying Plans1/1Sun Tzu said: The art of war is of vital importance to theState.

1/2 It is a matter oflife and death, a road either to safety or to ruin. It is a subjectwhich must not be neglected.1/3 Theart of war is governed by five constant factors:

The MoralInfluence

Weather

Terrain

Command

Method and


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Discipline

1/4 The Moral Influencemeans the people must be in complete accord with their ruler, sothat they will follow him regardless of their lives, unperturbed bydanger.1/5Weather signifies night and day, times of day, cold and heat, andthe seasons.1/6Terrain comprises distances, great and small; danger and security;open ground and narrow passes; the chances of life and death.1/7Command stands for the five virtues of a general:

Wisdom

Sincerity

Humanity

Courage

Strictness

1/8These five virtues should be familiar to every general. He whoknows them will be victorious; he who knows them not will fail.1/9Method and Discipline are the marshalling of the army in its propersubdivisions, the graduations of rank among the officers, themaintenance of roads by which supplies may reach the army, and thecontrol of military expenditure.1/10When seeking to determine the military conditions, compare the

following:

Which of thetwo leaders has the support of his subjects?

Which of thetwo generals has most ability?


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With whom liesthe advantage of Terrain?

On which sideis discipline most rigorously enforced?

Which army isstronger?

On which sideare officers and men more highly trained?

Which armyoperates the greater system of justice, in that good deeds arerewarded and misdeeds fairly punished.

1/11 Bymeans of these seven considerations, victory or defeat can beforecast.1/12 Thegeneral that understands these rules and acts upon them willconquer: let him be retained in command! The general that fails tounderstand will suffer defeat: let him be dismissed!1/13Follow these basic rules but also create additional circumstancesand turn them to your advantage. Act beyond the ordinary rules.

1/14 Allwarfare is based on deception.1/14Therefore, when able to attack, appear unable. When using yourforces, appear inactive. When you are near, make the enemy believeyou are far away. When far away, make him believe you are near.1/15Hold out baits to entice the enemy. Feign disorder, and crushhim.1/16 If

he is secure at all points, be prepared for him. If he is insuperior strength, evade him.1/17 Ifyour opponent is easily angered, irritate him. Pretend to be weak,that he may grow arrogant.1/18 Ifhe is taking his ease, give him no rest.


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1/19 Ifhis forces are united, divide them.1/20Attack him where he is unprepared, appear where you are notexpected.1/21These military devices, leading to victory, must not be divulgedbeforehand.1/22 Thegeneral who loses a battle is the one who makes few calculationsbeforehand. The general who plans ahead will always win.

2. Waging War2/1Sun Tzu said: War is expensive. Where there are a thousandswift chariots in the field, an equal number of heavy chariots, anda hundred-thousand mail-clad soldiers, with provisions enough tocarry them a thousand miles and smaller sums for the entertainmentof guests, and items such as glue and paint, the cost will reachone-thousand ounces of silver per day. Such is the cost of raising

an army of 100,000 men.2/2 Whenyou engage in actual fighting, if victory is long in coming, thenthe men's weapons will grow dull and their ardour will be damped.If you lay siege to a town, you will exhaust your own strength.2/3Again, if the campaign is protracted, the resources of the Statewill not be equal to the strain.2/4 Now,when your weapons are dulled, your ardour damped, your strength

exhausted and your treasure spent, neighbouring rulers will move totake advantage of your difficulties. Then no man, however wise,will be able to avert the consequences.2/5Thus, though we have heard of impetuous haste in war, we have neverheard of a clever operation that was prolonged.2/6There is no instance of a country having benefited from prolongedwarfare.2/7 Only

by understanding the inherent dangers in war is one able to see theprofitable way of conducting a campaign.2/8 Oncewar is declared, the skilful soldier will not waste precious timein waiting for reinforcements, nor will he turn back for freshsupplies, but he must cross the enemy's frontier without delay.2/9Bring war material with you from home, but forage on the enemy.


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Thus the army will have food enough for its needs.2/10Transporting supplies over long distances will impoverish the Stateand the People.2/11 Onthe other hand, prices rise wherever an army is based and, whenprises rise, the local population will suffer.2/12With this suffering, the homes of the people will be stripped bareand their income will be destroyed; and government expenses willincrease for the repair of broken chariots, worn-out horses,breast-plates and helmets, bows and arrows, spears and shields,protective mantles, draught-oxen and heavy wagons, amounting tofour-tenths of its total revenue.2/13Hence a wise general makes a point of foraging on the enemy. Onecartload of the enemy's provisions is equivalent to twenty of one'sown, and likewise a single grain of his supplies is equivalent totwenty from one's own store.

2/14 Inorder to kill the enemy, your men must be roused to anger and theymust have their rewards from the spoils of war.2/15Therefore in chariot fighting, when ten or more chariots have beentaken, reward the man who took the first. Replace the enemy's flagswith your own and add his chariots to your forces.2/16 Thecaptured soldiers should be kindly treated and cared for.2/17

This is called, using the conquered foe to augment one's ownstrength.2/18 Inwar let your great object be victory, not lengthy campaigns.2/19Thus the people will know that the victorious general decides theirfate and upon him whether the nation shall be in peace or inperil.

3.Attack by Subterfuge

3/1Sun Tzu said: In the practical art of war, the best thing ofall is to take the enemy's country whole and intact; to shatter anddestroy it is not good. So, too, it is better to capture the enemyentire than it is to destroy him.3/2Hence to fight and conquer in all your battles is not the supremeendeavour. The supreme endeavour is to break the enemy's resistance


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without fighting.3/3 Thusthe highest form of generalship is to thwart the enemy's plans; thenext best is to isolate him from his allies; the next is to attackhis army in the field; and the worst policy of all is to besiegewalled cities.3/4 Therule is, not to besiege walled cities if it can possibly beavoided. The preparations will take up three whole months; and thepiling up of earth-mounds over against the walls will take threemonths more.3/5 Thegeneral, losing patience at the long delay, will launch his men tothe assault like swarming ants, with the result that one-third ofhis men are slain, while the town still remains untaken. Such arethe disastrous effects of a siege.3/6Therefore, the skilful leader subdues the enemy's troops withoutany fighting; he captures their cities without laying siege tothem; he overthrows their kingdom without lengthy operations in the

field.3/7 Withhis forces intact, his triumph will be complete. This is the methodof attacking by subterfuge.3/8 Itis the rule in war that if your forces are ten to the enemy's one,you must surround him. If five to one, you must attack him. And iftwice as numerous, divide your army into two. Use one part of yourarmy in the regular way, and the other for some specialdiversion.

3/9 Ifequally matched, offer battle; if slightly inferior in numbers,avoid the enemy; if unequal in every way, withdraw.3/10Hence, though an obstinate fight may be made by a small force, inthe end it must be captured by the larger force.3/11 Thegeneral is the bulwark of the State; if the bulwark is complete atall points; the State will be strong; if the bulwark is defective,the State will be weak.

3/12There are three ways in which a ruler can bring misfortune upon hisarmy:

By commandingthe army to advance or to retreat, being ignorant of the fact thatit cannot obey. This is called hobbling the army.


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By attemptingto govern an army in the same way as he administers a kingdom,being ignorant of the conditions which obtain in an army. Thiscauses restlessness in the soldier's minds.

By appointingpoor calibre officers to his army. This shakes the confidence ofthe soldiers.

3/13When the army is restless and distrustful, trouble is sure to comefrom neighbouring rulers. This brings anarchy into the army anddestroys any chance of victory.3/14Thus we may know that there are five essentials for victory:

He will win whoknows when to fight and when not to fight.

He will win whoknows how to handle both superior and inferior forces.

He will winwhose army is driven by the same spirit throughout all itsranks.

He will winwho, prepared himself, waits to take the enemy unprepared.

He will win whohas military capacity and is not interfered with by thesovereign.

3/15Hence the saying, If you know the enemy and know yourself, you neednot fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself butnot the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer adefeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will

succumb in every battle.

4. Tactical Dispositions4/1Sun Tzu said: The good fighters of old first put themselvesbeyond the possibility of defeat, and then waited for anopportunity of defeating the enemy.4/2 To


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secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands, but theopportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemyhimself.4/3 Thusthe good fighter is able to secure himself against defeat, butcannot make certain of defeating the enemy.4/4Hence the saying, One may KNOW how to conquer without being able toDO it.4/5Security against defeat requires defensive tactics; ability todefeat the enemy means taking the offensive.4/6Standing on the defensive indicates insufficient strength;attacking implies an abundance of strength.4/7 Thegeneral who is skilled in defence employs the utmost secrecy. Hewho is skilled in attack employs the force of a thunderbolt. Thus,on the one hand we have ability to protect ourselves and on the

other a victory that is complete.4/8 Topredict victory that all can predict is not the acme ofexcellence.4/9Neither is it the acme of excellence to fight and conquer and thenhear the whole Empire say, Well done!4/10 Tolift a feather is no sign of great strength; to see the sun andmoon is no sign of sharp sight; to hear the noise of thunder is no

sign of a quick ear.4/11What the ancients called a clever fighter is one who not only wins,but excels in winning with ease.4/12Hence his victories bring him neither reputation for wisdom norcredit for courage.4/13 Hewins his battles by making no mistakes. Making no mistakes is whatestablishes the certainty of victory, for it means conquering an

enemy that is already defeated.4/14Hence the skilful fighter puts himself into a position which makesdefeat impossible, and does not miss the opportunity to defeat theenemy.4/15Thus the victorious army wins its victory before seeking battlewhile an army destined to lose fights in the hope of winning.


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4/16 Theconsummate leader cultivates the Moral Influence, and strictlyadheres to method and discipline; thus he ensures success.4/17 In respect ofmilitary method, we have:

Measurement

Estimation ofquantity

Calculation

Balancing ofchances

Victory.

4/18 Measurement owesits existence to:

Understandingthe terrain

Estimation ofthe enemy's strength

Calculation ofthe data thus obtained

Estimation of odds.

4/19 A victorious army

opposed to a routed one, is as a pound's weight placed in the scaleagainst a single grain.4/20 Theonrush of a conquering force is like the bursting of pent-up watersinto a chasm a thousand fathoms deep.

5. Energy5/1


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Sun Tzu said: The control of a large force is the sameprinciple as the control of a few men: it is merely a question ofdividing up their numbers.5/2Fighting with a large army isno different from fighting with a small one. It is just a questionof good communications.5/3 To ensure that yourwhole host may withstand the brunt of the enemy's attack and remainunshaken, employ methods that are both regular and irregular.5/4 Thatthe impact of your army may be like a grindstone dashed against anegg, study your enemy's weak points and strong.5/5 Inall fighting, the direct method may be used for joining battle, butindirect methods such as pounding the enemy's flanks or fallingon his rear will be needed to secure victory.5/6Indirect tactics, efficiently applied, are inexhaustible as Heaven

and Earth, unending as the flow of rivers and streams; like the sunand moon, they end but to begin anew; like the four seasons, theypass away to return once more.5/7There are not more than five musical notes, yet the combinations ofthese five give rise to more melodies than can ever be heard.5/8There are not more than five primary colours blue, yellow, red,white and black yet in combination they produce more hues thancan ever been seen.

5/9There are not more than five cardinal tastes sour, acrid, salt,sweet, bitter yet combinations of them yield more flavours thancan ever be tasted.5/10 Inbattle, there are not more than two methods of attack: the directand the indirect; yet these two in combination give rise to anendless series of manoeuvres.5/11 Thedirect and the indirect lead on to each other in turn. It is likemoving in a circle you never come to an end. Who can exhaust the

possibilities of their combination?5/12 Theonset of troops is like the rush of a torrent which will even rollstones along in its course.5/13 Ageneral's judgement is like the well-timed swoop of a falcon whichenables it to strike and destroy its victim.


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5/14Therefore the good fighter will be terrible in his onset, andprompt in his decision.5/15Energy may be likened to the bending of a crossbow, and decision tothe releasing of a trigger.5/16Amid the turmoil and tumult of battle, there may be seemingdisorder and yet no real disorder at all; amid confusion and chaos,your army may appear to be without head or tail, yet it will beproof against defeat.5/17Simulated disorder postulates perfect discipline, simulated fearpostulates courage; simulated weakness postulates strength.5/18Hiding order beneath the cloak of disorder is simply a question ofsubdivision; concealing courage under a show of timiditypresupposes a fund of latent energy; masking strength with weaknessis to be effected by tactical dispositions.

5/19Thus one who is skilful at keeping the enemy on the move maintainsdeceitful appearances, according to which the enemy will act. Hesacrifices something that the enemy may snatch at it.5/20 Byholding out baits, he keeps him on the march; then with a body ofpicked men he lies in wait for him.5/21 Theclever combatant seeks victory from the situation and does notdemand it from his men. Hence his ability to pick out the right menand utilize combined energy.

5/22When he utilizes combined energy, his fighting men become likerolling logs or stones.5/23Thus the energy developed by good fighting men is as the momentumof a round stone rolled down a mountain thousands of feet inheight.

6. Weak Points and Strong6/1

Sun Tzu said: Whoever is first in the field and awaits thecoming of the enemy, will be fresh for the fight; whoever is secondin the field and has to hasten to battle will arrive exhausted.6/2Therefore, the clever combatant imposes his will on the enemy, butdoes not allow the enemy's will to be imposed on him.6/3 Byoffering a tempting a bait, he can cause the enemy to approach of


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his own accord; or by inflicting damage he can make it impossiblefor the enemy to draw near.6/4 Ifthe enemy is taking his ease, he can harass him; if well suppliedwith food, he can starve him out; if quietly encamped, he can forcehim to move.6/5Appear at points which the enemy must hasten to defend; marchswiftly to places where you are not expected.6/6 An army may march great distances withoutdistress, if it marches through country where the enemy is not.6/7 You can be sure ofsucceeding in your assault if you only attack places which areundefended. You can ensure the safety of your defence if you onlyhold positions that cannot be attacked.6/8Hence that general is skilful in attack whose opponent does notknow what to defend; and he is skilful in defence whose opponentdoes not know what to attack.6/9

Through subtly and appearing insubstantial, the clever combatantcan learn to be invisible and inaudible; and hence he can hold theenemy's fate in his hands.6/10 Youmay advance and be absolutely irresistible if you make for theenemy's weak points. You may retire and be safe from pursuit ifyour movements are more rapid than those of the enemy.6/11 Ifwe wish to fight, the enemy can be forced to an engagement eventhough he be sheltered behind a high rampart and a deep ditch. Allwe need do is attack some other place that he will be obliged to

relieve.6/12 Ifwe do not wish to fight, we can prevent the enemy from engaging useven though we have constructed neither wall nor ditch. All we needdo is employ the timely use of bluff.6/13 Bydiscovering the enemy's dispositions and remaining invisibleourselves, we can keep our forces concentrated for the attack,while the enemy will be obliged to divide his forces in order toguard against attack from every quarter.6/14 We

can form a single united body, while the enemy must split up intofractions. Hence there will be a whole pitted against separateparts of a whole, which means that we shall be many to the enemy'sfew.6/15 Andif we are able thus to attack an inferior force with a superiorone, our opponents will be in dire straits.6/16 The


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spot where we intend to fight must not be made known; for then theenemy will have to prepare against a possible attack at severaldifferent points; and his forces being thus distributed in manydirections, the numbers we shall have to face at any given pointwill be proportionately few.6/17 Forshould the enemy strengthen his van, he will weaken his rear;should he strengthen his rear, he will weaken his van; should hestrengthen his left, he will weaken his right; should he strengthenhis right, he will weaken his left. If he sends reinforcementseverywhere, he will everywhere be weak.6/18Numerical weakness comes from having to prepare against possibleattacks. Numerical strength comes from compelling our adversary tomake these preparations against us.6/19Knowing the place and the time of the coming battle, we mayconcentrate from the greatest distances in order to fight.6/20Without precise instructions to your army, the left wing will be

impotent to assist the right, the right equally impotent to assistthe left, the van unable to relieve the rear, or the rear tosupport the van. How much more so if the furthest portions of thearmy are anything under a hundred miles apart, and even the nearestare separated by several miles!6/21Though the enemy be stronger in numbers, we may prevent him fromfighting. Scheme so as to discover his plans and the likelihood oftheir success.6/22Goad him and learn where he is strong and weak. Force him to reveal

himself, to find out his vulnerable spots.6/23Carefully compare the opposing army with your own, so that you mayknow where strength is superabundant and where it is deficient.6/24 Inmaking tactical dispositions, the highest goal is to conceal them;conceal your dispositions, and you will be safe from the prying ofthe subtlest spies, from the machinations of the wisest brains.6/25Attain victory by turning the enemy's own tactics against him.

6/26 Allmen can see the tactics whereby I conquer, but what none can see isthe strategy out of which victory is evolved.6/27 Donot repeat the tactics which have gained you one victory, but letyour methods be regulated by the infinite variety ofcircumstances.


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6/28Military tactics are like water; for water in its natural courseruns away from high places and hastens downwards.6/29 Soin war, the way is to avoid what is strong and to strike at what isweak.6/30Water shapes its course according to the nature of the ground overwhich it flows; the soldier works out his victory in relation tothe foe whom he is facing.6/31Therefore, just as water retains no constant shape, so in warfarethere are no constant conditions.6/32 Hewho can modify his tactics in relation to his opponent and therebysucceed in winning, may be called a heaven-born captain.6/33 Thefive elements (water, fire, wood, metal, earth) are not alwaysequally predominant; the four seasons make way for each other in

turn. There are short days and long; the moon has its periods ofwaning and waxing. All is constantly changing.

7. Manoeuvring7/1Sun Tzu said: In war, the general receives his commands fromthe sovereign.7/2Having collected an army and concentrated his forces, he must blendand harmonize the different elements before pitching his camp.

7/3After that comes tactical manoeuvring, of which there is nothingmore difficult. The difficulty of tactical manoeuvring consists inturning the devious into the direct, and misfortune into gain.7/4Thus, take an indirect route and entice the enemy with bait; andcontrive to reach the goal before him. This shows knowledge of theartifice of Deviation.7/5Manoeuvring with an army is advantageous; with an undisciplinedmultitude, most dangerous.

7/6 Ifyou set a fully equipped army on the march in order to snatch anadvantage, the chances are that you will be too late. On the otherhand, to detach a flying column involves the sacrifice of itsbaggage and stores.7/7Thus, if you order your men to make forced marches without haltingday or night, covering double the usual distance at a stretch,


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doing a hundred miles in order to wrest an advantage, the leadersof all your divisions will fall into the hands of the enemy.7/8 Thestronger men will be in front, the jaded ones will fall behind, andon this plan only one-tenth of your army will reach itsdestination.7/9 Ifyou march fifty miles in order to outmanoeuvre the enemy, you willlose the leader of your first division, and only half your forcewill reach the goal.7/10 Ifyou march thirty miles with the same object, two-thirds of yourarmy will arrive.7/11 Anarmy without its baggage train is lost; without provisions it islost; without bases of supply it is lost.7/12 Wecannot enter into alliances until we are acquainted with thedesigns of our neighbours.

7/13 Weare not fit to lead an army on the march unless we are familiarwith the face of the country, its mountains and forests, itspitfalls and precipices, its marshes and swamps.7/14 Weshall be unable to turn natural advantage to account unless we makeuse of local guides.7/15 Inwar, practice deception and camouflage, and you will succeed.7/16

Whether to concentrate or to divide your troops, must be decided bycircumstances.7/17 Letyour rapidity be that of the wind, your compactness that of theforest7/18 Inraiding and plundering be like fire, in immovability be like amountain.7/19 Letyour plans be dark and impenetrable as night; when you move, fall

like a thunderbolt.7/20When you plunder, let the spoil be divided amongst your men; whenyou capture new territory, cut it up into allotments for thebenefit of the soldiery.7/21Ponder and deliberate before you make a move.


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7/22 Hewill conquer who has learnt the artifice of deviation. Such is theart of manoeuvring.7/23 TheBook of Army Management says: On the field of battle, the spokenword does not carry far enough: hence the institution of gongs anddrums. Nor can ordinary objects be seen clearly enough: hence theinstitution of banners and flags.7/24Gongs and drums, banners and flags, are means whereby the ears andeyes of the host may be focused on one particular point.7/25 Thehost thus forming a single united body, is it impossible either forthe brave to advance alone, or for the cowardly to retreat alone.This is the art of handling large masses of men.7/26 Innight-fighting, make much use of signal-fires and drums, and infighting by day, of flags and banners, as a means of influencingthe ears and eyes of your army.

7/27 Awhole army may be robbed of its spirit; a commander-in-chief may berobbed of his presence of mind.7/28 Nowa soldier's spirit is keenest in the morning; by noonday it hasbegun to flag; and in the evening, his mind is bent only onreturning to camp.7/29 Aclever general, therefore, avoids an army when its spirit is keen,but attacks it when it is sluggish and inclined to return. This isthe art of studying moods.

7/30Disciplined and calm, to await the appearance of disorder andhubbub amongst the enemy, this is the art of retainingself-possession.7/31 Tobe near the goal while the enemy is still far from it, to wait atease while the enemy is toiling and struggling, to be well-fedwhile the enemy is famished, this is the art of husbanding one'sstrength.7/32 Torefrain from intercepting an enemy whose banners are in perfect

order; to refrain from attacking an army drawn up in calm andconfident array, this is the art of studying circumstances.7/33 Itis a military axiom not to advance uphill against the enemy, nor tooppose him when he comes downhill.7/34 Donot pursue an enemy who simulates flight; do not attack soldierswhose temper is keen.


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7/35 Donot swallow bait offered by the enemy. Do not interfere with anarmy that is returning home.7/36When you surround an army, leave a path free. Do not press adesperate foe too hard.7/37Such is the art of warfare.

8. Variation in Tactics8/1Sun Tzu said: In war, the general receives his commands fromthe sovereign, collects his army and concentrates his forces.8/2 Whenin difficult country, do not encamp. In country where high roadsintersect, join hands with your allies. Do not linger indangerously isolated positions. In hemmed-in situations, you mustresort to subterfuge. In desperate position, you must fight.

8/3There are roads which must not be followed, armies which must benot attacked, towns which must not be besieged, positions whichmust not be contested, commands of the sovereign which must not beobeyed.8/4 Thegeneral who thoroughly understands the use of variation of tacticsknows how to handle his troops.8/5 Thegeneral who does not understand these, may be well acquainted withthe configuration of the country, yet he will not be able to turn

his knowledge to practical account.8/6 So,the student of war who is unversed in the art of varying his plans,will fail to make the best use of his men.8/7Hence, in the wise leader's plans, considerations of advantage andof disadvantage will be blended together.8/8 Ifour expectation of advantage be tempered in this way, we maysucceed in accomplishing the essential part of our schemes.

8/9 If,on the other hand, in the midst of difficulties we are always readyto seize an advantage, we may extricate ourselves frommisfortune.8/10Reduce the hostile chiefs by inflicting damage on them; and maketrouble for them, and keep them constantly engaged; hold outdeceptive baits, and make them rush to any given point.


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8/11 Theart of war teaches us to rely not on the likelihood of the enemy'snot coming, but on our own readiness to receive him; not on thechance of his not attacking, but rather on the fact that we havemade our position unassailable.8/12There are five dangerous faults which may affect a general:

Recklessnesswhich leads to destruction

Cowardice whichleads to capture

A hasty temperwhich can be provoked by insults

A delicacy ofhonour which is sensitive to shame

Over-solicitudefor his men which exposes him to worry and trouble.

8/13These are the five besetting sins of a general, ruinous to theconduct of war.

8/14When an army is overthrown and its leader slain, the cause willsurely be found among these five dangerous faults. Let them be asubject of meditation.

9. The Army on theMarch

9/1Sun Tzu said: We come now to the question of encamping thearmy, and observing signs of the enemy. Pass quickly over

mountains, and stay close to valleys.9/2 Campin high places, facing the sun. Do not climb heights in order tofight. So much for mountain warfare.9/3After crossing a river, you should get far away from it.9/4 When


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an invading force crosses a river in its onward march, do notadvance to meet it in mid-stream. It will be best to let half thearmy get across, and then deliver your attack.9/5 Ifyou are anxious to fight, you should not go to meet the invadernear a river which he has to cross.9/6 Mooryour craft higher up than the enemy, and facing the sun. Do notmove up-stream to meet the enemy. So much for river warfare.9/7 Incrossing salt-marshes, your sole concern should be to get over themquickly, without any delay.9/8 Ifforced to fight in a salt-marsh, you should have water and grassnear you, and get your back to a clump of trees. So much foroperations in salt-marches.9/9 Indry, level country, take up an easily accessible position withrising ground to your right and on your rear, so that the danger

may be in front, and safety lie behind. So much for campaigning inflat country.9/10These are the four useful branches of military knowledge.9/11 Allarmies prefer high ground to low, and sunny places to dark.9/12 Ifyou are careful of your men, and camp on hard ground, the army willbe free from disease of every kind and this will spell victory.

9/13When you come to a hill or a bank, occupy the sunny side, with theslope on your right rear. Thus you will at once act for the benefitof your soldiers and utilize the natural advantages of theground.9/14When, in consequence of heavy rains up-country, a river which youwish to ford is swollen and flecked with foam, you must wait untilit subsides.

9/15Country in which there are precipitous cliffs with torrents running

between, deep natural hollows, confined places, tangled thickets,quagmires and crevasses, should be left with all possible speed andnot approached.9/16While we keep away from such places, we should get the enemy toapproach them; while we face them, we should let the enemy havethem on his rear.9/17 If


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in the neighbourhood of your camp there should be any hillycountry, ponds surrounded by aquatic grass, hollow basins filledwith reeds, or woods with thick undergrowth, they must be carefullyrouted out and searched; for these are places where men in ambushor insidious spies are likely to be lurking.9/18When the enemy is close at hand and remains quiet, he is relying onthe natural strength of his position.9/19When he keeps aloof and tries to provoke a battle, he is anxiousfor the other side to advance.9/20 Ifhis place of encampment is easy of access, he is tendering abait.9/21Movement amongst the trees of a forest shows that the enemy isadvancing. The appearance of a number of screens in the midst ofthick grass means that the enemy wants to make us suspicious.9/22 The

rising of birds in their flight is the sign of an ambush. Startledbeasts indicate that a sudden attack is coming.9/23When there is dust rising in a high column, it is the sign ofchariots advancing; when the dust is low, but spread over a widearea, it indicates the approach of infantry. When it branches outin different directions, it shows that parties have been sent tocollect firewood. A few clouds of dust moving to and fro signifythat the army is encamping.9/24Humble words and increased preparations are signs that the enemy is

about to advance. Violent language and driving forward as if to theattack are signs that he will retreat.9/25When the light chariots come out first and take up a position onthe wings, it is a sign that the enemy is forming for battle.9/26Peace proposals without reason indicate a plot.9/27When there is much running about and the soldiers fall into rank,it means that the critical moment has come.

9/28When some are seen advancing and some retreating, it is a lure.9/29When the soldiers stand leaning on their spears, they are faintfrom want of food.9/30 Ifthose who are sent to draw water begin by drinking themselves, the


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army is suffering from thirst.9/31 Ifthe enemy sees an advantage to be gained and makes no effort tosecure it, the soldiers are exhausted.9/32 Ifbirds gather on any spot, it is unoccupied. Clamour by nightbetokens nervousness.9/33 Ifthere is disturbance in the camp, the general's authority is weak.If the banners and flags are shifted about, sedition is afoot. Ifthe officers are angry, it means that the men are weary.9/34When an army feeds its horses with grain and kills its cattle forfood, and when the men do not hang their cooking-pots over the campfires, showing that they will not return to their tents, you mayknow that they are determined to fight to the death.9/35 Thesight of men whispering together in small knots or speaking insubdued tones points to disaffection amongst the rank and file.

9/36 Toofrequent rewards signify that the enemy is at the end of hisresources; too many punishments betray a condition of diredistress.9/37 Tobegin by bluster, but afterwards to take fright at the enemy'snumbers, shows a supreme lack of intelligence.9/38When envoys are sent with compliments in their mouths, it is a signthat the enemy wishes a truce.

9/39 Ifthe enemy's troops march up angrily and remain facing ours for along time without either joining battle or taking themselves offagain, the situation is one that demands great vigilance andcircumspection.9/40 Ifour troops are no more in number than the enemy, that is amplysufficient; it only means that no direct attack can be made. Whatwe can do is simply to concentrate all our available strength, keepa close watch on the enemy, and obtain reinforcements.

9/41 Hewho exercises no forethought but makes light of his opponents issure to be captured by them.9/42 Ifsoldiers are punished before they have grown attached to you, theywill not prove submissive; and, unless submissive, they will bepractically useless. If, when the soldiers have become attached toyou, and punishments are not enforced, they will still beunless.


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9/43Therefore, soldiers must be treated in the first instance withhumanity, but kept under control by means of iron discipline. Thisis a certain road to victory.9/44 Ifin training soldiers, commands are clear and habitually enforced,the army will be well-disciplined; if not, its discipline will bebad.9/45 Ifa general shows confidence in his men and always insists on hisorders being obeyed, the gain will be mutual.

10. Terrain10/1Sun Tzu said: We may distinguish six kinds of terrain:

Accessibleground

Entanglingground

Delayingground

Narrow

passes

Precipitousheights

Positions at agreat distance from the enemy

10/2

Ground which can be freely traversed by both sides is calledAccessible.10/3With regard to ground of this nature, pre-empt the enemy inoccupying the raised and sunny spots, and carefully guard your lineof supplies. Then you will be able to fight with advantage.10/4Ground which can be abandoned but is hard to re-occupy is called


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Entangling.10/5From a position of this sort, if the enemy is unprepared, you maysally forth and defeat him. But if the enemy is prepared for yourcoming, and you fail to defeat him, then, return being impossible,disaster will ensue.10/6When the position is such that neither side will gain by making thefirst move, it is called Delaying ground.10/7 Ina position of this sort, even though the enemy should offer us anattractive bait, it will be advisable not to stir forth, but ratherto retreat, thus enticing the enemy in his turn; then, when part ofhis army has come out, we may deliver our attack withadvantage.10/8With regard to Narrow passes, if you can occupy them first, letthem be strongly garrisoned and await the advent of the enemy.10/9

Should the enemy forestall you in occupying a pass, do not go afterhim if the pass is fully garrisoned, but only if it is weaklygarrisoned.10/10With regard to Precipitous heights, if you arrive before youradversary, you should occupy the raised and sunny spots, and therewait for him to come up.10/11 Ifthe enemy has occupied them before you, do not follow him butretreat and try to entice him away.

10/12 Ifyou are situated at a great distance from the enemy, and thestrength of the two armies is equal, it is not easy to provoke abattle, and fighting will be to your disadvantage.10/13These six are the principles connected with Terrain. The competentgeneral must be careful to study them.10/14 Anarmy is exposed to six different calamities, not arising fromnatural causes, but from faults for which the general isresponsible. These are:

Flight

Insubordination

Collapse


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Ruin

Disorganization

Rout

10/15Other conditions being equal, if one force is hurled againstanother ten times its size, the result will be the Flight of theformer.10/16When the common soldiers are too strong and their officers tooweak, the result is Insubordination. When the officers are toostrong and the common soldiers too weak, the result isCollapse.

10/17When the higher officers are angry and insubordinate, and onmeeting the enemy give battle on their own account from a feelingof resentment before the commander-in-chief gives the command, theresult is Ruin.10/18When the general is weak and without authority; when his orders arenot clear and distinct; when there are no fixed duties assigned toofficers and men, and the ranks are formed in a slovenly haphazardmanner, the result is utter Disorganisation.10/19

When a general, unable to estimate the enemy's strength, allows aninferior force to engage a larger one and neglects to place pickedsoldiers in the front rank, the result must be Rout.10/20These are six ways of courting defeat which must be carefully notedby the competent general.10/21The power of estimating the adversary, of controlling the forces ofvictory, and of shrewdly calculating difficulties, dangers anddistances, constitutes the test of a great general.

10/22 Hewho knows these things, and in fighting puts his knowledge intopractice, will win his battles. He who knows them not, norpractices them, will surely be defeated.10/23 Iffighting is sure to result in victory, then you must fight eventhough the ruler forbids it; if fighting will not result invictory, then you must not fight even at the ruler's bidding.


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10/24The general who advances without coveting fame and retreats withoutfearing disgrace, whose only thought is to protect his country anddo good service for his sovereign, is the jewel of the kingdom.10/25Regard your soldiers as your children, and they will follow youinto the deepest valleys; look upon them as your own beloved sons,and they will stand by you even unto death.10/26If, however, you are indulgent but unable to make your authorityfelt; kind-hearted but unable to enforce your commands; andincapable of quelling disorder, then your soldiers must be likenedto spoilt children; they are useless for any practical purpose.10/27 Ifwe know that our own men are in a condition to attack, but areunaware that the enemy is not open to attack, we have gone onlyhalfway towards victory.10/28 Ifwe know that the enemy is open to attack, but are unaware that ourown men are not in a condition to attack, we have gone only halfway

towards victory.10/29 Ifwe know that the enemy is open to attack, and also know that ourmen are in a condition to attack, but are unaware that the natureof the ground makes fighting impracticable, we have still gone onlyhalfway towards victory.10/30Hence the experienced soldier, once in motion, is never bewildered;once he has broken camp, he is never at a loss.10/31

Hence the saying: If you know the enemy and know yourself, yourvictory will not stand in doubt; if you know Heaven and know Earth,you may make your victory complete.

11. The Nine Situations11/1Sun Tzu said: The art of war recognizes nine varieties ofground:

Dispersive

ground

Frontierground

Contentiousground


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Open ground

Ground ofintersecting highways

Seriousground

Difficultground

Hemmed-inground

Desperateground

11/2When a chieftain is fighting in his own territory, it is dispersiveground.11/3When he has penetrated into hostile territory, but to no greatdistance, it is frontier ground.11/4Ground which imports great advantage to either side is contentiousground.

11/5Ground on which each side has liberty of movement is openground.11/6Ground which forms the key to three neighbouring states, so that hewho occupies it first has most of the Empire at his command, is aground of intersecting highways.11/7When an army has penetrated into the heart of a hostile country,leaving a number of fortified cities in its rear, it is seriousground.

11/8Mountains, forests, rugged steeps, marshes and fens; country thatis hard to traverse, this is difficult ground.11/9Ground which is reached through narrow gorges, and from which wecan only retire by tortuous paths so that a small number of theenemy would suffice to crush a large body of our men: this ishemmed in ground.


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11/10Ground on which we can only be saved from destruction by fightingwithout delay is desperate ground.11/11 Ondispersive ground, therefore, fight not. On frontier ground, haltnot. On contentious ground, attack not.11/12 Onopen ground, do not try to block the enemy's way.11/13 Onserious ground, gather in plunder. In difficult ground, keepsteadily on the march.11/14 Onhemmed-in ground, resort to subterfuge. On desperate ground,fight.11/15Those who were called skilful leaders of old knew how to drive awedge between the enemy's front and rear to prevent co-operationbetween his large and small divisions; to hinder the good troops

from rescuing the bad, the officers from rallying their men.11/16When the enemy's men were united they managed to keep them indisorder.11/17When it was to their advantage they made a forward move; whenotherwise, they stopped still.11/18 Ifasked how to cope with a great host of the enemy in orderly arrayand on the point of marching to the attack, I should say: Begin by

seizing something which your opponent holds dear; then he will beamenable to your will.11/19Rapidity is the essence of war: take advantage of the enemy'sunreadiness, make your way by unexpected routes, and attackunguarded spots.11/20The following are the principles to be observed by an invadingforce: The further you penetrate into a country, the greater willbe the solidarity of your troops, and thus the defenders will notprevail against you.

11/21Make forays in fertile country in order to supply your army withfood.11/22Carefully study the well-being of your men and do not overtax them.Concentrate your energy and hoard your strength. Keep your armycontinually on the move and devise unfathomable plans.


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11/23Throw your soldiers into positions where there is no escape andthey will prefer death to flight. If they face death, there isnothing they may not achieve. Officers and men alike will put forththeir uttermost strength.11/24Soldiers when in desperate straits lose the sense of fear. If thereis no place of refuge they will stand firm. If they are in hostilecountry they will show a stubborn front. If there is no help forit, they will fight hard.11/25Thus, without waiting to be marshalled, the soldiers will beconstantly on the alert; without waiting to be asked, they will doyour will; without restrictions, they will be faithful; withoutgiving orders, they can be trusted.11/26Prohibit the taking of omens and do away with superstitious doubts.Then, until death itself comes, no calamity need be feared.11/27 Ifour soldiers are not overburdened with money, it is not because

they have a distaste for riches; if their lives are not undulylong, it is not because they are disinclined to longevity. It isfor the general to see that temptations to shirk fighting and growrich are not thrown in their way.11/28 Onthe day they are ordered out to battle, your soldiers may weep. Butlet them once be brought to bay, and they will display thenecessary courage.11/29The skilful tactician may be likened to the swift snake. Strike atits head and you will be attacked by its tail; strike at its tail

and you will be attacked by its head; strike at its middle and youwill be attacked by head and tail both.11/30Asked if an army can be made to imitate the snake and attack as asingle living body, I should answer Yes.11/31Hence it is not enough to put one's trust in the tethering ofhorses and the burying of chariot wheels in the ground to preventretreat.11/32

The principle on which to manage an army is to set one standard ofcourage which all must reach.11/33 Tomake the best of both strong and weak is a question involving theproper use of ground.11/34Thus the skilful general conducts his army just as though he wereleading a single man by the hand.


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11/35 Itis the business of a general to be quiet and thus ensure secrecy;upright and just, and thus maintain order.11/36 Hemust be able to mystify his officers and men by false reports andappearances, and thus keep them in total ignorance.11/37 Byaltering his arrangements and changing his plans, he keeps theenemy without definite knowledge. By shifting his camp and takingcircuitous routes, he prevents the enemy from anticipating hispurpose.11/38 Atthe critical moment, the leader of an army acts like one who hasclimbed up a height and then kicks away the ladder behind him. Hecarries his men deep into hostile territory before he shows hishand.11/39 Heburns his boats and breaks his cooking-pots; like a shepherddriving a flock of sheep, he drives his men this way and that, and

nobody knows where he goes.11/40 Tomuster his host and bring it into danger, this is the business ofthe general.11/41The nine varieties of ground; the use of aggressive or defensivetactics; and the fundamental laws of human nature, these are thingsthat must be studied.11/42When invading hostile territory, penetrating deeply bringscohesion; penetrating but a short way brings dispersion.

11/43When you leave your own country behind, and take your army acrossneighbourhood territory, you find yourself on critical ground. Whenthere are means of communication on all four sides, the ground isone of intersecting highways.11/44When you penetrate deeply into a country, it is serious ground.When you penetrate but a little way, it is frontier ground.11/45When you have the enemy's strongholds on your rear and narrow

passes in front, it is hemmed-in ground. When there is no place ofrefuge at all, it is desperate ground.11/46Therefore, on dispersive ground I would inspire my men with unityof purpose. On frontier ground, I would see that there is closeconnection between all parts of my army.11/47 Oncontentious ground, I would hurry up my rear.


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11/48 Onopen ground, I would keep a vigilant eye on my defences. On groundof intersecting highways, I would consolidate my alliances.11/49 Onserious ground, I would try to ensure a continuous stream ofsupplies. On difficult ground, I would keep pushing on along theroad.11/50 Onhemmed-in ground, I would block any way of retreat. On desperateground, I would proclaim to my soldiers the hopelessness of savingtheir lives.11/51For it is the soldier's disposition to offer an obstinateresistance when surrounded, to fight hard when he cannot helphimself, and to obey promptly when he has fallen into danger.11/52 Wecannot enter into alliance with neighbouring princes until we areacquainted with their designs. We are not fit to lead an army onthe march unless we are familiar with the face of the country, its

mountains and forests, its pitfalls and precipices, its marshes andswamps. We shall be unable to turn natural advantages to accountunless we make use of local guides.11/53When a warlike prince attacks a powerful state, he demonstrates hisgeneralship by preventing the concentration of the enemy's forces.He overawes the opponents and their allies will not join againsthim.11/54Hence he does not strive to ally himself with all and sundry, nordoes he foster the power of other states. He carries out his own

secret designs, keeping his antagonists in awe. Thus he is able tocapture their cities and overthrow their kingdoms.11/55Let advance be rewarded and retreat be punished; hide yourintentions, and you will be able to handle a whole army as though asingle man.11/56Confront your soldiers with the deed itself; never let them knowyour design. When the outlook is bright, bring it before theireyes; but tell them nothing when the situation is gloomy.

11/57Place your army in deadly peril and it will survive; plunge it intodesperate straits, and it will come off in safety.11/58For it is precisely when a force has fallen into harm's way that itis capable of striking a blow for victory.11/59Success in warfare is gained by understanding the enemy's


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purpose.11/60 Bypersistently hanging on the enemy's flank, we shall succeed in thelong run in killing the commander-in-chief.11/61This is called ability to accomplish a thing by sheer cunning.11/62 Onthe day that you take up your command, block the frontier passes,destroy the official tallies, and stop the passage of allemissaries.11/63 Bestern in the council-chamber, so that you may control thesituation.11/64 Ifthe enemy leaves a door open, you must rush in.11/65Forestall your opponent by seizing what he holds dear, and subtlycontrive to time his arrival on the ground.

11/66Walk in the path defined by rule, and accommodate yourself to theenemy until you can fight a decisive battle.11/67 Atfirst, exhibit the coyness of a maiden, until the enemy gives youan opening; afterwards emulate the rapidity of a running hare, andit will be too late for the enemy to oppose you.

12. The Attack by Fire12/1

Sun Tzu said: There are five ways of attacking withfire:

The first is toburn soldiers in their camp

The second isto burn stores

The third is toburn baggage trains

The fourth isto burn arsenals and magazines

The fifth is tohurl dropping fire amongst the enemy


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12/2 Inorder to carry out an attack, we must have means available. Thematerial for raising fire should always be kept in readiness.12/3There is a proper season for making attacks with fire, and properdays for starting a conflagration.12/4 Theproper season is when the weather is very dry; the proper days aredays of rising wind.12/5 Inattacking with fire, one should be prepared to meet five possibledevelopments:

When firebreaks out inside to enemy's camp, respond at once with anattack.

If there is anoutbreak of fire, but the enemy's soldiers remain quiet, bide yourtime and do not attack.

When the forceof the flames has reached its height, follow up with an attack, ifthat is practicable; if not, stay where you are.

If it is

possible to make an assault with fire from without, do not wait forit to break out within, but deliver your attack at a favourablemoment.

When you starta fire, be to windward of it. Do not attack from the leeward.

12/6 Awind that rises in the daytime lasts long, but a night breeze soonfalls.

12/7 Inevery army, the five developments connected with fire must beknown, the movements of the stars calculated, and a watch kept forthe proper days.12/8Hence those who use fire as an aid to the attack show intelligence;those who use water as an aid to the attack gain an accession ofstrength.


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12/9 Bymeans of water, an enemy may be intercepted but not robbed of allhis belongings.12/10Unhappy is the fate of one who tries to win his battles and succeedin his attacks without rewarding good deeds; for the result iswaste of time and general stagnation.12/11Hence the saying: The enlightened ruler lays his plans well ahead;the good general cultivates his resources.12/12Move not unless you see an advantage; use not your troops unlessthere is something to be gained; fight not unless the position iscritical.12/13 Noruler should put troops into the field merely to gratify his ownspleen; no general should fight a battle simply out of pique.12/14 If

it is to your advantage, make a forward move; if not, stay whereyou are.12/15Anger may in time change to gladness; vexation may be succeeded bycontent.12/16But a kingdom that has once been destroyed can never come againinto being; nor can the dead ever be brought back to life.12/17Hence the enlightened ruler is heedful, and the good general full

of caution. This is the way to keep a country at peace and an armyintact.

13. The Use of Spies13/1Sun Tzu said: Raising a host of a hundred-thousand men andmarching them great distances entails heavy loss on the people anda drain on the resources of the State. The daily expenditure willamount to a thousand ounces of silver. There will be commotion athome and abroad, and men will drop down exhausted on the highways.As many as seven hundred-thousand families will be impeded in theirlabour.

13/2Hostile armies may face each other for years, striving for thevictory which is decided in a single day. This being so, to remainin ignorance of the enemy's condition simply because one grudgesthe outlay of a hundred ounces of silver in honours and payments,is the height of inhumanity.13/3 Onewho acts thus is no leader of men, no present help to his


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sovereign, no master of victory.13/4Thus, what enables the wise sovereign and the good general tostrike and conquer, and achieve things beyond the reach of ordinarymen is Foreknowledge.13/5 Nowthis foreknowledge cannot be elicited from spirits; it cannot beobtained from experience, nor by any deductive calculation.13/6Knowledge of the enemy's dispositions can only be obtained fromother men.13/7Hence the use of spies, of whom there are five classes:

Local Spies

Inward

Spies

ConvertedSpies

DoomedSpies

SurvivingSpies

13/8When these five kinds of spy are all at work, none can discover thesecret system. This is called divine manipulation of the threads.It is the sovereign's most precious faculty.13/9Having Local Spies means employing the services of the inhabitantsof a district.13/10

Having Inward Spies, making use of officials of the enemy.13/11Having Converted Spies, getting hold of the enemy's spies and usingthem for our own purposes.13/12Having Doomed Spies, doing certain things openly for purposes ofdeception, and allowing our spies to know of them and report themto the enemy.


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13/13Surviving Spies, finally, are those who bring back news from theenemy's camp.13/14Maintain the most intimate relations with spies. None should bemore liberally rewarded. In no other business should greatersecrecy be preserved.13/15Spies cannot be usefully employed without a certain intuitiveshrewdness.13/16They cannot be properly managed without benevolence andstraightforwardness.13/17Without subtle ingenuity of mind, one cannot make certain of thetruth of their reports.13/18 Besubtle! Be subtle! And use your spies for every kind of

business.13/19 Ifa secret piece of news is divulged by a spy before the time isripe, he must be put to death together with the man to whom thesecret was told.13/20Whether the object be to crush an army, to storm a city, or toassassinate an individual, it is always necessary to begin byfinding out the names of the attendants, the aides-de-camp, anddoor-keepers and sentries of the general in command. Our spies mustbe commissioned to ascertain these.

13/21The enemy's spies who have come to spy on us must be sought out,tempted with bribes, led away and comfortably housed. Thus theywill become converted spies and available for our service.13/22 Itis through the information brought by the converted spy that we areable to acquire and employ local and inward spies.13/23 Itis owing to his information, again, that we can cause the doomedspy to carry false tidings to the enemy.

13/24Lastly, it is by his information that the surviving spy can be usedon appointed occasions.13/25The end and aim of spying in all its five varieties is knowledge ofthe enemy; and this knowledge can only be derived, in the firstinstance, from the converted spy. Hence it is essential that theconverted spy be treated with the utmost liberality.


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13/26Hence it is only the enlightened ruler and the wise general whowill use the highest intelligence of the army for purposes ofspying and thereby they achieve great results. Spies are a mostimportant element, because on them depends an army's ability tomove.EndsBack to Top

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193763887 the Art of War in Plain English Digital Edition With Active Table of Contents

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