Sun Tzu's Art of War

Sun Tzu’s Art of War Page 1
1 : THE STRATEGY OF WAR
War is a matter of vital importance to the State, a matter of Life and Death, a road
either to survival or to ruin. It is mandatory that it be thoroughly studied.
Whether a nation should go to war is governed by 5 fundamental factors. They are :
1) Unity of Purpose causes the people to be in complete accord with their

leaders, both sharing one aim, both in harmony through life and death, without
regard for dangers.
2) Climate signifies the conduct of military operations in accordance with the

interaction of natural forces, night and day, cold and heat, times and seasons.
3) Geography comprises distances, the ease or difficulty of travel, open or

constricted terrain and the chances of safety and destruction.
4) Leadership stands for the 5 virtues. They are :
- Wisdom
- Sincerity
- Humanity
- Courage
- Discipline
5) System refers to organisation, control, hierarchical order of rank, system for

rewards and punishments, logistics, equipment and weapons and control of
military expenditures.
Every general should be familiar with the 5 above-mentioned constants.

He who remembers them will be victorious.
He who forgets them will fail.
Therefore, in your deliberations, when seeking to determine the military conditions,

let them be the basis for which you make comparisons by.
Whether a nation would win in war is governed by 7 elements. One can forecast the
side most likely to emerge victorious from the conflict by analysing which side :
- is imbued with a common purpose ?
- has more able leadership ?
- has the geographical and climatic advantage ?
- has more effective discipline and carrying out of orders ?
- is stronger numerically ?
- is more highly trained ?
- has a more enlightened application of punishment and reward ?
If a general heeds my counsel on strategy; he will win, retain him !

If a general ignores my counsel on strategy; he will lose, dismiss him !
While heeding the profit of my counsel, the general must create situations which will
contribute to their accomplishments. He should act expediently in accordance with
advantageous circumstances, modifying his plans. Forces are to be structured
strategically, based on what is advantageous.
All warfare is based on deception.
When able, we must seem unable,

when active, we must seem inactive,
when we are near, we must appear to be far,
when we are far, we must appear to be near.
Offer prospects of gain to entice the enemy. Feign disorder, confuse and crush him.
If the enemy concentrates, be prepared to receive him.
If the enemy is in superior strength, evade him.
If the enemy is of choleric temper, irritate him.
Pretend to be weak and encourage his arrogance.
Force him to move, give him no rest and wear him down.
When he is united, divide him.
Attack him where he is unprepared.
Appear where he does not expect you.
These are keys to strategic victory. We cannot discuss them as though actual field
operations will definitely go as planned.
The general who wins a battle makes many calculations to determine the strategic
factors, advantages and disadvantages beforehand. The general who loses a battle
makes less calculations. Many calculations lead to victory, few calculations to defeat,
how much more if no calculations were made at all !
2 : THE ECONOMICS OF WAR
In war, substantial expenditures are required to field and mobilise an army.
Victory is the main object in war. If it is long in coming, the men's weapons will grow
dull and their morale will be depressed. When troops attack cities, strength will be
exhausted.
If the campaign is protracted, the resources of the State will not equal to the strain.
Strength exhausted and treasury spent, other nations will spring up and take
advantage of your extremity. Then no man however wise will be able to avert the
consequences that must ensue.
Though we have heard of stupid haste in war, we have yet to see a clever operation
that is prolonged. No nation has benefited from protracted war.
Only those who are thoroughly acquainted with the consequences and
dangers of war can thoroughly understand the advantageous ways of
conducting war.
The skilful general should not need to raise a second levy of conscripts, nor
provision his supply wagons more than twice.
Bring equipment needed to wage war from home, but forage on the enemy.
Thus the army will have food enough for its needs. One cartload of the
enemy's provisions is equivalent to twenty of one's own.
When a nation is impoverished by military operations, it is due to the need to

supply an army over a great distance. Carriage of supplies for great distances
renders the people destitute.
The proximity of an army causes prices to go up, draining the people's wealth
and heavy exactions will be imposed on the populace.
In order to kill the enemy, the troops must be aroused to anger. Motivated by
the share of war spoils, they will strive to defeat the enemy.
When, in chariot fighting, more than ten chariots are captured, reward those
who take the first. Replace the enemy’s flags with our own flags, the chariots
mingled and used in conjunction with ours. Prisoners of war should be treated
kindly and cared for. This is called "winning a battle and becoming stronger".
In war, the objective is victory, not lengthy campaigns. Therefore, the general
who understands war is the Minister of the people’s fate and arbiter of the
nation’s destiny.
3 : THE OFFENSIVE
In war, the best policy is to capture the enemy’s state intact, the worst policy is to
ruin it. Likewise, it is better to capture an army than to destroy it.
To win one hundred victories in one hundred battles is not the acme of skill.
Supreme excellence in warfare is subduing the enemy without fighting. This quality is
called “ winning without fighting”.
Superior strategy against an enemy is therefore ranked in this order :

to attack his plans and strategy
to attack his alliances
to attack his army in the field
to attack his cities.
Attacking cities is the worst policy. Attack only when there is no alternative. Do not
besiege walled cities if it can possibly be avoided. Preparing for the siege is time-
consuming enough, let alone conducting the siege itself. Siege preparations tie up
substantial war material.
The general unable to wait will launch his men to assault the city's walls, with the
result that one-third of them will be slain, and the city remains untaken.
The skilful leader subdues the enemy's troops without any fighting, captures their
cities without laying siege and overthrows their kingdoms without lengthy operations.
Your aim must be to take All-Under-Heaven intact. Thus your troops are not worn out
and your gains will be complete. This is the art of offensive strategy.
In field operations, the rule is if our forces number against the enemy :
10 to 1, surround him
5 to 1, attack him
2 to 1, divide him
1 to 1, engage him
slightly inferior, be capable of disengaging and withdrawing
- unequal in every way, elude him. A smaller force, however obstinate merely
waits to be captured.
There are 3 ways by which a sovereign can bring misfortune upon his army, by :
- commanding it to advance when it should not;
- to retreat when it should not
- governing it by civil administration, employing and promoting army officers
without discrimination; confusing the exercise of responsibilities.
When the civilian leadership shares equally in the command of the army, the soldiers
will be perplexed. When the army is confused, suspicious and fractured,
neighbouring sovereigns will cause trouble. This is what is meant by the saying " A
confused army leads to another's victory".
There are 5 circumstances in which victory may be predicted. The general must :
- know when to fight and when not to fight
- know how to handle different types of forces
- animate his army with one same spirit and purpose
- be prepared and takes on an unprepared enemy
- be militarily able and not hampered by the sovereign
Know the enemy and yourself, you need not fear a hundred battles.
Know yourself and not the enemy, the chances of wining or losing are equal.
Know not yourself nor the enemy, you will succumb in every battle.
4 : THE DEFENSIVE
In the ancient days, the supreme warriors first ensure their invincibility by putting
themselves beyond defeat, and then waited for their enemy's moment of
vulnerability. Prevention of our defeat lies in our own hands, but the opportunity for
defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself. Invincibility lies in oneself,
vulnerability lies in the enemy.
Security against defeat implies defensive tactics, but to defeat the enemy means
taking the offensive. Invincibility is a matter of defence, vulnerability is a matter of
offence.
Defence is for times of inadequate strength, attack is for times of surplus strength.
Experts in defence hide as under the ninefold Earth.
Experts in attack plunges as from the ninefold Heavens.
To foresee a victory which the ordinary man can foresee is not the acme of skill.
To triumph in battle and be universally acclaimed is not the acme of skill.

Lifting an autumn down requires no great strength; distinguishing between the sun
and the moon is no test of great vision, hearing the thunderclap is no test of acute
hearing.
Anciently those called skilled in war, conquered an enemy easily conquered. A wise
warrior is one who not only wins all the time, but excels in winning with ease and
therefore his victories gain him neither reputation for wisdom nor merit for valour. For
he wins his victories without erring. Making no mistakes is what establishes the
certainty of victory, for it means conquering an enemy that is already defeated.
Therefore, the skilful warrior makes no errors about preventing his own defeat.
Likewise, he misses no opportunity when the moment arises for defeating the
enemy. The superior strategist only seeks battle after the victory has been won. The
inferior strategist fights in hope for victory.
Consummate leaders cultivate Virtue, strictly adhering to law and discipline, make
institutions to strengthen their governments’ invincibility, formulating victorious
policies; and thereby prevail over lesser leaders and lesser governments.
In war, victory depends on weighing of chances for success or failure, which in turn
depends on calculations on application of forces, which depends onassessments of
expenditure, which depend on measurements, which depend on circumstances and
terrain.
A victorious army is analogous to a hundredweight balanced against a single grain.

A defeated army is analogous to a grain balanced against a hundredweight. The
onrush of a conquering force is like the bursting forth of pent-up waters into a
thousand fathom deep chasm.
5 : FORCE
The management of a large force is the same in principle as in the management of a

small force. It is a matter of organisation and division of numbers.
The control of a large force is the same in principle as in the control of a small
force. It is a question of formations and the instituting of signs and signals.
To ensure that your whole force may withstand the brunt of enemy attack -
this is a question of manoeuvres, direct and indirect.
The impact of your army on the enemy must be like that of a millstone thrown
against an egg. This is a question of the science of emptiness and fullness, of weak
and strong points.
To engage, use the direct method, but to win, use the indirect method. The
combination of the direct and indirect methods give rise to an endless series of
manoeuvres. They lead to each other and is cyclical. Who can exhaust the
possibilities of their combination ?
The musical notes are only 5 in number but their melodies are so numerous that one
cannot hear them all. The primary colours are only 5 in number but their
combinations are so infinite that one cannot visualise them all. The flavours are only
5 in number but their blends are so various that one cannot taste them all.
In battle there are only the direct and indirect forces, but their combinations are
limitless; none can comprehend them all. For these two forces are mutually
reproductive their interaction as endless as that of interlocked rings. Who can
determine where one ends and the other begins ?
When torrential water tosses boulders, it is due to momentum.

When the strike of a hawk breaks the body of its prey, it is due to timing.
For one skilled at war, his momentum is overwhelming and his attack precisely
timed.
Potential for momentum may be likened to the bending of a cross-bow.
Timing may be likened to the release of the trigger.
In the tumult and uproar, the battle seems chaotic but there is no real disorder at all.
Simulated confusion can be produced only through good order and perfect discipline.
Apparent cowardice can be produced only through extreme courage.
Apparent weakness can be produced only through great strength.
Order and disorder depends on organisation.

Courage or cowardice depends on the circumstances.
Strength or weakness depends on tactical dispositions.
Those who are skilled at making the enemy move, do so by creating a situation to
which the enemy must conform. They sacrifice something the enemy is bound to
take, and there they lie in wait for him in strength.
The skilful commander seeks victory from the situation and not demanding it from his
men. The clever combatant looks to the effect of combined energy and does not
expect too much from individual efforts.
The skilful commander employs the right people and applies their respective talents
to accomplish and exploit the situation.
He who leads men in battle, uses them like one who roll stones. Now the nature of
stones is such that on level ground, they are stable; on slopes, they move. If four-
cornered, they come to a stand-still; if round-shaped, to continue rolling down. Thus
if the potential of troops are skilfully utilised in battle, their momentum is likened to
that of round boulders rolled from great mountain heights.
6 : EMPTINESS AND FULLNESS
Whoever is first in the field and await the coming of the enemy will be fresh for the
fight. Whoever is second in the field and has to hasten to battle will arrive exhausted.
Therefore, a clever combatant imposes his will on the enemy but does not allow the
enemy's will be imposed on him.
Therefore those skilled in war bring the enemy to the field and are not brought there
by the enemy.
By holding out advantages, the enemy can be caused to approach.
By threatening harm, the enemy can be discouraged to draw near.
If the enemy is taking his ease, harass him.

If well fed, starve him.
If quietly encamped, force him to move.
Appear at points which the enemy must hasten to defend. March swiftly to places
you are not expected.
You may march a great distance without weariness only if there is no enemy.
You can be certain to take what you attack if you attack positions which cannot be
defended. You can be certain to hold what you defend if you hold positions that
cannot be attacked.
Against those skilled in attack, an enemy does not know where to defend.
Against those skilled in defence, an enemy does not know where to attack.
The skilful general is invisible and inaudible, he leaves no trace. Thus he is the
master of his enemy's fate.
He whose advance is irresistible plunges into his enemy's weak positions.

He whose withdrawal cannot be pursued moves so swiftly that he cannot be
overtaken.
If I wish to fight, we can force the enemy to engage even though he be sheltered
behind a high rampart and a deep moat, for I attack a position he must succour.
If I wish to avoid battle, the enemy will be unable to attack me because I divert him
from going where he wishes.
By discovering the enemy's dispositions and concealing my own, I can concentrate

and he must divide. Concentrating whilst the enemy must divide, I can pit my entire
strength to attack a fraction of his. Being many against the enemy's few, those I deal
with will be in dire straits.
The enemy must not know where I intend to give battle. If, where I intend to fight is
unknown to the enemy, he must prepare against a possible attack in a great many
places. With his forces, widely distributed, the numbers I face at any given point will
be proportionately fewer.
Should the enemy strengthen his van, the rear will be weakened.
Should he strengthen his rear, the van will be weakened.
Should he strengthen his left, the right will be weakened.
Should he strengthen his right, the left will be weakened.
If he prepares everywhere, he will be weak everywhere.
One who has few must prepare against the enemy.

One who has many makes the enemy prepare against him.
Knowing the place and the time of the coming battle, my troops can march from a
great distance and meet on the field. But if neither time or place be known, the left
wing will be impotent to succour the right, the right equally impotent to succour the
left. The van unable to relieve the rear, and the rear to support the van. How much
more is this so when separated by several tens of miles or indeed by even a few !
Though the enemy be stronger in numbers, of what benefit is this superiority in

respect to the outcome ? Thus I say that victory can be created. For even if the
enemy is numerous, I can prevent him from engaging.
Scheme to discover the enemy’s plans and you will know which strategy will be
successful and which will not.
Agitate him and ascertain the pattern of movement from his reaction.
Determine his dispositions and so ascertain the field of battle.
Probe him to reveal his strong and vulnerable spots.
In making tactical dispositions, the ultimate is to be without ascertainable shape.

Concealing your dispositions, then the most penetrating spies cannot pry in nor can
the wise lay plans against you.
It is according to the shapes that I lay the plans for victory, but the multitude does not
comprehend this. All men can see the outwards aspects by which I conquer, but
none can understand the way in which I have created victory.
When I have won a victory, I do not repeat my tactics but respond to circumstances
in an infinite variety of ways.
Like water avoiding heights and seeking the lowlands, the army avoids strength and
“fullness” and strikes at weakness and “emptiness”. Water shapes its course
according to the nature of the ground over which it flows. So an army shapes its
victory in accordance with the situation of the enemy.
He who can modify his tactics in relation to his opponent and thereby succeed in
winning may be called a heaven-born captain.
Just as water retains no constant shape, in war, there are no constant conditions.
None of the five elements of water, fire, wood, metal and earth are always pre-
dominant. The four seasons give way to each other in turn. There are days, long and
short. The moon waxes and wanes.
7 : MANOEUVRING
When the army is employed, the general first receives his commands from the
sovereign. He assembles the troops and mobilises the people. He blend the different
elements of the army into a harmonious entity.
Nothing is more difficult than the art of manoeuvre. What is difficult about manoeuvre
is to make the devious route the most direct and to turn misfortune to advantage.
Thus march by an indirect route and divert the enemy by enticing him with a bait. So
doing, though starting after him, you arrive before him. One able to do this
understands the strategy of the direct and indirect.
There is both advantage and danger in any manoeuvre. It is the quality of your
troops' discipline that magnifies the advantage or danger. Manoeuvring with a
disciplined army is advantageous; manoeuvring with an undisciplined army, most
dangerous.
One who sets the entire army in motion to chase an advantage will not attain it. If he
abandons the camp to contend for advantage, the stores will be lost.
If an army is force marched over great distances :
- your divisional leaders may be captured by the enemy

- the strong men will arrive but the jaded fall behind
- the army may lose its baggage train
An army is lost if it loses its heavy equipment, fodder, food and stores.
Those who do not know the conditions of mountains and forests, hazardous defiles,
marshes and swamps, cannot conduct the march of an army.
Those who do not use local guides are unable to obtain the advantages of the
ground.
Now war is based on deception. Move when it is advantageous and create changes
in the situation by dispersal and concentration of forces.
When campaigning, be as swift as the wind;

When massing, be as compact as the forest;
When raiding and plundering, be like a fire;
When immovable, be like a mountain.
As unfathomable as the clouds, move like a thunderbolt.
When you plunder, divide and share the spoil amongst your men. When you conquer
territory, divide and share the profit.
Weigh the situation before moving. He who knows the art of the direct and indirect
approach will be victorious. This is the art of manoeuvring.
The Book of Army Management says : " On the field of battle, the spoken word does
not carry far enough, hence the institution of gongs and drums. Nor can ordinary
objects be seen clearly enough, hence the institution of banners and flags. These
are the means whereby the ears and eyes of the host may be focused ".
The host forming a single united body, it is impossible for the brave to advance alone
or for the cowardly to retreat alone. This is the art of handling large masses of men.
In night fighting, use many torches and drums.

In day fighting, use many banners and flags.
An army may be robbed of its morale, its commander deprived of his presence of
mind.
Now a soldier's spirit is keenest in the morning; by noon, it has begun to flag, and in
the evening, his mind is bent on returning to camp. The clever general avoids an
army when its spirit is keen and full but attacks it when its spirit is sluggish and
empty. This is control of the morale factor.
Disciplined and calm, awaiting the appearance of disorder amongst the enemy. This
is control of the mental factor.
To be near the goal while the enemy is still far away. To be at ease while the enemy
is toiling and struggling. To be well-fed while the enemy is famished. This is control
of the physical factor.
To refrain from intercepting an enemy whose banners are in perfect order, to refrain
from attacking an army drawn up in calm and confident array. This is the control of
the circumstantial factor.
Do not advance uphill against the enemy.

Do not confront him when he attacks, coming downhill.
Do not pursue an enemy who stimulates flight,
Do not attack soldiers who temper is keen,
Do not swallow a bait offered by the enemy,
Do not interfere with an army that is returning home,
To a surrounded enemy, you must leave a way of escape.
Do not press a desperate foe at bay.
This is the method of employing troops.

8 : NINE VARIABLES
In low-lying ground, do not encamp.

In communicating ground, unite with your allies.
In desolate ground, do not linger.
In enclosed ground, be resourceful.
In death ground, fight.
There are certain roads which must not be followed.
There are certain armies which must not be attacked.
There are certain cities which must not be besieged
There are certain positions which must not be contested.
There are occasions when the commands of the sovereign need not be obeyed.
A general thoroughly versed in the advantages of the nine variable factors knows
how to employ troops.
The general who does not understand the advantages of the nine variable factors
will not be able to use the ground to his advantage even though familiar with it, nor
how to use his troops effectively.
The wise general in his deliberations must consider both favourable and
unfavourable factors.
By taking into account of the favourable factors, he makes his plans feasible.
By taking into account of the unfavourable factors, he may resolve the difficulties.
If, in the midst of difficulties, we must always be ready to seize an advantage, we

may extricate ourselves from misfortune.
He who intimidates his enemies do so by inflicting injury upon them.

He wearies them by keeping them constantly occupied, and make them rush hither
thither by offering them ostensible advantages.
The art of war rely not on the likelihood of the enemy's not coming, but on one’s
readiness to receive him; not on the chance of his not attacking, but rather to make
oneself invincible.
There are 5 traits which are dangerous in the character of a general :

- recklessness, which leads to destruction
- cowardice, which leads to capture
- a hasty temper, which can be provoked by insults
- a delicacy of honour, which is sensitive to shame
- compassion, which can be harassed.
Now these traits are serious faults in a general and in military operations, calamitous.
The ruin of the army and the death of the general are inevitable results of these
shortcomings. They must be deeply pondered.
9 : MARCHES
Pass quickly over mountains. Stay close to valleys but camp on high ground. Fight
downhill, do not ascend to attack. So much for taking positions in the mountains.
After crossing a river, move some distance away from it. When an advancing enemy
crosses water, do not meet him at the water's edge. It is advantageous to allow half
his force to cross and then strike If you wish to give battle, retire from the banks to
lure the enemy to attempt a crossing. Allow half his force to cross and then deliver
your attack. Moor your craft further upstream than your enemies. Do not take
position downstream. So much for taking positions near rivers.
Cross salt marshes quickly. Do not linger in them. If you encounter the enemy
therein, cover your flanks by taking position close to grass and water with trees to
your rear. So much for taking positions in salt marshes.
In level ground, occupy a position which facilitates your action. With the heights to
your rear and right, the field of battle is to the front and the rear is safe. So much for
taking positions in level ground.
Generally, these are advantageous for positioning the army in the four situations
named. By using them, the Yellow Emperor conquered four sovereigns.
An army prefers high ground to low, sunlight to shade. Thus while nourishing its
health, the army occupies a firm position. An army that does not suffer from
countless diseases is said to be certain of victory.
When near mounds, foothills, dikes or embankments, you must take position on the
sunny side and rest your right and rear on them.
Avoid deep natural hollows, precipitous torrents, quagmires, crevasses, tangled

thickets, confined spaces and narrow gorges. March speedily away from them. While
we keep our distance from such places, we should get the enemy to approach them.
While we face them, we should let the enemy have them at his rear.
If in the neighbourhood of your camp, there should be hilly country, ponds

surrounded by aquatic grass, woods thick with undergrowth; search them out for
these are places where ambushes are laid and spies are hidden.
When the enemy is close and remains quiet, he is relying on the natural strength of
his position. When he challenges from afar to battle, he wishes to lure you to
advance.
When trees are seen to move, the enemy is moving amongst them. When many
obstacles have been placed in the undergrowth, a deception is afoot. Birds rising in
flight is a sign that the enemy is lying in ambush; when the wild animals are startled
and flee, he is trying to take you unaware.
Dust spurting upward in high straight columns indicates the approach of chariots.
When it hangs low and is widespread, infantry is approaching. When dust rises in
shattered areas, the enemy is bringing in firewood; when there are numerous small
patches which seem to come and go, he is encamping the army.
Humble words from the enemy's envoys but he continues his preparations are signs
that the enemy is about to advance. Violent language and pretentious advances are
signs that he will retreat. When the envoys speak in apologetic terms, he wishes a
respite. Peace proposals without a previous understanding suggests the enemy to
be plotting.
When the light chariots come out first and take up positions on the wings and when
there is much running about and soldiers fall into rank, it means that the enemy is
forming for battle and the critical time has come.
When his troops march speedily and he parades his battle chariots, he is expecting
to rendezvous with reinforcements.
When half his force advances and the other half withdraws, he is attempting to
decoy you.
When his troops lean on their weapons, they are famished.
When those sent to draw water begin first by drinking themselves, the army is
suffering from thirst.
When the enemy sees an advantage but makes no effort to secure it, the soldiers
are exhausted.
When birds gather above his camp sites, they are empty.
When the enemy's camp is clamorous at night, he is fearful, nervous and insecure.
If the troops are disorderly, the general's authority is weak.
When his flags and banners move about constantly, he is in disarray.
If the officers are short-tempered, they are fatigued.
When the enemy feeds grain to the horses, and all the cattle are slaughtered for food
and when the troops neither hang up their cooking pots nor return to their tents, the
enemy is desperate and they are determined to fight to the death.
When the troops continually gather in small groups and whisper together, the
general has lost the confidence of the army.
Too frequent rewards indicate that the general is at the end of his resources.
Too frequent punishments indicate that the general is in acute distress.
If the officers at first treat the men violently and later are fearful of them, the limit of
discipline has been reached.
When the troops displays aggressive behaviour and although facing you does not
offer battle nor leave, you must thoroughly investigate the situation. This situation
demands great vigilance and circumspection.
In war, numbers alone confer no advantage. Do not advance relying on sheer

military power.
It is sufficient to estimate the enemy’s situation correctly and to concentrate your

strength to capture him. There is no more to it than this. He who lacks foresight and
underestimates his enemy will surely be captured by him.
If troops are punished before their loyalty is secured, they will be disobedient. If not
obedient, it is difficult to employ them. Even if the troops are loyal, but punishments
are not enforced, you cannot employ them.
Therefore, soldiers must be treated in the first instance with humanity but kept under
control by strict discipline. Imbued them uniformly with martial ardour.
The use of consistent and effective commands produces a well-disciplined army.

Otherwise, they will be disobedient.
When orders are consistently trustworthy and observed by the troops, the
relationship of a general with his troops is satisfactory.
10 : TERRAIN
Terrain may be classified according to its nature as :

- accessible
- entrapping
- indecisive
- narrow
- precipitous
- distant
Ground which both we and the enemy can traverse with equal ease is called
accessible ground.
Ground easy to get out but difficult to re-occupy is called entrapping ground. The
nature of this ground is such that if the enemy is unprepared, when you sally out, you
may defeat him. If the enemy is prepared and you go out to engage, if you are
defeated, return is impossible and disaster will follow.
Ground equally disadvantageous for both the enemy and ourselves to enter is
indecisive. In such ground, neither side benefits by making the first move. The nature
of this ground is such that although the enemy holds out a bait, I do not go forth. In
such ground, one should retreat and entice the enemy. When part of the enemy
force is drawn out, I can strike advantageously.
If I first occupy narrow ground, I must block the passes and await the enemy. If the
enemy first occupies such ground and blocks the defiles, I should not follow him; if
he does not block them completely, I may do so.
In precipitous ground, I must take the high position on the sunny heights and await
the enemy. If he occupies it first, I lure him by marching off; I do not follow him.
If you are situated from a great distance from an enemy whose army is of equal
strength, it is difficult to provoke battle and unprofitable to engage in his chosen
position.
These are the principles relating to 6 different types of ground. It is the highest
responsibility of the general to inquire into them with the utmost care.
When troops
- flee
- are insubordinate
- distressed
- collapse
- are in disorder
- are routed
it is the fault of the general and they are not attributable to natural causes.
Other conditions being equal, the result of applying a force weaker against a
stronger foe is flight.
The result of strong soldiers led by weak officers is insubordination.
The result of strong officers commanding weak soldiers is distress.
The result of angry and insubordinate officers rush into battle when encountering the
enemy without understanding the feasibility of engaging and without awaiting orders
from the general, is collapse.
The result of a weak general whose his discipline is not strict, his orders ambiguous,
duties are assigned to officers and men are inconsistent, and the ranks are formed
slovenly, is disorder.
The result of a general failing to estimate his enemy, uses a small force to engage a
large one or weak troops to strike the strong or when he fails to employ shock troops
for the van, is a rout.
When any of these 6 conditions prevails, the army is on the road to defeat. It is the
highest responsibility of the general that he examine them carefully.
Conformation of the ground is of the greatest assistance in battle.
To estimate the enemy’s situation, to calculate distances and degree of difficulty of

the terrain so as to control victory are the virtues of the superior general. He who
fights with full knowledge of these factors is certain to win; he who does not will
surely be defeated.
If fighting is sure to result in victory, then the general must fight even though the
sovereign forbids it. However, if fighting will not result in victory, the general must not
fight even at the sovereign's bidding.
Therefore, the general advances not seeking personal glory and retreats not fearing
punishment and disgrace, but whose only purpose is to protect the people and
promote the best interests of his sovereign, is the precious jewel of the state.
Such general regards his men as his children, and they follow him into the deepest
valleys, standing by him even unto death.
If a general indulges his troops but is unable to employ them,

if he loves them but cannot enforce his commands,
if they are disorderly but is unable to control them,
then the troops are spoilt , and are useless.
If we know that our men are capable of striking the enemy but is unaware that the
enemy is invincible to attack, our probability for victory is but half.
If we know that the enemy is vulnerable to attack but is unaware that our men are
incapable of delivering the blow, our probability for victory is but half.
If we know that the enemy is vulnerable to attack but do not realise that the nature of
the ground makes fighting impracticable, our probability for victory is but half.
Therefore, when those experienced in war move; they make no mistakes. When they
act, their resources are limitless.
Know the enemy, know yourself, your victory will never be in doubt. Know the
ground, know the weather; your victory will be complete.
11 : NINE BATTLEGROUNDS
In respect to the employment of troops, ground may be classified into 9 categories :

- dispersive
- frontier
- key
- accessible
- focal
- hostile
- treacherous
- encircled
- death
When one fights in his own territory, he is in dispersive ground, where the men are
anxious to return to their nearby homes. Avoid fighting in your own dispersive
ground. Unify the army in spirit and strengthen its determination.
When one makes a shallow penetration of enemy territory, he is in frontier ground.

Do not stop at the frontier lands. Tighten up the lines and link up the forces.
Ground equally advantageous for the enemy or ourselves to occupy is key ground.
Do not attack an enemy occupying key ground. Hasten up the rear elements.
Ground equally open to both the enemy and ourselves is accessible ground. In such
ground which grants liberty of movement, close formations. Pay strict attention to the
defences.
When the territory is enclosed by other countries, it is focal ground. Whoever holds it
holds the key to Empire. In focal ground, ally with the neighbouring countries.
Strengthen the alliances.
When the army has penetrated deep into enemy territory, leaving behind many
enemy cities, it is in hostile ground. In such ground, plunder. Ensure a continuous
flow of provisions. Keep the supply lines open.
When the army traverses mountains, forests, precipitous country, marches through
defiles, marshlands or swamps or any place where the going is hard, it is in
treacherous ground. Do not stay in such ground, press on quickly. Keep on the road
as much as possible.
Ground to which access is constricted where the way our is tortuous and where a
small force can bottle up and strike a larger force is called encircled ground. In such
grounds, devise stratagems. Secure the points of entry and exit.
Ground in which the army survives only if it fights with the courage born of
desperation is called death ground. In such ground, do not delay the engagement,
fight ! Make it evident to the troops that desperate efforts are required. For it is the
nature of troops to resist when surrounded, to fight to the death if there is no
alternative and to follow commands implicitly when desperate.
The tactical variations appropriate to the 9 types of battlegrounds, the advantages of

close or extended deployment, and the principles of human nature are matters the
general must examine with the greatest care.
Anciently, those skilled in war made it impossible for the enemy to unite his van and
rear, prevented co-operation of his elements both large and small, hindered good
troops from rescuing the poorer troops and confounded the officers' ability to rally
subordinates and to support each other.
When the enemy's forces are dispersed, they prevented him from concentrating
them. When the enemy's forces are concentrated, they threw them into confusion
and kept them disordered.
They concentrated and moved only when advantageous to do so. When not
advantageous, they stopped.
Should one ask " How do I cope with a well-ordered enemy host about to attack ?". I
reply " Seize something he holds dear, and he will conform to your will".
Speed is the essence of war.

Take advantage of the enemy's unreadiness.
Travel by unexpected routes.
Attack unguarded positions.
The general principles applicable to an invading force are that when you have
penetrated deeply into hostile territory, the greater need for your army's solidarity
and the defender cannot overcome you.
Make forays in fertile country to supply the army with plentiful provisions and food.
Pay heed to the well-being of the troops and nourish them. Do not unnecessarily
fatigue them. Do not overtax them. Conserve energy and concentrate strength. Unite
the army in spirit. Devise unfathomable plans for the movements of the army.
Throw the troops into a position from which there is no escape and even when faced
with death, they will not flee. For if prepared to die, there is nothing they may not
achieve. Officers and men alike will exert their uttermost strength.
In dire straits, soldiers lose the sense of fear. If there is no refuge, they stand firm.
Deep in a hostile land, they are bound together. When there is no alternative, they
will fight to the end.
Thus such troops need no encouragement to be vigilant.

Without extorting their support, the general obtains it.
Without inviting their affection, he gains it.
Without demanding their trust, he wins it.
If one's troops have no surplus of wealth, it is not because they disdain worldly
goods. If one's troops do not expect long lives, it is not because they dislike
longevity.
On the day of battle, the army may weep. But when it is in a situation where there is
no escape and is brought to bay, it will display the immortal courage of Chuan Chu
and Tsao Kuei.
The skilful tactician may be likened to the shuai-jan snake of Mount Ch'ang.
Strike at its 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 you will be attacked by both head and tail.
Should one ask “Can troops be made capable of such instanteous co-ordination ?”, I
should answer, “Yes”. For the men of Wu and men of Yueh are enemies; yet if they
are crossing a river in the same boat and are caught by a storm, they will help each
other just as the left hand helps the right.
Tethering the horses and burying chariot wheels are not enough.
To cultivate a uniform level of valour is the object of military administration.

And it is by proper use of ground that both shock and flexible forces are used to the
best advantage.
The general must appear serene and inscrutable, impartial and self-controlled. His
troops may join him in rejoicing at an accomplishment but they cannot join him in
laying plans. He must keep them in total ignorance.
He prohibits superstitious practices and so rids the army of doubts. Then until the
moment of death, there can be no troubles.
By altering his arrangements and changing his plans, he keeps the enemy ignorant.
By shifting camps and taking circuitous routes, he prevents the enemy from
anticipating his purpose.
To assemble the army and throw it into a desperate position is the business of the
general. He leads the army deep into hostile territory and there releases the trigger.
He burns his boats and smashes his cooking pots; he urges the army on as if driving
a flock of sheep, he drives his men hither thither and none knows whither he is
going.
He fixes a date for rendezvous and after the troops have met, cuts off their return
route. At the critical moment, he acts like one who has climbed a height and then
kicks away the ladder behind him.
One ignorant of plans of neighbouring states cannot prepare alliances in good time.
One ignorant of the conditions of mountains, forests, dangerous defiles, swamps and
marshes; he cannot conduct the march of an army.
If he fails to make use of native guides, he cannot gain the advantages of the
ground.
A general ignorant of even one of these 3 matters is unfit to command the armies of
a Hegemonic King.
When a Hegemonic King attacks a powerful state, he makes it impossible for the
enemy to concentrate. He overawes his opponents and prevent their allies from
joining them.
He does not contend against powerful combinations, nor does he foster the power of
other states. He relies for the attainment of his aims on his ability to overawe his
opponents. And so he can capture their cities and overthrow their kingdoms.
Bestow rewards without respect to customary practice.

Publish orders without respect to precedent.
Thus you may employ the entire army as you would one man.
Set your troops to their tasks without imparting your design.
Use them to gain advantage without revealing the dangers involved.

Throw them into a perilous situation and they survive.
Put them in death ground and they will live.
For when the army is placed in such situation, it can snatch victory from defeat.
Now the crux of military operations lies in the pretence of accommodating oneself to
the designs of the enemy.
By persistently hanging on the enemy's flank, we shall succeed in killing the

commander-in-chief in the long run.
On the day the policy to attack is put in place, close the frontier passes, rescind the
passports, break relations with the enemy's emissaries and exhort the temple council
to execute the plans.
When the enemy presents an opportunity, speedily take advantage of it.

Forestall your opponent by seizing what he holds dear.
Subtly contrive to time his arrival to the battleground.
The doctrine of war is to follow the enemy situation in order to decide on battle.
Therefore at first exhibit the shyness of a maiden. When the enemy gives you an
opening, be swift as a hare to exploit it, and he will be unable to withstand you.
12 : INCENDIARY ATTACK
There are 5 methods of attacking with fire :

- burning personnel
- burning provisions/stores
- burning equipment
- burning arsenal/magazines
- using incendiary missiles
To use fire, some medium must be relied upon. Equipment for setting fires must
always be at hand.
There are suitable times and appropriate days on which to raise fires. Times means
when the weather is scorching hot. Days means when the moon is in Sagittarius,
Alpharatz, I or Chien constellations. These are days of rising winds.
Attacking with fire, one must respond to the changing situation. One must be
prepared to meet 5 possible developments :
- when fire breaks out inside the enemy's camp, immediately coordinate your
attack from without
- if the enemy remains quiet, bide your time, do not attack
- when the conflagration peaks, attack if practicable; otherwise, stay put.
- if it is possible to make an incendiary assault, do not wait for it to break out
within, but deliver your attack at a favourable moment.
- when fires break out, be wind-ward of it. Do not attack from down-wind.
When the wind blows during the day, it will die down at night.
Now the army must know the 5 different fire-attack situations and be constantly
vigilant.
Those who use fire as a weapon demonstrates intelligence.

Those who use water as a weapon demonstrates strength.
Water can isolate or intercept an army but cannot destroy the enemy's supplies or
equipment.
Now to win battles and take your objectives, but to fail to exploit these achievements
is ominous and may be described as “wasteful delay”. Hence, the saying " The
enlightened sovereign lays his plans well ahead, the good general executes them."
If not in the interests of the State, do not act.

If you cannot succeed, do not use troops.
If you are not in danger, do not fight.
A sovereign should not raise an army because he is enraged.

A general should not fight because he is resentful.
An angered man may again be happy, a resentful man may again be pleased but a
state that has perished cannot be restored, nor can the dead be brought back to life.
Therefore the enlightened sovereign is prudent and careful, and the general is alert,
warned against rash action. Thus the state is kept secure and its army intact.
13 : ESPIONAGE
When an army mobilises, there is a drain on the State's resources. A heavy burden
is put on the people. There is commotion at home and abroad. The affairs of the
population is disrupted.
Hostile armies face each other for years, striving for the one day of victory. This
being so, to remain ignorant of the enemy's condition because one begrudges the
outlay of monies, honours or rank is to be completely devoid of humanity. Such a
man is no general, no support to his sovereign, and no master of victory.
What enables the wise sovereign and the good general to conquer the enemy and
achieve things beyond the reach of ordinary men is foreknowledge.
Foreknowledge cannot be obtained by consulting spirits and gods, nor by analogy of

past events nor by any deductive calculations. It must be obtained from men who
know the enemy's situation.
There are 5 classes of secret agents :

- local
- inside
- double
- expendable
- surviving
When these agents are at work and none knows their method of operation, they are
called “ The Divine Skein” and are the sovereign's most precious faculty.
Local agents are the enemy's people living in the country, whom we employ.
Inside agents are enemy officials whom we employ.
Double agents are enemy agents whom we manage to turn.
Expendable agents are our agents who are deliberately given fabricated information.
Surviving agents are those who return from the enemy camp with information.
Of all those in the army, close to the commander, none is more intimate than the
secret agent.
Of all rewards, none more liberal than those given to secret agents.
Of all matters, none more confidential than those relating to covert operations.
He who is not sage and wise, humane and just, cannot use secret agents. And he
who is not delicate and subtle cannot get the truth out of them.
Be subtle ! Be subtle ! There is no place where espionage is not used.
If plans relating to covert operations are prematurely divulged, both the agent and
those to whom he divulged the information must be put to death.
Whether the object be to crush an army, to storm a city or to assassinate an

individual, it is necessary to know the names of the commander, the staff officers,
the attendants, gate-keepers and bodyguards. You must instruct your agents to
inquire into these matters in minutest detail.
It is essential to establish counter-espionage. This way the enemy agents who have
come to conduct espionage against you, can be sought out, bribed, cared for and
turned. Thus they will become double agents and available for our service.
It is by means of the double agent that the local and inside agents can be recruited.
It is by means of the double agent that the expendable agent armed with
disinformation can be sent to convey it to the enemy.
It is by means of the double agent that surviving agents can be placed at the
appropriate times.
The sovereign must have full knowledge of the activities of the 5 sorts of agents.
This knowledge must come from the doubled agents, and therefore it is mandatory
that they be treated with the utmost liberality.
Of old, the rise of Yin was due to I Chih, who formerly served the Hsia;
the Chou came to power through Lu Yu, a servant of the Yin.
Therefore only the enlightened sovereign and the worthy general who are able to
use the most intelligent people as agents are certain to achieve great things. Covert
operations are essential in war. The army relies upon them to make its every move.

Sun Tzu's Art of War

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Sun Tzu's Art of War

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Sun Tzu’s Art of War Page 1

1 : THE STRATEGY OF WAR

Whether a nation should go to war is governed by 5 fundamental factors. They are :

1) Unity of Purpose causes the people to be in complete accord with their

2) Climate signifies the conduct of military operations in accordance with the

3) Geography comprises distances, the ease or difficulty of travel, open or

4) Leadership stands for the 5 virtues. They are :

5) System refers to organisation, control, hierarchical order of rank, system for

Every general should be familiar with the 5 above-mentioned constants.

Therefore, in your deliberations, when seeking to determine the military conditions,

If a general heeds my counsel on strategy; he will win, retain him !

All warfare is based on deception.

When able, we must seem unable,

2 : THE ECONOMICS OF WAR

In war, substantial expenditures are required to field and mobilise an army.

When a nation is impoverished by military operations, it is due to the need to

Superior strategy against an enemy is therefore ranked in this order :

To triumph in battle and be universally acclaimed is not the acme of skill.

A victorious army is analogous to a hundredweight balanced against a single grain.

The management of a large force is the same in principle as in the management of a

When torrential water tosses boulders, it is due to momentum.

Order and disorder depends on organisation.

6 : EMPTINESS AND FULLNESS

If the enemy is taking his ease, harass him.

He whose advance is irresistible plunges into his enemy's weak positions.

By discovering the enemy's dispositions and concealing my own, I can concentrate

One who has few must prepare against the enemy.

Though the enemy be stronger in numbers, of what benefit is this superiority in

In making tactical dispositions, the ultimate is to be without ascertainable shape.

If an army is force marched over great distances :

- your divisional leaders may be captured by the enemy

When campaigning, be as swift as the wind;

In night fighting, use many torches and drums.

Do not advance uphill against the enemy.

This is the method of employing troops.

In low-lying ground, do not encamp.

If, in the midst of difficulties, we must always be ready to seize an advantage, we

He who intimidates his enemies do so by inflicting injury upon them.

There are 5 traits which are dangerous in the character of a general :

Avoid deep natural hollows, precipitous torrents, quagmires, crevasses, tangled

If in the neighbourhood of your camp, there should be hilly country, ponds

When his troops lean on their weapons, they are famished.

If the troops are disorderly, the general's authority is weak.

When his flags and banners move about constantly, he is in disarray.

If the officers are short-tempered, they are fatigued.

In war, numbers alone confer no advantage. Do not advance relying on sheer

It is sufficient to estimate the enemy’s situation correctly and to concentrate your

The use of consistent and effective commands produces a well-disciplined army.

Terrain may be classified according to its nature as :

The result of strong soldiers led by weak officers is insubordination.

The result of strong officers commanding weak soldiers is distress.

Conformation of the ground is of the greatest assistance in battle.

To estimate the enemy’s situation, to calculate distances and degree of difficulty of

If a general indulges his troops but is unable to employ them,

In respect to the employment of troops, ground may be classified into 9 categories :

When one makes a shallow penetration of enemy territory, he is in frontier ground.

The tactical variations appropriate to the 9 types of battlegrounds, the advantages of

Speed is the essence of war.

Thus such troops need no encouragement to be vigilant.

To cultivate a uniform level of valour is the object of military administration.

Bestow rewards without respect to customary practice.

Set your troops to their tasks without imparting your design.