The Art of War
A summary of Sun Tzu's teachings on warfare.
These are the lessons of Sun Tzu on how a general must conduct warfare to guarantee success. Of course, these lessons are not directly applicable, however, one can effectively contextualise these points to challenges they face in everyday life.
Laying Plans
Five factors govern war.
A moral law that determines the accord of a ruler amongst its people.
Heaven which gives rise to night and day, cold and heat, through the revolving seasons.
The Earth on which the war is staged. Its distances, its obstacles and its ground.
The commander’s actions dictated by their wisdom, courage, strictness and benevolence.
The known strategies, and the discipline of the army to execute those strategies.
Thus to forecast the outcome of a war one need only ask themselves the following questions.
Who is imbued with moral law?
Which general has the most ability?
Who extracts the advantages of Earth and Heaven?
Where is discipline rigorously enforced?
Which army is stronger or better trained?
Which army is expertly managed through reward and punishment?
Understanding these principles of warfare a general can derive strategies to mitigate defeat. Ultimately, warfare is based on deception and thus requires forward thinking. Only the general who plans with extensive calculation will win the battle.
Waging War
Temporally wars should be fought on small scales, no one benefits from prolonged warfare. When waging a war, the general’s aim should always be for a concise victory.
Spatially there are trade-offs to consider for the remaining people. On the one hand, "contributing to maintain an army at a distance causes the people to be impoverished". On the other hand, "proximity of an army causes prices to go up; and high prices cause the people's substance to be drained away". Thus "bring war material with you from home, but forage on the enemy".
Emotionally fighters must be roused to a state of anger, and reap the rewards of their actions. Use "the conquered foe to augment one's own strength".
Attack by Stratagem
A supreme victory involves breaking the enemy's resistance without having to fight. It is only through the highest forms of leadership that a general may lead his army to a supreme victory. A general must seek ways to introduce hesitation in the enemy's plans and prevent the unification of enemy forces to act cohesively. This is the method of attacking by stratagem, with forces intact a general achieves victory without losing a man.
The method of attacking by stratagem hinges on an ability to provide misfortune to the enemy's army. A general can introduce misfortune into their army by commanding advances or retreats, governing their army as if it were a kingdom, and treating their officers without authority. Thus to command a victory one must know...
...when to fight and when not to fight.
...how to handle superior and inferior forces.
...animate their army with the same spirit.
...how to prepare.
...how to construct a military that is not interfered with by the sovereign.
"If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle."
Tactical Dispositions
Defeat lies not in the hands of the enemy but in the hands of the general. It is the responsibility of the general to secure their army from defeating themselves. Moreover, it is the responsibility of the general to put their army in a position to capitalise on the enemy's shortcomings. "To secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands, but the opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself". To mitigate the concept of defeat a leader must adhere to a set of moral laws to instil methods and discipline. The military method involves measuring, estimating quantities, calculating, and balancing chances to then claim victory.
Energy
Direct methods of battle involve concentrating energy forcibly in burst toward the enemy whereas indirect approaches tactically and relentlessly dissipate energy toward the enemy. Direct methods facilitate battle engagement, however, indirect approaches will secure victory. Both methods reinforce each other in turn. Indirect approaches, when efficiently applied, are inexhaustible as they pass away only to return once more.
A good fighter will engage their energy with prompt decision-making. It is the work of the general to foster an environment for a good fighter to emerge. "Simulated disorder postulates perfect discipline; simulated fear postulates courage; simulated weakness postulates strength".
A general’s desire to apply energy to his enemy goes hand-in-hand with a need to extract energy from his enemy. To do so a general must always keep the enemy moving and maintain a deceitful appearance.
Effectively utilising energy fosters a fluid and efficient army.
Weak Points and Strong
"The clever combatant imposes his will on the enemy, but does not allow the enemy's will to be imposed on him". The combatant must master the art of subtlety and secrecy, always moving swiftly to places not to be expected.
Subtlety and secrecy can overcome any disadvantage in numbers. In particular, "by discovering the enemy's dispositions and remaining invisible ourselves, we can keep our forces concentrated while the enemy's must be divided". Despite an enemy being in greater numbers, numerical superiority can be achieved by forcing the enemy to defend against multiple directions of attack.
Forcing the enemy to reveal himself can facilitate a strategy to exploit their weaknesses. However, for a general to not reveal themselves they must never repeat tactics that once gained victory. The general must have methods of infinite variability. "He who can modify his tactics in relation to his opponent and thereby succeed in winning, may be called a heaven-born captain".
Manoeuvring
Manoeuvring is acting upon deception to induce the enemy's misfortune. Movement should only be carried out if a real advantage is gained. If a manoeuvre is to be executed then it should be rapid like the wind, and compact like a forest. It should feel like a plundering into the fire for the enemy, and immovable like a mountain. The intentions of a manoeuvre should be obscure like night.
Thus one must be familiar with the face of the land before conducting a manoeuvre. Moreover, the entire army must be orchestrated to act collectively, for which the spoken word does not carry far enough. It is important to engage the eyes and ears of the army to evoke passion and foster cohesion. For night fighting make use of signal fires and drums, in day fighting make use of flags and banners.
The general must constantly study and display self-control to facilitate an effective manoeuvre.
Studying the moods helps avoid engaging a high-spirit enemy army.
Awaiting the appearance of disorder amongst the enemy leads to a more decisive manoeuvre.
One should wait whilst the enemy is toiling, and feed while whilst the enemy is famished.
"Refrain from attacking an army drawn up in calm and confident array".
It is important to leave an outlet free during a manoeuvre to accommodate changing circumstances. Do not press the desperate attacking foe too hard, for they will collapse.
The Army on the March
Understanding how to deal with an army on the march differentiates the good from the great generals. "When an invading force crosses a river...do not advance to meet it in mid-stream...let half the army get across, and then deliver your attack". Great generals engage invading forces when they are at their most disadvantaged.
A general must learn to read the intentions of an advancing enemy.
"When the enemy is closed at hand and remains quiet, he is relying on the natural strength of his position".
"When he keeps aloof and tries to provoke a battle, he is anxious for the other side to advance".
"If his place of encampment is easy of access, he is tendering a bait".
Moreover, "humble words and increased preparations are signs that the enemy is about to advance" with "violent language and driving forward as if to the attack" being signs that they'll retreat.
"If those who are sent to draw water begin drinking themselves, the army is suffering from thirst"; if the "army feeds its horses with grain and kills its cattle for food...men do not hang their cooking-pots...they are determined to fight to the death".
Leading soldiers on a march must be done with humanity and iron discipline. With this, a marching army will not be susceptible to an enemy engagement, and the road to victory is certain.
Terrain
There are different types of terrain that one ought to be aware of.
Accessible - "Ground which can be freely traversed by both sides".
Entangling - "Ground which can be abandoned but it hard to re-occupy".
Temporising ground - "When the position is such that neither side will gain by making the first move".
Narrow passes - Ground which if you occupy garrison and if your enemy forestalls do not go after him.
Precipitous heights - Ground raised and in sunny spots. If occupied by the enemy, do not follow him.
Great distances from the enemy - Difficult to provoke a battle and fighting will be to the attacker’s disadvantage.
In addition to knowing the terrain of the Earth, for a general, it is important to understand the terrain of their army. More specifically, how to operate their army and understand the state that it is in. There are six ways in which a general may misjudge their army.
Misjudging their capacity to deal with a larger enemy.
Making the common soldier too strong and the officers too weak.
Making the officer too strong and the common soldier too weak.
Making the officers angry.
Being weak and without authority in the army.
Unable to estimate the strength of their army.
A general must know their army and the terrain to only engage in fights in which victory is certain, otherwise they should not fight. The general whose only thought is his country and doing good for his sovereign is the jewel of the kingdom. "If you know the enemy and know yourself, your victory will not stand in doubt; if you know Heaven and know Earth, you may make your victory complete".
The Nine Situations
A general may find themselves fighting on a variety of grounds, which in turn motivate strategies for fighting.
Dispersive ground is where the general is fighting in their territory.
The facile ground is ground at no great distance within hostile territory.
Contentious ground delivers great advantages for those in possession.
On open ground, both sides have the liberty of movement.
Intersecting highways are situated at the confluence of contiguous states.
Serious ground is at the heart of a hostile country.
The difficult ground is littered with mountains, forests, rugged steeps, marshes and fens.
Hemmed ground is reached through narrow and tortuous paths.
Desperate grounds are zones in which fighting must commence without delay to avoid destruction.
A general should be aware of the hostile country they are entering, and the types of ground they will encounter such that the army can foray on fertile grounds. As an army penetrates deeper into a hostile country, the solidarity amongst the troops increases. When leading an insurrection into a hostile country the general needs to study their men and not overtax them. The general must set up one standard of courage which all troops must meet. "Soldiers when in desperate straits lose the sense of fear". "Keep the enemy without definite knowledge" to carry men deep into hostile territory before displaying intentions. "Penetrating deeply brings cohesion; penetrating but a short way brings dispersion". "Confront your soldiers with deed itself; never let them know your design".
Success in warfare is gained by carefully accommodating ourselves to the enemy's purposes". Known as "accomplish(ing) a thing by sheer cunning". "If the enemy leaves a door open, you must rush in" as "rapidity is the essence of war".
The Attack by Fire
There are five ways to attack with fire.
Directly burn soldiers in their camp.
Burn stones that can then be used as projectiles.
Burn baggage-trains.
Burn ammunition.
Hurl dropping fire amongst the enemy.
Attacks with fire should only be conducted when the weather is dry and there are rising winds.
When attacking with fire there are things to be mindful of.
When a fire breaks out inside the enemy's camp, capitalise and respond with an attack from afar.
"If there is an outbreak of fire, but the enemy's soldiers remain quiet, bide your time and do not attack".
"When the force of the flames has reached its height, follow it up with an attack" if possible otherwise do not.
"If it is possible to make an assault with fire from without, do not wait for it to break out within, but deliver your attack at a favourable moment".
"When you start a fire, be windward".
Using fire to aid an attack shows intelligence, using water to aid an attack is a sign of strength. When conducting attacks with such forces of nature it is imperative one lays their plans well ahead and cultivates sufficient resources to manage such attacks.
Often attacking with the elements can be done out of fury, to gratify one’s spleen, or out of pique. No ruler should succumb to such atrocities. "The enlightened ruler is heedful, and the good general full of caution".
The Use of Spies
"What enables the wise sovereign and the good general to strike and conquer, and achieve things beyond the reach of ordinary men, is foreknowledge". Spies are the cornerstone of intelligent warfare. There are five classes of spies.
Local spies are employed inhabitants of a district.
Inward Spies are officials of the enemy.
Converted Spies are relinquished enemy spies.
Doomed Spies are spies that are displayed with deceitful intentions.
Surviving Spies bring back news from the enemy's camp.
"Be subtle! Be subtle!". It is important that one is subtle to obtain information, but it is paramount to remain subtle even when in possession of information. "If a secret piece of news is divulged by a spy before the time is ripe, he must be put to death together with the man to whom the secret was told".
There must be a conscious effort to seek out enemy spies to maintain a deceptive persona. "Spies are a most important element in war because on them depends an army's ability to move".