SUN TZU ON THE ART OF WAR

SUN TZU ON THE ART OF WAR
THE OLDEST MILITARY TREATISE IN THE WORLD

Translated from the Chinese
By LIONEL GILES, M.A. (1910)


[This is the basic text of Sun Tzu on the Art of War.
It was extracted from Mr. Giles' complete work as
titled above. The commentary itself, which, of course
includes this work embedded within it, has been
released as suntzu10.txt (or suntzu10.zip). This is
being released only as an adjunct to that work, which
contains a wealth of commentary upon this text.]


I. LAYING PLANS

1. Sun Tzu said: The art of war is of vital importance
to the State.

2. It is a matter of life and death, a road either to
safety or to ruin. Hence it is a subject of inquiry
which can on no account be neglected.

3. The art of war, then, is governed by five constant
factors, to be taken into account in one's
deliberations, when seeking to determine the
conditions obtaining in the field.

4. These are: (1) The Moral Law; (2) Heaven; (3)
Earth; (4) The Commander; (5) Method and discipline.

5,6. The Moral Law causes the people to be in complete
accord with their ruler, so that they will follow him
regardless of their lives, undismayed by any danger.

7. Heaven signifies night and day, cold and heat,
times and seasons.

8. Earth comprises distances, great and small; danger
and security; open ground and narrow passes; the
chances of life and death.

9. The Commander stands for the virtues of wisdom,
sincerely, benevolence, courage and strictness.

10. By method and discipline are to be understood the
marshaling of the army in its proper subdivisions, the
graduations of rank among the officers, the
maintenance of roads by which supplies may reach the
army, and the control of military expenditure.

11. These five heads should be familiar to every
general: he who knows them will be victorious; he who
knows them not will fail.

12. Therefore, in your deliberations, when seeking to
determine the military conditions, let them be made
the basis of a comparison, in this wise:--

13. (1) Which of the two sovereigns is imbued with the
Moral law?
(2) Which of the two generals has most ability?
(3) With whom lie the advantages derived from Heaven
and Earth?
(4) On which side is discipline most rigorously
enforced?
(5) Which army is stronger?
(6) On which side are officers and men more highly
trained?
(7) In which army is there the greater constancy both
in reward and punishment?

14. By means of these seven considerations I can
forecast victory or defeat.

15. The general that hearkens to my counsel and acts
upon it, will conquer: let such a one be retained in
command! The general that hearkens not to my counsel
nor acts upon it, will suffer defeat:--let such a one
be dismissed!

16. While heading the profit of my counsel, avail
yourself also of any helpful circumstances over and
beyond the ordinary rules.

17. According as circumstances are favorable, one
should modify one's plans.

18. All warfare is based on deception.

19. Hence, when able to attack, we must seem unable;
when using our forces, we must seem inactive; when we
are near, we must make the enemy believe we are far
away; when far away, we must make him believe we are
near.

20. Hold out baits to entice the enemy. Feign
disorder, and crush him.

21. If he is secure at all points, be prepared for
him. If he is in superior strength, evade him.

22. If your opponent is of choleric temper, seek to
irritate him. Pretend to be weak, that he may grow
arrogant.

23. If he is taking his ease, give him no rest. If his
forces are united, separate them.

24. Attack him where he is unprepared, appear where
you are not expected.

25. These military devices, leading to victory, must
not be divulged beforehand.

26. Now the general who wins a battle makes many
calculations in his temple ere the battle is fought.
The general who loses a battle makes but few
calculations beforehand. Thus do many calculations
lead to victory, and few calculations to defeat: how
much more no calculation at all! It is by attention to
this point that I can foresee who is likely to win or
lose.