The Art of War

The Art of War

Sun Tzu

Sun Tzu said: War is a great matter of the state. It is the ground of life and death, the way of survival and extinction, and must not be left unexamined.

Therefore, measure it by five matters, compare it by calculations, and seek out its true conditions: first is the Way, second is Heaven, third is Earth, fourth is the commander, fifth is method. The Way is that which causes the people to share the same purpose as their ruler; therefore they can die with him, live with him, and not fear danger. Heaven is darkness and light, cold and heat, and the ordering of the seasons. Earth is distance and nearness, danger and ease, breadth and narrowness, death and life. The commander is wisdom, trustworthiness, benevolence, courage, and strictness. Method is organization, official ranks, and the management of supplies. In all these five things, no commander has not heard of them; he who knows them wins, he who does not know them does not win. Therefore compare them by calculations and seek out their true conditions, saying: Which ruler possesses the Way? Which commander has ability? Which side has the advantage of Heaven and Earth? On which side are laws and orders carried out? Which army is stronger? Which officers and soldiers are better trained? On which side are rewards and punishments clearer? By these things I know victory and defeat. If the general listens to my calculations and uses them, he will surely win; keep him. If the general does not listen to my calculations and uses them not, he will surely be defeated; dismiss him.

Having calculated advantages and listened, one then creates strategic power to assist what lies beyond them. Strategic power is controlling expediency according to advantage. War is the way of deception. Therefore, when able, show inability; when in use, show disuse; when near, show distance; when distant, show nearness. Entice him with advantage; take him when he is disordered; prepare against him when he is substantial; avoid him when he is strong; disturb him when he is angry; make him arrogant by humility; tire him when he is at ease; divide him when he is united. Attack where he is unprepared; appear where he does not expect. This is the victory of the military strategist, and it cannot be transmitted beforehand.

Now, those who win in the temple calculations before battle are those who have many calculations; those who do not win in the temple calculations before battle are those who have few calculations. Many calculations win; few calculations do not win; how much less no calculations at all! By observing this, victory and defeat become apparent.

Sun Tzu said: In the method of using troops, when there are a thousand swift chariots, a thousand armored chariots, one hundred thousand soldiers in armor, and grain transported a thousand li, then the expenses within and without, the needs of envoys and guests, materials such as glue and lacquer, and provisions for chariots and armor will cost a thousand pieces of gold a day; only then can an army of one hundred thousand be raised.

When war is used, if victory is prolonged, the troops become dull and their sharpness is blunted; if they attack cities, their strength is exhausted; if the army is exposed for long, the state’s resources become insufficient. When troops are dulled and sharpness blunted, strength exhausted and wealth depleted, the feudal lords will take advantage of the weakness and rise. Though there be wise men, they cannot make good what follows. Therefore in war one has heard of clumsy speed, but has not seen skillful prolongation. There has never been a war prolonged that benefited the state. Therefore, one who does not fully know the harms of using troops cannot fully know the benefits of using troops.

Those skilled in using troops do not levy soldiers a second time and do not transport grain a third time. They take equipment from the state and rely on grain from the enemy; therefore the army’s food can be sufficient. The poverty of the state because of the army comes from long-distance transport; long-distance transport makes the people poor. Those near the army sell at high prices; high prices exhaust the people’s wealth; when wealth is exhausted, they are hard pressed by levies. With strength exhausted and wealth depleted, the homes of the central plains are empty within. Of the people’s expenses, seven tenths are gone; of the public expenses, with broken chariots and worn-out horses, armor and helmets, arrows and crossbows, halberds and shields, covered siege shields, oxen and great carts, six tenths are gone.

Therefore a wise general is intent on feeding from the enemy. One zhong of the enemy’s food is worth twenty of ours; one shi of fodder is worth twenty of ours.

Therefore, what makes soldiers kill the enemy is anger; what makes them seize the enemy’s advantage is reward. Therefore in chariot battle, when ten or more chariots are captured, reward the one who first takes them, change their flags and banners, mix the chariots into our own and ride them, treat the captured soldiers well and care for them. This is called defeating the enemy and becoming stronger.

Therefore in war, victory is prized; prolongation is not prized. Therefore the general who understands war is the arbiter of the people’s lives and the master of the state’s safety and danger.