The Art of War

Chapter One 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,


s e p a r a t e   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.

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