The Art of War

Sun Zi's Military Methods

Sun Zi, Victor Mair

• Publisher: Columbia University Press
• Year: 2007
• ISBN:
  9780231508537
• Topic: History
• Subtopic: Chinese History
• Index: History

Compiled during the Warring States period of 475-221 B.C.E., The Art of War has had an enormous impact on the development of Chinese military strategy over the past two thousand years and occupies an important place in East Asian intellectual history. It is the first known attempt to formulate a rational basis for the planning and conduct of military operations, and while numerous editions of the work exist, Victor Mair's translation is the first to remain true to the original structure and essential style of the text.

Mair's fidelity to the original, along with his insightful commentary and reliance on archaeologically recovered manuscripts, breaks new ground in solving The Art of War 's difficult textual and contextual problems. He confronts complex questions concerning the authorship of the work, asserting that Sun Wu, a supposed strategist of the Spring and Autumn period (770-476 B.C.E.) to whom the text is traditionally attributed, never existed. Instead, Mair claims that The Art of War coalesced over a period of around seventy-five years, from the middle of the fourth century to the first quarter of the third century B.C.E.

Mair also reveals the way The Art of War reflects historical developments in technological and military strategy in civilizations throughout Eurasia, especially in regards to iron metallurgy. He demonstrates the close link between the philosophy in The Art of War and Taoism and discusses the reception of the text from the classical period to today. Finally, Mair highlights previously unaddressed stylistic and statistical aspects and includes philological annotations that present new ways of approaching the intellectual and social background of the work. A phenomenal achievement, Mair's comprehensive translation is an indispensable resource for today's students, strategists, and scholars.

CHAPTER 1

(Initial) Assessments¹

The opening chapter emphasizes the importance of evaluation and planning prior to battle. In so doing, it examines the fundamental criteria for determining victory or defeat. Also stressed at the outset is the need to attack the enemy when he is least prepared and to do what he least expects.

Master Sun said,²

 

Warfare³ is a great affair of the state.⁴

The field of life and death,

The way of preservation and extinction.

It cannot be left unexamined.⁵

Therefore,

Measure it in terms of five factors,

Weigh it by means of seven assessments,⁶

and seek out its circumstances.

 

The first factor is the Way,⁷

The second is Heaven,⁸

The third is Earth,⁹

The fourth is Generalship,

The fifth is Method.

 

The Way is that which causes the people to be of the same mind with their superior.¹⁰

Therefore,

They are committed to die with him,

They are committed to live with him,

and not fear danger.¹¹

 

Heaven comprises yin and yang,¹² cold and heat,¹³ the ordering of time.¹⁴

Earth comprises distant or near, precipitous or gentle, broad or narrow,¹⁵ positions conducive to death or life.¹⁶

Generalship comprises knowledge, trustworthiness, humaneness, bravery, and sternness.

Method comprises organization of units, official channels, and control of matériel.

 

The general must be informed about all five of these factors, but only he who truly understands them will be victorious, while those who fail to understand them will be defeated. Therefore, when weighing warfare by means of seven assessments and seeking out its circumstances, one should ask:

 

Which side’s ruler possesses the Way?

Which side’s general is more capable?

Which side possesses the advantages of Heaven and Earth?

Which side exercises its rules and methods more rigorously?

Which side has the stronger army?

Which side has officers and troops that are more highly trained?

Which side is more transparent in dispensing rewards and punishments?

 

Through these considerations, I can foretell victory or defeat.

 

If you¹⁷ will heed my assessments and act on them, you will certainly be victorious, and I shall remain here; if you will not heed my assessments and act on them, you will certainly be defeated, and I shall leave.¹⁸

 

When an advantageous assessment has been heeded, one must create for it a favorable configuration to assist the war effort externally.¹⁹ A favorable configuration is one that signifies the creation of power²⁰ in accordance with advantage.

 

Warfare is²¹ a way of deception.²²

 

Therefore,

When one is capable, give the appearance of²³ being incapable.

When one is active, give the appearance of being inactive.

When one is near, give the appearance of being far.

When one is far, give the appearance of being near.

When one’s opponents are greedy for advantage, tempt them.

When one’s opponents are in chaos, seize them.

When one’s opponents are secure, prepare for them.

When one’s opponents are strong, evade them.

When one’s opponents are angry, aggravate them.

When one’s opponents are humble, make them arrogant.

When one’s opponents are at ease, make them weary.

When one’s opponents are friendly to each other, divide them.

 

Attack them when they are unprepared;

Come forth when they are not expecting you to do so.²⁴

 

Herein lies the victoriousness of the strategist, which cannot be divulged beforehand.

 

Now, he who is victorious in the temple computations²⁵ before battle is the one who receives more counting rods. He who is not victorious in the temple computations before battle is the one who receives fewer counting rods. The one with more counting rods wins,²⁶ and the one with fewer counting rods loses. How much less chance of winning is there for someone who receives no counting rods at all!

Through our observation of these calculations, victory and defeat are apparent.

CHAPTER 2

Doing Battle

This chapter focuses on the importance of human, material, and financial resources for war making. It puts a premium on quick victory and is opposed to prolonged war. This stands in sharp contrast to Mao Zedong’s advocacy of long, drawn-out war for wearing down a stronger enemy while building up one’s own forces.

Master Sun said,

The method of waging war invariably requires

a thousand swift chariots,

a thousand heavy carts,

a hundred thousand armored troops,

and the transportation of grain over a thousand tricents.

Then there are

internal and extern...

Table of contents

• Cover 
• Half title
• Title
• Copyright
• Dedication
• Contents 
• Epigraph
• Foreword
• Preface
• Principles of Translation
• Guide to Pronunciation
• Key Terms
• List of Abbreviations
• Précis
• Introduction
• Chapter 1. (Initial) Assessments
• Chapter 2. Doing Battle
• Chapter 3. Planning for the Attack
• Chapter 4. Positioning
• Chapter 5. Configuration
• Chapter 6. Emptiness and Solidity
• Chapter 7. The Struggle of Armies
• Chapter 8. Nine Varieties
• Chapter 9. Marching the Army
• Chapter 10. Terrain Types
• Chapter 11. Nine Types of Terrain
• Chapter 12. Incendiary Attack
• Chapter 13. Using Spies
• Appendix. The Pseudo-Biography of Sun Wu
• Notes
• Bibliography
• Index
• Series List