Art of War (Sun Tzu)

[Balija]

The Art of War (Chinese: 孫子兵法; pinyin: Sūn Zǐ Bīng Fǎ) is a Chinese military treatise that was written during the 6th century BC by Sun Tzu. Composed of 13 chapters, each of which is devoted to one aspect of warfare, it has long been praised as the definitive work on military strategies and tactics of its time.

The Art of War is one of the oldest and most successful books on military strategy in the world. It has had a huge influence on Eastern military thinking, business tactics, and beyond. Sun Tzu recognized the importance of positioning in strategy and that position is affected both by objective conditions in the physical environment and the subjective opinions of competitive actors in that environment. He taught that strategy was not planning in the sense of working through a to-do list, but rather that it requires quick and appropriate responses to changing conditions. Planning works in a controlled environment, but in a competitive environment, competing plans collide, creating unexpected situations.

The book was first translated into the French language in 1782 by French Jesuit Jean Joseph Marie Amiot, and into English by sinologist Lionel Giles in 1910. It very likely influenced Napoleon, [1] and the planning of Operation Desert Storm.[2][3] Leaders as diverse as Mao Zedong, General Vo Nguyen Giap, Baron Antoine-Henri Jomini, and General Douglas MacArthur have claimed to have drawn inspiration from the work.
The Art of War has also been applied to business and managerial strategies




I like antic philosophy and the book "Art of War" is one of the best i read, most part is about psychological warfare:


>>>>http://www.chinapage.com/sunzi-e.html


It is kept in a general writing and can be used today.

[Balija]

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.

[globetrotter]

Wow....I am so happy you finally found this old treatise...It's been around for 3,000 years, so most people have heard of it !!

[Kiaar]

I have a copy of this actually, it's quite an interesting read.

But I think this is in the wrong forum.

[Balija]

Wow....I am so happy you finally found this old treatise...It's been around for 3,000 years, so most people have heard of it !!

It works still today, to predict who will win a battle:

1) Which of the two sovereigns is imbued
with the Moral law?

Bush


(2) Which of the two generals has most ability?

US-Generals

(3) With whom lie the advantages derived from Heaven
and Earth?

No decision, Americans had chosen the time, the Iraqis were in defense position

(4) On which side is discipline most rigorously enforced?

On the American Side

(5) Which army is stronger?

The US

(6) On which side are officers and men more highly trained?

US

(7) In which army is there the greater constancy
both in reward and punishment?

US

6:0 For Bush vs Saddam.

You can try it also with Stalin and Hitler, or with Chomeni vs. Saddam

[globetrotter]

You can try it also with Stalin and Hitler, or with Chomeni vs. Saddam


My dear Bosnian new friend...Ishtayima?

I was being sarcastic. This is probably the base of all geo-strategic thinking in modern warfare. It is most likely THE first book on the subject.

It also applies in business strategy, or generally ANY situation in which you have an enemy...

Good luck discovering it's charms....I was also very fascinated by it when I read it in 1997!! It will help you immensely in ALL aspects of life.

[Balija]

nista ba, sta ima kod tebe?

[jordan8445]

The art of war is of vital importance
to the State.

So true.

[Intrn'l_relations101]

Art of War was best used by the Japanese businessmen... after the world war.

You can read Machiavelli's: Discourses too... Its a good book on military.