Transcriber’s Note: This is a complete unabridged transcription of Lionel Gile’s translation of The Art of War. See additional notes at the end of the book. 孫子兵法 Sun Tzŭ on the Art of War THE OLDEST MILITARY TREATISE IN THE WORLD Translated from the Chinese with introduction and critical notes BY LIONEL GILES, M.A. Assistant in the Department of Oriental Printed Books and MSS. in the British Museum London LUZAC & C^o. 1910 Printed by E. J. Bbill, Leyden (Holland). To my brother Captain Valentine Giles, R.G. in the hope that a work 2400 years old may yet contain lessons worth consideration by the soldier of to-day this translation is affectionately dedicated CONTENTS Page Preface vii Introduction Sun Wu and his Book xi The Text of Sun Tzŭ xxx The Commentators xxxiv Appreciations of Sun Tzŭ xlii Apologies for War xliii Bibliography l Chap. I. Laying plans 1 „ II. Waging War 9 „ III. Attack by Stratagem 17 „ IV. Tactical Dispositions 26 „ V. Energy 33 „ VI. Weak Points and Strong 42 „ VII. Manœuvring 55 „ VIII. Variation of Tactics 71 „ IX. The Army on the March 80 „ X. Terrain 100 „ XI. The Nine Situations 114 „ XII. The Attack by Fire 150 „ XIII. The Use of Spies 160 Chinese Concordance 176 Index 192 PREFACE