SUN TZU ON THE ART OF WAR THE OLDEST MILITARY TREATISE IN THE WORLD Translated from the Chinese By LIONEL GILES, M.A. (1910) [This is the basic text of Sun Tzŭ on the Art of War. It was extracted from Mr. Giles’ complete work as titled above. The commentary itself, which, of course includes this work embedded within it, has been released as Project Gutenberg’s eBook #132.] Contents CHAPTER I. LAYING PLANS CHAPTER II. WAGING WAR CHAPTER III. ATTACK BY STRATAGEM CHAPTER IV. TACTICAL DISPOSITIONS CHAPTER V. ENERGY CHAPTER VI. WEAK POINTS AND STRONG CHAPTER VII. MANŒUVERING CHAPTER VIII. VARIATION OF TACTICS CHAPTER IX. THE ARMY ON THE MARCH CHAPTER X. TERRAIN CHAPTER XI. THE NINE SITUATIONS CHAPTER XII. THE ATTACK BY FIRE CHAPTER XIII. THE USE OF SPIES I. LAYING PLANS 1. Sun Tzŭ 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, sincerity, benevolence, courage and strictness. 10. By _Method and discipline_ are to be understood the marshalling of the army in its proper subdivisions, the gradations 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 the 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.