The Book of War The Military Classic of the Far East
- Language:
- English
- Status:
- Complete work
- Authorship:
- Attributed (authorship debated)
- Condition of the text:
- Clean text
- Extent:
- ~20,000 words · 95 passages
Cite this work
- APASun Tzu. (n.d.). The Book of War The Military Classic of the Far East. SigPhi. https://sigphiai.com/en/works/sun-tzu/the-book-of-war-the-military-classic-of-the-far-east
- MLASun Tzu. "The Book of War The Military Classic of the Far East." SigPhi, https://sigphiai.com/en/works/sun-tzu/the-book-of-war-the-military-classic-of-the-far-east.
- ChicagoSun Tzu. The Book of War The Military Classic of the Far East. SigPhi. https://sigphiai.com/en/works/sun-tzu/the-book-of-war-the-military-classic-of-the-far-east.
What it is about
Sun Tzu's Art of War.
Context and history
Thirteen chapters from the fifth century BC. The central thesis is that the best victory is the one not fought, and that all warfare is based on deception. It has been read outside the army for decades — business, sport, negotiation — with mixed results. English translation; the Chinese is not in the catalogue.
Editorial context, not a citable source: unlike the passages of the work itself, these statements cannot be checked against the corpus.
To all nations War is a great matter. Upon the army death or life depend: it is the means of the existence or destruction _of the State_. Therefore it must be diligently studied. Now, in war, besides stratagem and the situation, there are five indispensable matters. The first is called The Way;[1] the second, Heaven; the third, Earth; the fourth, the Leader; the fifth, Law. The _Way_ or the proper conduct of man. If the ruling authority be upright, the people are united: fearless of danger, their lives are at the service of their Lord. _Heaven._ Yin and Yang;[2] heat and cold; time and season. _Earth._ Distance; nature; extent; strategic position. The _Leader_. Intelligence; truth; benevolence; courage and strictness. _Law._ Partition and ordering of troops. These things must be known by the leader: to know them is to conquer; to know them not is to be defeated. Further, with regard to these and the following seven matters, the condition of the enemy must be compared with our own. The seven matters are:-- The virtue of the prince; the ability of the general; natural advantages; the discipline of the armies; the strength of the soldiers; training of the soldiers; justice both in reward and punishment. Knowing these things, I can foretell the victor. If a general under me fight according to my plans, he always conquers, and I continue to employ him; if he differ from my plans, he will be defeated and dismissed from my service. Wherefore, with regard to the foregoing, considering that with us lies the advantage, and the generals agreeing, we create a situation which promises victory; but as the moment and method cannot be fixed beforehand, the plan must be modified according to circumstances. War is a thing of pretence: therefore, when capable of action, we pretend disability; when near to the enemy, we pretend to be far; when far away, we pretend to be near
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