SUN TZU ON THE ART OF WAR
THE OLDEST MILITARY TREATISE IN THE WORLD Translated from the Chinese By LIONEL GILES,
M.A. (1910) Chapter 11: The Nine Situations
1. Sun Tzu said: The art of war recognizes nine varieties of ground: (1) Dispersive
ground; (2) facile ground; (3) contentious ground; (4) open ground; (5) ground of
intersecting highways; (6) serious ground; (7) difficult ground; (8) hemmed-in ground; (9)
desperate ground.
2. When a chieftain is fighting in his own territory, it is dispersive ground.
3. When he has penetrated into hostile territory, but to no great distance, it is
facile ground.
4. Ground the possession of which imports great advantage to either side, is
contentious ground.
5. Ground on which each side has liberty of movement is open ground.
6. Ground which forms the key to three contiguous states, so that he who occupies it
first has most of the Empire at his command, is a ground of intersecting highways.
7. When an army has penetrated into the heart of a hostile country, leaving a number of
fortified cities in its rear, it is serious ground.
8. Mountain forests, rugged steeps, marshes and fens--all country that is hard to
traverse: this is difficult ground.
9. Ground which is reached through narrow gorges, and from which we can only retire by
tortuous paths, so that a small number of the enemy would suffice to crush a large body of
our men: this is hemmed in ground.
10. Ground on which we can only be saved from destruction by fighting without delay, is
desperate ground.
11. On dispersive ground, therefore, fight not. On facile ground, halt not. On
contentious ground, attack not.
12. On open ground, do not try to block the enemy's way. On the ground of intersecting
highways, join hands with your allies.
13. On serious ground, gather in plunder. In difficult ground, keep steadily on the
march.
14. On hemmed-in ground, resort to stratagem. On desperate ground, fight.
15. Those who were called skillful leaders of old knew how to drive a wedge between the
enemy's front and rear; to prevent co-operation between his large and small divisions; to
hinder the good troops from rescuing the bad, the officers from rallying their men.
16. When the enemy's men were united, they managed to keep them in disorder.
17. When it was to their advantage, they made a forward move; when otherwise, they
stopped still.
18. If asked how to cope with a great host of the enemy in orderly array and on the
point of marching to the attack, I should say: "Begin by seizing something which your
opponent holds dear; then he will be amenable to your will."
19. Rapidity is the essence of war: take advantage of the enemy's unreadiness, make
your way by unexpected routes, and attack unguarded spots.
20. The following are the principles to be observed by an invading force: The further
you penetrate into a country, the greater will be the solidarity of your troops, and thus
the defenders will not prevail against you.
21. Make forays in fertile country in order to supply your army with food.
22. Carefully study the well-being of your men, and do not overtax them. Concentrate
your energy and hoard your strength. Keep your army continually on the move, and devise
unfathomable plans.
23. Throw your soldiers into positions whence there is no escape, and they will prefer
death to flight. If they will face death, there is nothing they may not achieve. Officers
and men alike will put forth their uttermost strength.
24. Soldiers when in desperate straits lose the sense of fear. If there is no place of
refuge, they will stand firm. If they are in hostile country, they will show a stubborn
front. If there is no help for it, they will fight hard.
25. Thus, without waiting to be marshaled, the soldiers will be constantly on the qui
vive; without waiting to be asked, they will do your will; without restrictions, they will
be faithful; without giving orders, they can be trusted.
26. Prohibit the taking of omens, and do away with superstitious doubts. Then, until
death itself comes, no calamity need be feared.
27. If our soldiers are not overburdened with money, it is not because they have a
distaste for riches; if their lives are not unduly long, it is not because they are
disinclined to longevity.
28. On the day they are ordered out to battle, your soldiers may weep, those sitting up
bedewing their garments, and those lying down letting the tears run down their cheeks. But
let them once be brought to bay, and they will display the courage of a Chu or a
Kuei.
29. The skillful tactician may be likened to the shuai-jan. Now the shuai-jan is a
snake that is found in the ChUng mountains. Strike at its head, and you will be attacked
by its tail; strike at its tail, and you will be attacked by its head; strike at its
middle, and you will be attacked by head and tail both.
30. Asked if an army can be made to imitate the shuai-jan, I should answer, Yes. For
the men of Wu and the men of Yueh are enemies; yet if they are crossing a river in the
same boat and are caught by a storm, they will come to each other's assistance just as the
left hand helps the right.
31. Hence it is not enough to put one's trust in the tethering of horses, and the
burying of chariot wheels in the ground
32. The principle on which to manage an army is to set up one standard of courage which
all must reach.
33. How to make the best of both strong and weak--that is a question involving the
proper use of ground.
34. Thus the skillful general conducts his army just as though he were leading a single
man, willy-nilly, by the hand.
35. It is the business of a general to be quiet and thus ensure secrecy; upright and
just, and thus maintain order.
36. He must be able to mystify his officers and men by false reports and appearances,
and thus keep them in total ignorance.
37. By altering his arrangements and changing his plans, he keeps the enemy without
definite knowledge. By shifting his camp and taking circuitous routes, he prevents the
enemy from anticipating his purpose.
38. At the critical moment, the leader of an army acts like one who has climbed up a
height and then kicks away the ladder behind him. He carries his men deep into hostile
territory before he shows his hand.
39. He burns his boats and breaks his cooking-pots; like a shepherd driving a flock of
sheep, he drives his men this way and that, and nothing knows whither he is going.
40. To muster his host and bring it into danger:--this may be termed the business of
the general.
41. The different measures suited to the nine varieties of ground; the expediency of
aggressive or defensive tactics; and the fundamental laws of human nature: these are
things that must most certainly be studied.
42. When invading hostile territory, the general principle is, that penetrating deeply
brings cohesion; penetrating but a short way means dispersion.
43. When you leave your own country behind, and take your army across neighborhood
territory, you find yourself on critical ground. When there are means of communication on
all four sides, the ground is one of intersecting highways.
44. When you penetrate deeply into a country, it is serious ground. When you penetrate
but a little way, it is facile ground.
45. When you have the enemy's strongholds on your rear, and narrow passes in front, it
is hemmed-in ground. When there is no place of refuge at all, it is desperate
ground.
46. Therefore, on dispersive ground, I would inspire my men with unity of purpose. On
facile ground, I would see that there is close connection between all parts of my
army.
47. On contentious ground, I would hurry up my rear.
48. On open ground, I would keep a vigilant eye on my defenses. On ground of
intersecting highways, I would consolidate my alliances.
49. On serious ground, I would try to ensure a continuous stream of supplies. On
difficult ground, I would keep pushing on along the road.
50. On hemmed-in ground, I would block any way of retreat. On desperate ground, I would
proclaim to my soldiers the hopelessness of saving their lives.
51. For it is the soldier's disposition to offer an obstinate resistance when
surrounded, to fight hard when he cannot help himself, and to obey promptly when he has
fallen into danger.
52. We cannot enter into alliance with neighboring princes until we are acquainted with
their designs. We are not fit to lead an army on the march unless we are familiar with the
face of the country--its mountains and forests, its pitfalls and precipices, its marshes
and swamps. We shall be unable to turn natural advantages to account unless we make use of
local guides.
53. To be ignored of any one of the following four or five principles does not befit a
warlike prince.
54. When a warlike prince attacks a powerful state, his generalship shows itself in
preventing the concentration of the enemy's forces. He overawes his opponents, and their
allies are prevented from joining against him.
55. Hence he does not strive to ally himself with all and sundry, nor does he foster
the power of other states. He carries out his own secret designs, keeping his antagonists
in awe. Thus he is able to capture their cities and overthrow their kingdoms.
56. Bestow rewards without regard to rule, issue orders without regard to previous
arrangements; and you will be able to handle a whole army as though you had to do with but
a single man.
57. Confront your soldiers with the deed itself; never let them know your design. When
the outlook is bright, bring it before their eyes; but tell them nothing when the
situation is gloomy.
58. Place your army in deadly peril, and it will survive; plunge it into desperate
straits, and it will come off in safety.
59. For it is precisely when a force has fallen into harm's way that is capable of
striking a blow for victory.
60. Success in warfare is gained by carefully accommodating ourselves to the enemy's
purpose.
61. By persistently hanging on the enemy's flank, we shall succeed in the long run in
killing the commander-in-chief.
62. This is called ability to accomplish a thing by sheer cunning.
63. On the day that you take up your command, block the frontier passes, destroy the
official tallies, and stop the passage of all emissaries.
64. Be stern in the council-chamber, so that you may control the situation.
65. If the enemy leaves a door open, you must rush in.
66. Forestall your opponent by seizing what he holds dear, and subtly contrive to time
his arrival on the ground.
67. Walk in the path defined by rule, and accommodate yourself to the enemy until you
can fight a decisive battle.
68. At first, then, exhibit the coyness of a maiden, until the enemy
gives you an opening; afterwards emulate the rapidity of a running hare, and it will be
too late for the enemy to oppose you.
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