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 5: Energy
1. Sun Tzu said: The control of a large force is the same principle as the control of a
few men: it is merely a question of dividing up their numbers.
2. Fighting with a large army under your command is nowise different from fighting with
a small one: it is merely a question of instituting signs and signals.
3. To ensure that your whole host may withstand the brunt of the enemy's attack and
remain unshaken-- this is effected by maneuvers direct and indirect.
4. That the impact of your army may be like a grindstone dashed against an egg--this is
effected by the science of weak points and strong.
5. In all fighting, the direct method may be used for joining battle, but indirect
methods will be needed in order to secure victory.
6. Indirect tactics, efficiently applied, are inexhaustible as Heaven and Earth,
unending as the flow of rivers and streams; like the sun and moon, they end but to begin
anew; like the four seasons, they pass away to return once more.
7. There are not more than five musical notes, yet the combinations of these five give
rise to more melodies than can ever be heard.
8. There are not more than five primary colors (blue, yellow, red, white, and black),
yet in combination they produce more hues than can ever been seen.
9. There are not more than five cardinal tastes (sour, acrid, salt, sweet, bitter), yet
combinations of them yield more flavors than can ever be tasted.
10. In battle, there are not more than two methods of attack--the direct and the
indirect; yet these two in combination give rise to an endless series of maneuvers.
11. The direct and the indirect lead on to each other in turn. It is like moving in a
circle--you never come to an end. Who can exhaust the possibilities of their
combination?
12. The onset of troops is like the rush of a torrent which will even roll stones along
in its course.
13. The quality of decision is like the well-timed swoop of a falcon which enables it
to strike and destroy its victim.
14. Therefore the good fighter will be terrible in his onset, and prompt in his
decision.
15. Energy may be likened to the bending of a crossbow; decision, to the releasing of a
trigger.
16. Amid the turmoil and tumult of battle, there may be seeming disorder and yet no
real disorder at all; amid confusion and chaos, your array may be without head or tail,
yet it will be proof against defeat.
17. Simulated disorder postulates perfect discipline, simulated fear postulates
courage; simulated weakness postulates strength.
18. Hiding order beneath the cloak of disorder is simply a question of subdivision;
concealing courage under a show of timidity presupposes a fund of latent energy; masking
strength with weakness is to be effected by tactical dispositions.
19. Thus one who is skillful at keeping the enemy on the move maintains deceitful
appearances, according to which the enemy will act. He sacrifices something, that the
enemy may snatch at it.
20. By holding out baits, he keeps him on the march; then with a body of picked men he
lies in wait for him.
21. The clever combatant looks to the effect of combined energy, and does not require
too much from individuals. Hence his ability to pick out the right men and utilize
combined energy.
22. When he utilizes combined energy, his fighting men become as it were like unto
rolling logs or stones. For it is the nature of a log or stone to remain motionless on
level ground, and to move when on a slope; if four-cornered, to come to a standstill, but
if round-shaped, to go rolling down.
23. Thus the energy developed by good fighting men is as the momentum of
a round stone rolled down a mountain thousands of feet in height. So much on the subject
of energy.
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