Anda di halaman 1dari 21

Arts of War

Sn z bn f

The Art of War is an ancient Chinese military treatise that is attributed to Sn z , a high ranking military general and strategist during the late Spring and Autumn period. Composed of 13 chapters, each of which is devoted to one aspect of warfare, it is said to be the definitive work on military strategies and tactics of its time, and is still read for its military insights.

The contents
Chapter Pinyin 1. 2. 3. 4. shj zuzhn mugng jnxng
translated by

Lionel Giles

Laying plans Waging war Attack by stratagem Tactical dispositions

5.
6.

bngsh
xsh

Energy
Weak points and strong points

7. 8. 9.

jnzhng jubin xngjn

Maneuvering Variation of tactics The army on the march

10. dxng
11. jud

Terrain
The nine situations

12. hugng
13. yngjan

The attack by fire


The use of spies

Main ideas
On warfare On strategies

Ideas on warfare
1.: attach importance to it 2.: be cautious about it 3.: be prepared for it

1.: attach importance to it

2.: be cautious about it


3.: be prepared for it


On strategies 1.: the supreme excellence 2.: the victor of knowing


everything

3.: the quick victory

,,, .

All warfare is based on deception.

Hence, when able to attack, we must seem unable; when using our forces, we must seem inactive; when we are near, we must make the enemy believe we are far away; when far away, we must make him believe we are near.

Hold out baits to entice the enemy. Feign disorder, and crush him. If he is secure at all points, be prepared for him. If he is in superior strength, evade him. If your opponent is of choleric temper, seek to irritate him. Pretend to be weak, that he may grow arrogant.

If he is taking his ease, give him no rest. If his forces are united, separate them.

Attack him where he is unprepared, appear where you are not expected.


Hence to fight and conquer in all your battles is not supreme excellence; supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy's resistance without fighting.

Hence the saying: If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles.


Thus the highest form of generalship is to balk the enemy's plans; the next best is to prevent the junction of the enemy's forces; the next in order is to attack the enemy's army in the field; and the worst policy of all is to besiege walled cities.


Hence the use of spies, of whom there are five classes: (1) Local spies; (2) inward spies; (3) converted spies; (4)doomed spies; (5) surviving spies

Anda mungkin juga menyukai