The Art of War

Making of Plans

Master Sun said:

War is
A grave affair of state;
It is a place
Of life and death,
A road
To survival and extinction,
A matter
To be pondered carefully.

There are Five Fundamentals

For this deliberation,
For the making of comparisons
And the assessing of conditions:
The Way,
Heaven,
Earth,
Command,
Discipline.

The Way

Causes men
To be of one mind
With their rulers,
To live or die with them,
And never to waver.

Heaven is
Ying and Yang,
Cold and hot,
The cycle of seasons.

Earth is
Height and depth,
Distance and proximity,
Ease and danger,
Open and confined ground,
Life and death.

Command is
Wisdom,
Integrity,
Compassion,
Courage,
Severity.

Discipline is

Organization,
Chain of command,
Control of expenditure.

Every commander is aware

Of these
Five Fundamentals.
He who grasps them
Wins;
He who fails to grasp them
Loses.

For this deliberation,
For the making of comparisons,
And the assessing of conditions,
Discover:

Which ruler
Has the Way?

Which general
Has the ability?

Which side has
Heaven and Earth?

On which side
Is discipline
More effective?

Which army
Is the stronger?

Whose officers and men
Are better trained?

In which army
Are rewards and punishments
Clearest?

From these
Can be known
Victory and defeat.

Heed my plan,

Employ me,
And victory is surely yours;
I will stay.

Do not heed my plan,

And even if you did employ me,
You would surely be defeated;
I will depart.

Settle on the best plan,

Exploit the dynamic within,
Develop it without,

Follow the advantage,
And master opportunity:
This is the dynamic.

The Way of War is

A Way of Deception.

When able,
Feign inability;

When deploying troops,
Appear not to be.

When near,
Appear far;

When far,
Appear near.

Lure with bait;

Strike with chaos.

If the enemy is full,
Be prepared.
If strong,
Avoid him.

If he is angry,
Disconcert him.

If he is weak,
Stir him to pride.

If he is relaxed,
Harry him;

If his men are harmonious,
Split them.

Attack
Where he is
Unprepared;
Appear
Where you are
Unexpected.

This is

Victory in warfare;
It cannot be
Divulged
In advance.

Victory belongs to the side

That scores most
In the temple calculations
Before battle.

Defeat belongs to the side

That scores least
In the temple calculations
Before battle.

Most spells victory;

Least spells defeat;
None, surer defeat.

I see it in this way,

And the outcome is apparent.