SUN TZU ON THE ART OF WAR孙子兵法资料

SUNTZUONTHEARTOFWAR

THEOLDESTMILITARYTREATISEINTHEWORLD

TranslatedfromtheChinese

ByLIONELGILES,M.A.(1910)

[ThisisthebasictextofSunTzuontheArtofWar.ItwasextractedfromMr.Giles'completeworkastitledabove.Thecommentaryitself,which,ofcourseincludesthisworkembeddedwithinit,hasbeenreleasedassuntzu10.txt(orsuntzu10.zip).Thisisbeingreleasedonlyasanadjuncttothatwork,whichcontainsawealthofcommentaryuponthistext.]

TheArtofWarhas13chapters.YoucanclickontheChapterNumbertogotothatchapterdirectly.

Eachchapterishyper-linkedtoitscorrespondingChinesetext.YoumayswitchbackandforthbetweentheEnglishandtheoriginalChinesetext,byclickingonthelinkattheendofeachchapter.

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I.LAYINGPLANS

1.SunTzusaid:Theartofwarisofvitalimportance

totheState.

2.Itisamatteroflifeanddeath,aroadeither

tosafetyortoruin.Henceitisasubjectofinquiry

whichcanonnoaccountbeneglected.

3.Theartofwar,then,isgovernedbyfiveconstant

factors,tobetakenintoaccountinone'sdeliberations,

whenseekingtodeterminetheconditionsobtaininginthefield.

4.Theseare:(1)TheMoralLaw;(2)Heaven;(3)Earth;

(4)TheCommander;(5)Methodanddiscipline.

5,6.TheMoralLawcausesthepeopletobeincomplete

accordwiththeirruler,sothattheywillfollowhim

regardlessoftheirlives,undismayedbyanydanger.

7.Heavensignifiesnightandday,coldandheat,

timesandseasons.

8.Earthcomprisesdistances,greatandsmall;

dangerandsecurity;opengroundandnarrowpasses;

thechancesoflifeanddeath.

9.TheCommanderstandsforthevirtuesofwisdom,

sincerely,benevolence,courageandstrictness.

10.Bymethodanddisciplinearetobeunderstood

themarshalingofthearmyinitspropersubdivisions,

thegraduationsofrankamongtheofficers,themaintenance

ofroadsbywhichsuppliesmayreachthearmy,andthe

controlofmilitaryexpenditure.

11.Thesefiveheadsshouldbefamiliartoeverygeneral:

hewhoknowsthemwillbevictorious;hewhoknowsthem

notwillfail.

12.Therefore,inyourdeliberations,whenseeking

todeterminethemilitaryconditions,letthembemade

thebasisofacomparison,inthiswise:--

13.(1)Whichofthetwosovereignsisimbued

withtheMorallaw?

(2)Whichofthetwogeneralshasmostability?

(3)WithwhomlietheadvantagesderivedfromHeaven

andEarth?

(4)Onwhichsideisdisciplinemostrigorouslyenforced?

(5)Whicharmyisstronger?

(6)Onwhichsideareofficersandmenmorehighlytrained?

(7)Inwhicharmyistherethegreaterconstancy

bothinrewardandpunishment?

14.BymeansofthesesevenconsiderationsIcan

forecastvictoryordefeat.

15.Thegeneralthathearkenstomycounselandacts

uponit,willconquer:letsuchaoneberetainedincommand!

Thegeneralthathearkensnottomycounselnoractsuponit,

willsufferdefeat:--letsuchaonebedismissed!

16.Whileheadingtheprofitofmycounsel,

availyourselfalsoofanyhelpfulcircumstances

overandbeyondtheordinaryrules.

17.Accordingascircumstancesarefavorable,

oneshouldmodifyone'splans.

18.Allwarfareisbasedondeception.

19.Hence,whenabletoattack,wemustseemunable;

whenusingourforces,wemustseeminactive;whenwe

arenear,wemustmaketheenemybelievewearefaraway;

whenfaraway,wemustmakehimbelievewearenear.

20.Holdoutbaitstoenticetheenemy.Feigndisorder,

andcrushhim.

21.Ifheissecureatallpoints,bepreparedforhim.

Ifheisinsuperiorstrength,evadehim.

22.Ifyouropponentisofcholerictemper,seekto

irritatehim.Pretendtobeweak,thathemaygrowarrogant.

23.Ifheistakinghisease,givehimnorest.

Ifhisforcesareunited,separatethem.

24.Attackhimwhereheisunprepared,appearwhere

youarenotexpected.

25.Thesemilitarydevices,leadingtovictory,

mustnotbedivulgedbeforehand.

26.Nowthegeneralwhowinsabattlemakesmany

calculationsinhistempleerethebattleisfought.

Thegeneralwholosesabattlemakesbutfew

calculationsbeforehand.Thusdomanycalculations

leadtovictory,andfewcalculationstodefeat:

howmuchmorenocalculationatall!Itisbyattention

tothispointthatIcanforeseewhoislikelytowinorlose.

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II.WAGINGWAR

1.SunTzusaid:Intheoperationsofwar,

wherethereareinthefieldathousandswiftchariots,

asmanyheavychariots,andahundredthousand

mail-cladsoldiers,withprovisionsenoughtocarrythem

athousandli,theexpenditureathomeandatthefront,

includingentertainmentofguests,smallitemssuchas

glueandpaint,andsumsspentonchariotsandarmor,

willreachthetotalofathousandouncesofsilverperday.

Suchisthecostofraisinganarmyof100,000men.

2.Whenyouengageinactualfighting,ifvictory

islongincoming,thenmen'sweaponswillgrowdulland

theirardorwillbedamped.Ifyoulaysiegetoatown,

youwillexhaustyourstrength.

3.Again,ifthecampaignisprotracted,theresources

oftheStatewillnotbeequaltothestrain.

4.Now,whenyourweaponsaredulled,yourardordamped,

yourstrengthexhaustedandyourtreasurespent,

otherchieftainswillspringuptotakeadvantage

ofyourextremity.Thennoman,howeverwise,

willbeabletoaverttheconsequencesthatmustensue.

5.Thus,thoughwehaveheardofstupidhasteinwar,

clevernesshasneverbeenseenassociatedwithlongdelays.

6.Thereisnoinstanceofacountryhavingbenefited

fromprolongedwarfare.

7.Itisonlyonewhoisthoroughlyacquainted

withtheevilsofwarthatcanthoroughlyunderstand

theprofitablewayofcarryingiton.

8.Theskillfulsoldierdoesnotraiseasecondlevy,

neitherarehissupply-wagonsloadedmorethantwice.

9.Bringwarmaterialwithyoufromhome,butforage

ontheenemy.Thusthearmywillhavefoodenough

foritsneeds.

10.PovertyoftheStateexchequercausesanarmy

tobemaintainedbycontributionsfromadistance.

Contributingtomaintainanarmyatadistancecauses

thepeopletobeimpoverished.

11.Ontheotherhand,theproximityofanarmycauses

pricestogoup;andhighpricescausethepeople's

substancetobedrainedaway.

12.Whentheirsubstanceisdrainedaway,thepeasantry

willbeafflictedbyheavyexactions.

13,14.Withthislossofsubstanceandexhaustion

ofstrength,thehomesofthepeoplewillbestrippedbare,

andthree-tenthsoftheirincomewillbedissipated;

whilegovernmentexpensesforbrokenchariots,worn-outhorses,

breast-platesandhelmets,bowsandarrows,spearsandshields,

protectivemantles,draught-oxenandheavywagons,

willamounttofour-tenthsofitstotalrevenue.

15.Henceawisegeneralmakesapointofforaging

ontheenemy.Onecartloadoftheenemy'sprovisions

isequivalenttotwentyofone'sown,andlikewise

asinglepiculofhisprovenderisequivalenttotwenty

fromone'sownstore.

16.Nowinordertokilltheenemy,ourmenmust

berousedtoanger;thattheremaybeadvantagefrom

defeatingtheenemy,theymusthavetheirrewards.

17.Thereforeinchariotfighting,whentenormorechariots

havebeentaken,thoseshouldberewardedwhotookthefirst.

Ourownflagsshouldbesubstitutedforthoseoftheenemy,

andthechariotsmingledandusedinconjunctionwithours.

Thecapturedsoldiersshouldbekindlytreatedandkept.

18.Thisiscalled,usingtheconqueredfoetoaugment

one'sownstrength.

19.Inwar,then,letyourgreatobjectbevictory,

notlengthycampaigns.

20.Thusitmaybeknownthattheleaderofarmies

isthearbiterofthepeople'sfate,themanonwhomit

dependswhetherthenationshallbeinpeaceorinperil.

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III.ATTACKBYSTRATAGEM

1.SunTzusaid:Inthepracticalartofwar,thebest

thingofallistotaketheenemy'scountrywholeandintact;

toshatteranddestroyitisnotsogood.So,too,itis

bettertorecaptureanarmyentirethantodestroyit,

tocapturearegiment,adetachmentoracompanyentire

thantodestroythem.

2.Hencetofightandconquerinallyourbattles

isnotsupremeexcellence;supremeexcellenceconsists

inbreakingtheenemy'sresistancewithoutfighting.

3.Thusthehighestformofgeneralshipisto

balktheenemy'splans;thenextbestistoprevent

thejunctionoftheenemy'sforces;thenextin

orderistoattacktheenemy'sarmyinthefield;

andtheworstpolicyofallistobesiegewalledcities.

4.Theruleis,nottobesiegewalledcitiesifit

canpossiblybeavoided.Thepreparationofmantlets,

movableshelters,andvariousimplementsofwar,willtake

upthreewholemonths;andthepilingupofmoundsover

againstthewallswilltakethreemonthsmore.

5.Thegeneral,unabletocontrolhisirritation,

willlaunchhismentotheassaultlikeswarmingants,

withtheresultthatone-thirdofhismenareslain,

whilethetownstillremainsuntaken.Sucharethedisastrous

effectsofasiege.

6.Thereforetheskillfulleadersubduestheenemy's

troopswithoutanyfighting;hecapturestheircities

withoutlayingsiegetothem;heoverthrowstheirkingdom

withoutlengthyoperationsinthefield.

7.Withhisforcesintacthewilldisputethemastery

oftheEmpire,andthus,withoutlosingaman,histriumph

willbecomplete.Thisisthemethodofattackingbystratagem.

8.Itistheruleinwar,ifourforcesareten

totheenemy'sone,tosurroundhim;iffivetoone,

toattackhim;iftwiceasnumerous,todivideourarmy

intotwo.

9.Ifequallymatched,wecanofferbattle;

ifslightlyinferiorinnumbers,wecanavoidtheenemy;

ifquiteunequalineveryway,wecanfleefromhim.

10.Hence,thoughanobstinatefightmaybemade

byasmallforce,intheenditmustbecaptured

bythelargerforce.

11.NowthegeneralisthebulwarkoftheState;

ifthebulwarkiscompleteatallpoints;theStatewill

bestrong;ifthebulwarkisdefective,theStatewill

beweak.

12.Therearethreewaysinwhicharulercanbring

misfortuneuponhisarmy:--

13.(1)Bycommandingthearmytoadvanceortoretreat,

beingignorantofthefactthatitcannotobey.

Thisiscalledhobblingthearmy.

14.(2)Byattemptingtogovernanarmyinthe

samewayasheadministersakingdom,beingignorant

oftheconditionswhichobtaininanarmy.Thiscauses

restlessnessinthesoldier'sminds.

15.(3)Byemployingtheofficersofhisarmy

withoutdiscrimination,throughignoranceofthe

militaryprincipleofadaptationtocircumstances.

Thisshakestheconfidenceofthesoldiers.

16.Butwhenthearmyisrestlessanddistrustful,

troubleissuretocomefromtheotherfeudalprinces.

Thisissimplybringinganarchyintothearmy,andflinging

victoryaway.

17.Thuswemayknowthattherearefiveessentials

forvictory:

(1)Hewillwinwhoknowswhentofightandwhen

nottofight.

(2)Hewillwinwhoknowshowtohandlebothsuperior

andinferiorforces.

(3)Hewillwinwhosearmyisanimatedbythesame

spiritthroughoutallitsranks.

(4)Hewillwinwho,preparedhimself,waitstotake

theenemyunprepared.

(5)Hewillwinwhohasmilitarycapacityandis

notinterferedwithbythesovereign.

18.Hencethesaying:Ifyouknowtheenemy

andknowyourself,youneednotfeartheresultofa

hundredbattles.Ifyouknowyourselfbutnottheenemy,

foreveryvictorygainedyouwillalsosufferadefeat.

Ifyouknowneithertheenemynoryourself,youwill

succumbineverybattle.

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IV.TACTICALDISPOSITIONS

1.SunTzusaid:Thegoodfightersofoldfirstput

themselvesbeyondthepossibilityofdefeat,andthen

waitedforanopportunityofdefeatingtheenemy.

2.Tosecureourselvesagainstdefeatliesinour

ownhands,buttheopportunityofdefeatingtheenemy

isprovidedbytheenemyhimself.

3.Thusthegoodfighterisabletosecurehimselfagainstdefeat,

butcannotmakecertainofdefeatingtheenemy.

4.Hencethesaying:Onemayknowhowtoconquer

withoutbeingabletodoit.

5.Securityagainstdefeatimpliesdefensivetactics;

abilitytodefeattheenemymeanstakingtheoffensive.

6.Standingonthedefensiveindicatesinsufficient

strength;attacking,asuperabundanceofstrength.

7.Thegeneralwhoisskilledindefensehidesinthe

mostsecretrecessesoftheearth;hewhoisskilledin

attackflashesforthfromthetopmostheightsofheaven.

Thusontheonehandwehaveabilitytoprotectourselves;

ontheother,avictorythatiscomplete.

8.Toseevictoryonlywhenitiswithintheken

ofthecommonherdisnottheacmeofexcellence.

9.Neitherisittheacmeofexcellenceifyoufight

andconquerandthewholeEmpiresays,"Welldone!"

10.Toliftanautumnhairisnosignofgreatstrength;

toseethesunandmoonisnosignofsharpsight;

tohearthenoiseofthunderisnosignofaquickear.

11.Whattheancientscalledacleverfighteris

onewhonotonlywins,butexcelsinwinningwithease.

12.Hencehisvictoriesbringhimneitherreputation

forwisdomnorcreditforcourage.

13.Hewinshisbattlesbymakingnomistakes.

Makingnomistakesiswhatestablishesthecertainty

ofvictory,foritmeansconqueringanenemythatis

alreadydefeated.

14.Hencetheskillfulfighterputshimselfinto

apositionwhichmakesdefeatimpossible,anddoes

notmissthemomentfordefeatingtheenemy.

15.Thusitisthatinwarthevictoriousstrategist

onlyseeksbattleafterthevictoryhasbeenwon,

whereashewhoisdestinedtodefeatfirstfights

andafterwardslooksforvictory.

16.Theconsummateleadercultivatesthemorallaw,

andstrictlyadherestomethodanddiscipline;thusitis

inhispowertocontrolsuccess.

17.Inrespectofmilitarymethod,wehave,

firstly,Measurement;secondly,Estimationofquantity;

thirdly,Calculation;fourthly,Balancingofchances;

fifthly,Victory.

18.MeasurementowesitsexistencetoEarth;

EstimationofquantitytoMeasurement;Calculationto

Estimationofquantity;BalancingofchancestoCalculation;

andVictorytoBalancingofchances.

19.Avictoriousarmyopposedtoaroutedone,isas

apound'sweightplacedinthescaleagainstasinglegrain.

20.Theonrushofaconqueringforceislikethebursting

ofpent-upwatersintoachasmathousandfathomsdeep.

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V.ENERGY

1.SunTzusaid:Thecontrolofalargeforce

isthesameprincipleasthecontrolofafewmen:

itismerelyaquestionofdividinguptheirnumbers.

2.Fightingwithalargearmyunderyourcommand

isnowisedifferentfromfightingwithasmallone:

itismerelyaquestionofinstitutingsignsandsignals.

3.Toensurethatyourwholehostmaywithstand

thebruntoftheenemy'sattackandremainunshaken--

thisiseffectedbymaneuversdirectandindirect.

4.Thattheimpactofyourarmymaybelikeagrindstone

dashedagainstanegg--thisiseffectedbythescience

ofweakpointsandstrong.

5.Inallfighting,thedirectmethodmaybeused

forjoiningbattle,butindirectmethodswillbeneeded

inordertosecurevictory.

6.Indirecttactics,efficientlyapplied,areinexhaustible

asHeavenandEarth,unendingastheflowofriversandstreams;

likethesunandmoon,theyendbuttobeginanew;

likethefourseasons,theypassawaytoreturnoncemore.

7.Therearenotmorethanfivemusicalnotes,

yetthecombinationsofthesefivegiverisetomore

melodiesthancaneverbeheard.

8.Therearenotmorethanfiveprimarycolors

(blue,yellow,red,white,andblack),yetincombination

theyproducemorehuesthancaneverbeenseen.

9.Therearenotmorethanfivecardinaltastes

(sour,acrid,salt,sweet,bitter),yetcombinations

ofthemyieldmoreflavorsthancaneverbetasted.

10.Inbattle,therearenotmorethantwomethods

ofattack--thedirectandtheindirect;yetthesetwo

incombinationgiverisetoanendlessseriesofmaneuvers.

11.Thedirectandtheindirectleadontoeachotherinturn.

Itislikemovinginacircle--younevercometoanend.

Whocanexhaustthepossibilitiesoftheircombination?

12.Theonsetoftroopsisliketherushofatorrent

whichwillevenrollstonesalonginitscourse.

13.Thequalityofdecisionislikethewell-timed

swoopofafalconwhichenablesittostrikeanddestroy

itsvictim.

14.Thereforethegoodfighterwillbeterrible

inhisonset,andpromptinhisdecision.

15.Energymaybelikenedtothebendingofacrossbow;

decision,tothereleasingofatrigger.

16.Amidtheturmoilandtumultofbattle,theremay

beseemingdisorderandyetnorealdisorderatall;

amidconfusionandchaos,yourarraymaybewithouthead

ortail,yetitwillbeproofagainstdefeat.

17.Simulateddisorderpostulatesperfectdiscipline,

simulatedfearpostulatescourage;simulatedweakness

postulatesstrength.

18.Hidingorderbeneaththecloakofdisorderis

simplyaquestionofsubdivision;concealingcourageunder

ashowoftimiditypresupposesafundoflatentenergy;

maskingstrengthwithweaknessistobeeffected

bytacticaldispositions.

19.Thusonewhoisskillfulatkeepingtheenemy

onthemovemaintainsdeceitfulappearances,accordingto

whichtheenemywillact.Hesacrificessomething,

thattheenemymaysnatchatit.

20.Byholdingoutbaits,hekeepshimonthemarch;

thenwithabodyofpickedmenheliesinwaitforhim.

21.Theclevercombatantlookstotheeffectofcombined

energy,anddoesnotrequiretoomuchfromindividuals.

Hencehisabilitytopickouttherightmenandutilize

combinedenergy.

22.Whenheutilizescombinedenergy,hisfighting

menbecomeasitwerelikeuntorollinglogsorstones.

Foritisthenatureofalogorstonetoremain

motionlessonlevelground,andtomovewhenonaslope;

iffour-cornered,tocometoastandstill,butif

round-shaped,togorollingdown.

23.Thustheenergydevelopedbygoodfightingmen

isasthemomentumofaroundstonerolleddownamountain

thousandsoffeetinheight.Somuchonthesubject

ofenergy.

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VI.WEAKPOINTSANDSTRONG

1.SunTzusaid:Whoeverisfirstinthefieldand

awaitsthecomingoftheenemy,willbefreshforthefight;

whoeverissecondinthefieldandhastohastentobattle

willarriveexhausted.

2.Thereforetheclevercombatantimposeshiswillon

theenemy,butdoesnotallowtheenemy'swilltobeimposedonhim.

3.Byholdingoutadvantagestohim,hecancausetheenemy

toapproachofhisownaccord;or,byinflictingdamage,

hecanmakeitimpossiblefortheenemytodrawnear.

4.Iftheenemyistakinghisease,hecanharasshim;

ifwellsuppliedwithfood,hecanstarvehimout;

ifquietlyencamped,hecanforcehimtomove.

5.Appearatpointswhichtheenemymusthastentodefend;

marchswiftlytoplaceswhereyouarenotexpected.

6.Anarmymaymarchgreatdistanceswithoutdistress,

ifitmarchesthroughcountrywheretheenemyisnot.

7.Youcanbesureofsucceedinginyourattacks

ifyouonlyattackplaceswhichareundefended.Youcan

ensurethesafetyofyourdefenseifyouonlyhold

positionsthatcannotbeattacked.

8.Hencethatgeneralisskillfulinattackwhose

opponentdoesnotknowwhattodefend;andheisskillful

indefensewhoseopponentdoesnotknowwhattoattack.

9.Odivineartofsubtletyandsecrecy!Throughyou

welearntobeinvisible,throughyouinaudible;

andhencewecanholdtheenemy'sfateinourhands.

10.Youmayadvanceandbeabsolutelyirresistible,

ifyoumakefortheenemy'sweakpoints;youmayretire

andbesafefrompursuitifyourmovementsaremorerapid

thanthoseoftheenemy.

11.Ifwewishtofight,theenemycanbeforced

toanengagementeventhoughhebeshelteredbehindahigh

rampartandadeepditch.Allweneeddoisattack

someotherplacethathewillbeobligedtorelieve.

12.Ifwedonotwishtofight,wecanprevent

theenemyfromengaginguseventhoughthelines

ofourencampmentbemerelytracedoutontheground.

Allweneeddoistothrowsomethingoddandunaccountable

inhisway.

13.Bydiscoveringtheenemy'sdispositionsandremaining

invisibleourselves,wecankeepourforcesconcentrated,

whiletheenemy'smustbedivided.

14.Wecanformasingleunitedbody,whilethe

enemymustsplitupintofractions.Hencetherewill

beawholepittedagainstseparatepartsofawhole,

whichmeansthatweshallbemanytotheenemy'sfew.

15.Andifweareablethustoattackaninferiorforce

withasuperiorone,ouropponentswillbeindirestraits.

16.Thespotwhereweintendtofightmustnotbe

madeknown;forthentheenemywillhavetoprepare

againstapossibleattackatseveraldifferentpoints;

andhisforcesbeingthusdistributedinmanydirections,

thenumbersweshallhavetofaceatanygivenpointwill

beproportionatelyfew.

17.Forshouldtheenemystrengthenhisvan,

hewillweakenhisrear;shouldhestrengthenhisrear,

hewillweakenhisvan;shouldhestrengthenhisleft,

hewillweakenhisright;shouldhestrengthenhisright,

hewillweakenhisleft.Ifhesendsreinforcementseverywhere,

hewilleverywherebeweak.

18.Numericalweaknesscomesfromhavingtoprepare

againstpossibleattacks;numericalstrength,fromcompelling

ouradversarytomakethesepreparationsagainstus.

19.Knowingtheplaceandthetimeofthecomingbattle,

wemayconcentratefromthegreatestdistancesinorder

tofight.

20.Butifneithertimenorplacebeknown,

thentheleftwingwillbeimpotenttosuccortheright,

therightequallyimpotenttosuccortheleft,thevan

unabletorelievetherear,orthereartosupportthevan.

Howmuchmoresoifthefurthestportionsofthearmyare

anythingunderahundredLIapart,andeventhenearest

areseparatedbyseveralLI!

21.Thoughaccordingtomyestimatethesoldiers

ofYuehexceedourowninnumber,thatshalladvantage

themnothinginthematterofvictory.Isaythen

thatvictorycanbeachieved.

22.Thoughtheenemybestrongerinnumbers,wemay

preventhimfromfighting.Schemesoastodiscover

hisplansandthelikelihoodoftheirsuccess.

23.Rousehim,andlearntheprincipleofhis

activityorinactivity.Forcehimtorevealhimself,

soastofindouthisvulnerablespots.

24.Carefullycomparetheopposingarmywithyourown,

sothatyoumayknowwherestrengthissuperabundant

andwhereitisdeficient.

25.Inmakingtacticaldispositions,thehighestpitch

youcanattainistoconcealthem;concealyourdispositions,

andyouwillbesafefromthepryingofthesubtlestspies,

fromthemachinationsofthewisestbrains.

26.Howvictorymaybeproducedforthemoutoftheenemy's

owntactics--thatiswhatthemultitudecannotcomprehend.

27.AllmencanseethetacticswherebyIconquer,

butwhatnonecanseeisthestrategyoutofwhichvictory

isevolved.

28.Donotrepeatthetacticswhichhavegained

youonevictory,butletyourmethodsberegulated

bytheinfinitevarietyofcircumstances.

29.Militarytacticsarelikeuntowater;forwaterinits

naturalcourserunsawayfromhighplacesandhastensdownwards.

30.Soinwar,thewayistoavoidwhatisstrong

andtostrikeatwhatisweak.

31.Watershapesitscourseaccordingtothenature

ofthegroundoverwhichitflows;thesoldierworks

outhisvictoryinrelationtothefoewhomheisfacing.

32.Therefore,justaswaterretainsnoconstantshape,

soinwarfaretherearenoconstantconditions.

33.Hewhocanmodifyhistacticsinrelationtohis

opponentandtherebysucceedinwinning,maybecalled

aheaven-borncaptain.

34.Thefiveelements(water,fire,wood,metal,earth)

arenotalwaysequallypredominant;thefourseasonsmake

wayforeachotherinturn.Thereareshortdaysandlong;

themoonhasitsperiodsofwaningandwaxing.

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VII.MANEUVERING

1.SunTzusaid:Inwar,thegeneralreceiveshis

commandsfromthesovereign.

2.Havingcollectedanarmyandconcentratedhisforces,

hemustblendandharmonizethedifferentelementsthereof

beforepitchinghiscamp.

3.Afterthat,comestacticalmaneuvering,

thanwhichthereisnothingmoredifficult.

Thedifficultyoft