The Book Of War: The Military Classic Of The Far East - free ebook by active th century B.C. Sunzi

THE BOOK OF WAR

[Pg 2] [Pg 3] THE BOOK OF WAR THE MILITARY CLASSIC OF THE FAR EAST TRANSLATED FROM THE CHINESE BY CAPTAIN E. F. CALTHROP, R.F.A. LONDON JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE ST., W. 1908 [Pg 4] [Pg 5]...

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THE SAYINGS OF WUTZU

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I

Written in the fifth century B.C. , Suntzu and Wutzu still remain the most celebrated works on war in the literature of China. While the chariot has gone, and weapons have changed, these ancient masters have held their own, since they deal chiefly with the fundamental principles of war, with the influence of politics and human nature on military operations; and they show in a most striking way how unchanging these principles are. When these books were written, China was a conglomerate of princip

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II

Sun and Wu are perhaps held in even greater reverence in Japan than in China, where war is looked upon as a troublesome phase in national life, and victory in battle is not considered the greatest achievement of a state. Far otherwise is it in Japan; and successive generations of her soldiers have been brought up on Sun and Wu. Like other arts, mystery was formerly supposed to surround the art of war, a belief that was encouraged by the strategist; and for a considerable time, the few copies of

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III

Little is known of the life of either master. They were in no sense patriots but professional strategists, continually changing their employer. Chinese history tells a famous story about Sun. A certain ruler asked Sun to give a practical demonstration of his principles in the neighbourhood of the palace, and entrusted him with the women of the court for this purpose. During the operations, the leader of one of the sides did not obey the master’s instructions, and her execution was ordered. She h

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NOTE.

The translator is indebted to Major J. C. Somerville for his kind help and criticism....

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I PRELIMINARY RECKONING

The words of Sun the Master:— To all nations War is a great matter. Upon the army death or life depend: it is the means of the existence or destruction of the State . Therefore it must be diligently studied. Now, in war, besides stratagem and the situation, there are five indispensable matters. The first is called The Way; [1] the second, Heaven; the third, Earth; the fourth, the Leader; the fifth, Law. The Way or the proper conduct of man. If the ruling authority be upright, the people are unit

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II OPERATIONS OF WAR

Sun the Master said:— Now the requirements of war are such that we need a thousand light chariots with four horses each; a thousand leather-covered chariots, and one hundred thousand armoured men; and we must send supplies to distant fields. Wherefore the cost at home and in the field, the entertainment of guests, glue and lacquer for repairs, and necessities for the upkeep of waggons and armour are such that in one day a thousand pieces of gold are spent. With that amount a force of one hundred

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III THE ATTACK BY STRATAGEM

Sun the Master said:— Now by the laws of war, better than defeating a country by fire and the sword, is to take it without strife. Better to capture the enemy’s army intact than to overcome it after fierce resistance. Better to capture the “Lu,” [3] the “Tsu” or the “Wu” whole, than to destroy them in battle. To fight and conquer one hundred times is not the perfection of attainment, for the supreme art is to subdue the enemy without fighting. Wherefore the most skilful warrior outwits the enemy

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IV THE ORDER OF BATTLE

Sun the Master said:— The ancient masters of war first made their armies invincible, then waited until the adversary could with certainty be defeated. The causes of defeat come from within; victory is born in the enemy’s camp. Skilful soldiers make defeat impossible, and further render the enemy incapable of victory. But, as it is written, the conditions necessary for victory may be present, but they cannot always be obtained. If victory be unattainable, we stand on the defensive; if victory be

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V THE SPIRIT OF THE TROOPS

Sun the Master said:— The control of large numbers is possible, and like unto that of small numbers, if we subdivide them. By means of drum, bell and flag, [7] the direction of large forces in battle is possible, and like unto the direction of small forces. By the skilful interchange of normal and abnormal manœuvres are the armies certainly preserved from defeat. The enemy is crushed, like the fall of a grindstone upon an egg, by knowledge of his strength and weakness, and by the employment of t

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VI EMPTINESS AND STRENGTH

Sun the Master said:— To be the first in the field, and there to await the enemy, is to husband strength. To be late, and hurrying to advance to meet the foe, is exhausting. The good fighter contrives to make the enemy approach; he does not allow himself to be beguiled by the enemy. By offering an apparent advantage, he induces the enemy to take up a position that will cause his defeat; he plants obstructions to dissuade him from acting in such a way as to threaten his own dispositions. If the e

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VII BATTLE TACTICS

Sun the Master said:— For the most part, military procedure is as follows:— The general receives orders from his lord; assembles and settles harmony among the forces, and takes the field. There is nothing more difficult than Battle Tactics. Their difficulty lies in the calculation of time and distance, and the reversal of misfortune. To make the enemy take a circuitous route by a show of gain, and then, whilst starting after him, to arrive before him, is to be a master of the art of manœuvre. Th

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VIII THE NINE CHANGES

Sun the Master said:— In general, the procedure of war is:—the Leader, having received orders from his lord, assembles the armies. Do not camp on marshy or low-lying ground; enter into friendly relations with neighbouring states; do not linger in a far country; use stratagem in mountainous and wooded country; on death ground, fight. There are always roads that must be avoided; forces that must not be attacked; castles that must not be besieged; ground that must not be chosen for encounter; order

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IX MOVEMENT OF TROOPS

Sun the Master said:— Touching the disposal of troops and observation of the enemy in relation to mountain warfare:— Cross mountains and camp in valleys, selecting positions of safety. Place the army on high ground, and avoid an enemy in high places. In relation to water:— After crossing waters, pass on immediately to a distance. When the enemy is crossing a stream, do not meet and engage him in the waters, but strike when half his force has passed over. Do not advance on an enemy near water, bu

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X GROUND

Sun the Master said:— With regard to the different natures of ground there are:— Open ground; broken ground; suspended ground; defiles; precipices; far countries. Open ground is that where either side has liberty of movement: be quick to occupy any high ground in the neighbourhood and consider well the line of supplies. Broken ground. Advance is easy, but retreat from it is difficult. Here, if the enemy be not prepared, we may win: but should he be prepared, and defeat us, and retreat be impossi

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XI THE NINE GROUNDS

Sun the Master said:— In respect to the conduct of war there are:— Distracting ground; disturbing ground; ground of contention; intersecting ground; path-ridden ground; deeply-involved ground; difficult ground; enclosed ground; death ground. At all times, when the prince fights in his own territory, it is called distracting [13] ground. That ground a short way inside the enemy’s border is called disturbing ground. Ground giving advantage to whichever side is in possession, is called ground of co

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XII ASSAULT BY FIRE

Sun the Master said:— There are five ways of attack by fire: The first is called barrack burning; the second, commissariat burning; the third, equipment burning; the fourth, store burning; the fifth, the company burning. The moment for the fire assault must be suitable. Further, appliances must always be kept at hand. There is a time and day proper for the setting and carrying out of the fire assault; namely: such time as the weather is dry; and a day when the moon is in the quarters of the star

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XIII THE EMPLOYMENT OF SPIES

Sun the Master said:— Calling 100,000 men to arms, and transporting them a hundred leagues, is such an undertaking that in one day 1,000 taels of the citizens’ and nobles’ money are spent; commotions arise within and without the state; carriers fall down exhausted on the line of march of the army; and the occupations of 700,000 [14] homes are upset. Again, for years the armies may face each other; yet the issue may depend on a single day’s victory. Wherefore, by grudging slight expense in titles

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THE SAYINGS OF WUTZU INTRODUCTION

Now Wu, albeit clothed in the raiment of a scholar, was a man skilled in the art of war. And Wen, Lord of Wei, came unto him and said:— “I am a man of peace, caring not for military affairs.” And Wu said:— “Your actions are witnesses of your mind; why do your words say not what is in your heart? “You do prepare and dress hides and leather through the four seasons, ornamenting them with red lacquer and the figures of panthers and elephants; which give not warmth in winter, neither in summer, cool

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I THE GOVERNMENT OF A COUNTRY

And Wu the Master said:— The mighty rulers of old first trained their retainers, and then extended their regard to their outlying feudatories. There are four discords:— Discord in the state: then never make war. Discord in the army: then do not strike camp. Discord in the camp: then do not advance to attack. Discord in the battle array: then seek not to decide the issue. Therefore, wise rulers who would employ their subjects in great endeavours, should first establish harmony among them. Lend no

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II ESTIMATION OF THE ENEMY

And Lord Wen said to Wu:— “Chin threatens us on the west; Chu surrounds us on the south; Chao presses us in the north; Chi watches us in the east; Yen stops our rear, and Han is posted in our front. Thus, the armies of six nations encompass us on every side, and our condition is very unpropitious. Canst thou relieve my anxiety?” Wu answered and said:— “The path of safety of a state lies first of all in vigilance. Now my Lord has already taken warning, wherefore misfortunes are yet distant. “Let

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III CONTROL OF THE ARMY

Lord Wen said:— “What is of first importance in operations of war?” “Lightness, of which there are four natures, Weight, of which there are two natures, and Confidence must be clearly comprehended.” And Wen said:— “What are these?” And Wu answered:— “If the way be easy, the horses are light of foot; if the horses be light of foot, the chariots travel freely; if the chariots travel easily, men can ride in them without difficulty; if the men be free to move, the fight prospers. If the difficult an

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IV QUALITIES OF THE GENERAL

Wu the Master said:— “The leader of the army is one who is master of both arms and letters. He who is both brave and tender can be entrusted with troops. “In the popular estimation of generals, courage alone is regarded; nevertheless, courage is but one of the qualifications of the leader. Courage is heedless in encounter; and rash encounter, which is ignorant of the consequences, cannot be called good. “There are five matters which leaders must carefully consider. “First, reason; second, prepar

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V SUITING THE OCCASION

Lord Wen asked and said:— “If strong chariots, good horses, strong and valiant soldiers suddenly meet the enemy, and are thrown into confusion, and ranks broken, what should be done?” “In general, the method of fighting is to effect order in daylight by means of flags and banners, pennons and batons; at night by gongs and drums, whistles and flutes. If a signal be made to the left, the troops move to the left; if to the right, they move to the right. Advance is made at the sound of the drum; hal

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VI ENCOURAGEMENT OF THE TROOPS

And Lord Wen asked and said:— “If punishment be just and reward impartial, is victory thereby gained?” “I cannot speak of all the things that concern justice and impartiality, but on these alone dependence cannot be placed. “If the people hear the word of command, or listen to the order with rejoicing; if, when the army be raised, and a multitude assembled, they go forth gladly to the fight; if, in the tumult of the fight, when blade crosses blade, the soldiers gladly die; upon these three thing

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