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Book Summary: Sun Tzu Art Of War
What is Inside Sun Tzu Art Of War?
Sun Tzu quotes,
If you know your enemy and you know yourself, you need not worry; the results of a hundred battles - Sun Tzu Art Of War
In The Art Of War book, Sun Tzu emphasizes the importance of being aware of our strengths and weaknesses in relation to our competition. This awareness allows us to identify areas for improvement and capitalize on our strengths.
The main lesson in Sun Tzu's "The Art of War" is to be observant and strategic about our surroundings, using this knowledge to navigate our path to success.
According to Sun Tzu, the definition of war extends beyond mere combat. While he does not provide specific directives, he encourages practitioners of the Art of War to think creatively and consider various efficient and effective strategies for achieving victory.
The Sun Tzu Art Of War treatise is not only about battle strategies. In the book, Sun Tzu wrote about planning, assessments, strategic planning, leadership, diplomacy, politics, etc.
Applying The Sun Tzu Art Of War Knowledge
I consider Sun Tzu's Art of War as a secret book of success, as many successful business people, corporate leaders, and politicians study his philosophy to achieve their goals.
In the workplace, we compete for better positions and salaries. In business, we compete with rivals for greater profits and market share.
We live in a world defined by competition. Therefore, it is crucial to learn the lessons found in "The Art of War." Written by Sun Tzu, "The Art of War" is an ancient Chinese military text and is the earliest and most comprehensive book on war strategies in China.
Every ruler, commander, and general must study "The Art of War." This book serves as a reference for many well-known generals throughout history.
To fully appreciate the significance of Sun Tzu's "The Art of War," it is important to first understand...
Who is a Sun Tzu?
Sun Tzu means Master Sun. His name is Sun Wu.
There are no exact dates of his birth and when did he die?
He lived around 500 BCE.
He was born in the state of Qi (known today as Shandong province).
Sun Tzu was born into a noble family of military officers, which is why he became an expert in military affairs. During his time, the state of Qi held significant importance in ancient China due to its rich military history and legacy.
Sun Tzu lived in an era marked by numerous wars among various states in ancient China, providing him with extensive experience in warfare strategies. This environment allowed him to study and master the Art of War, making him an accomplished military scholar at a young age.
When the state of Qi went into political disorder, Sun Tzu was forced to move for his safety.
He moved to the State of Wu and eventually got a job as a general and a military advisor to King Helǔ of Wu State.
Sun Tzu Art Of War 13 Chapters?
It was written in bamboo strips and consists of 13 chapters.
Laying Plans
Waging War
Attack by Stratagem
Tactical Disposition
Energy
Weak and Strong Points
Maneuvering
Variation of Tactics
The Army on the March
Terrain
The Nine Situation
Attack by Fire
The Use of Spies
The summary of the Sun Tzu Art Of War.
Chapter 1. Laying Plans
In this chapter, Sun Tzu talks about the importance of planning and assessing before conducting any war.
He said any actions taken in warfare have to be studied carefully. And must be treated like a life-and-death situation.
He also covers what are the factors one needs to assess when wanting to fight a war.
Sun Tzu said.
The Art Of War is ruled by five heavenly factors to be appraised in one's actions when determining the situation on the battlefield. The five heavenly factors are: (1) Moral Law, (2) Heaven, (3) Earth, (4) The Commander, (5) Rules And Regulation
To win any war,
The ruler must establish moral laws for the citizens to follow and obey, ensuring the order of his kingdom.
The general must determine the "Heaven," the weather, and the "Earth," which is the ground he will battle on before he decides to fight.
Sun Tzu says the "The Commander" refers to the leader. The leader's character is crucial in determining whether the war can be won. The commander should be wise, benevolent, courageous, and strict.
The commander must understand the "Rules & Regulations " of the army's organization and set standard operating procedures to ensure the organization runs cohesively and is united.
By studying the five heavenly factors, which are the Moral Law, Heaven, Earth, Commander, and the Rules and Regulations of your opponent and yourself, you will be able to determine who will win the war.
Sun Tzu said,
These five heavenly factors should be familiar to every general: he who knows will be able to conquer, he who does not know will fail.
After comparing all the enemy's five factors and yours, the next most important thing to do is do your calculations. The longer you spend doing your calculations in your temple or office, the more likely you will win.
Sun Tzu emphasizes the importance of spending time doing the necessary calculations in your office
Sun Tzu said,
The general, who makes many calculations in his temple, wins the battle. The general who makes a few calculations beforehand loses the battle. To lead to victory, many calculations must be done, and few calculations lead to defeat; how much more, no calculations at all. Looking at this I can foresee who will likely win or lose.
Sun Tzu reminded the reader that.
All warfare is based on deception.
Always remain flexible and adjust your plans to your advantage. Keep your strategies confidential. The essence of conflict relies heavily on deception..
Chapter 2. Waging War
Sun Tzu views war as a matter of costs and profits. The goal is to win any conflict with minimal effort and expense while maximizing gains..
The cost of war operations is very costly.
Sun Tzu says,
The objective is to be victorious in war. If it is a prolonged war, the men’s weapons will grow dull, their ardor will be dampened, and the siege will exhaust your strength.
In any prolonged battle, a country can't benefit. In fact, when you are weak because of a prolonged battle, Many other opportunistic leaders from nearby states will try to take advantage of your situation.
If you do not understand the damages of war, you cannot thoroughly understand the profitable way to fight it.
In war, you must seize your enemies' resources, such as their weapons, chariots, and equipment, and use them to fight against them.
Sun Tzu says,
War is about victory, not a prolonged campaign.
Chapter 3. Attack By Strategem
Sun Tzu said,
Hence, fighting and conquering in all battles is not supreme excellence; supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy’s resistance without fighting.
Hence, the highest form of generalship is to disrupt the enemy’s plan; the next best to disrupt the enemy's alliance by diplomacy, and the worst policy is to besiege walled cities.
Sun Tzu advocates, you must try to win the war without fighting. this can be done through diplomacy, negotiations, bribery, and all sorts of tactics to bring down the enemy without real fighting.
If you want to win the war with your enemy, Sun Tzu says there are five fundamentals to victory.
You must know when to fight and when not to fight.
You must know how to fight according to the strength of the enemy forces.
You will win if all your army is united throughout its ranks.
You will win when you are already prepared and wait for the enemy who is unprepared.
When the generals are capable and not interfered with by the rulers.
Sun Tzu concludes,
If you know yourself and know your enemy, you will not fear the results of 100 battles. If you do not know your enemy but know yourself, you will win some and lose some. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will be in danger in every battle.
Chapter 4. Tactical Disposition
The key to winning a war is through battle positioning. The good fighters of the past put themselves in an invincible position first and waited for the opportunity to be victorious when the enemy was vulnerable
It is necessary to build your resources, improve your skills to make yourself invincible and take advantage, or wait for the opportunity when your competitor is weak and vulnerable.
According to Sun Tzu,
In ancient times, a good fighter was one who not only won but excelled in winning with ease. Therefore, his victories did not bring him a reputation for wisdom nor credit or merit for bravery.
One should not make mistakes; not making mistakes means conquering the enemy that has already been defeated.
Your decision process will decide the military tactics you use.
Sun Tzu says.
In the Art Of War, the first is measurement. The second is calculations. The third is quantification. The fourth is comparison, and the fifth is the possibility of victory.
Do your measurements and then decide which tactics give you the highest probability of victory.
Chapter 5. Energy
Sun Tzu says,
Managing a large army is the same principle as managing a few soldiers; it is merely dividing their numbers and tasks.
Engaging in battle, with a large army, under your command differs from engaging with a small one; it is merely a question of formations and signals.
All battles are won through direct and indirect methods with an element of surprise.
You must learn to be tricky and make the enemy think you are unprepared and weak.
When there is the opportunity to attack, you must attack with full of energy.
Sun Tzu says,
Thus, the energy developed by good fighting men is like the momentum of a round stone rolling down a mountain thousands of feet in height, so much on the subject of energy.
Chapter 6. Weak and Strong Points
Sun Tzu says,
Hence, the general is skillful in attack when his opponent does not know what to defend, and he is skillful in defense when his opponent doesn’t know what to attack.
The divine art of subtlety and secrecy. Through you, we learn to be invincible and silent. Hence, he is the master of the enemy’s fate.
When the enemy does not know your disposition, he is forced to divide his forces to defend all his positions.
When the enemy’s forces are divided, they become weak.
That’s when you concentrate your forces and attack the enemy’s weak point.
Chapter 7. Maneuvering
In this chapter, Sun Tzu talks about how to maneuver your troops.
Sun Tzu said,
Manoeuvring with an army has advantages, but it is most dangerous if the army is undisciplined.
When managing your troops, you must ensure they are all disciplined.
Only then can you march forward if your troops are disciplined.
When you are maneuvering your army, communications are very important.
Sun Tzu says,
Bells and drums, banners and flags are means of signaling to the ears and eyes of the army so that they are focused on the direction.
In night fighting, use signal fires, and drums, and fighting by day, flags and banners, as means of influencing the ears and eyes of the army.
When planning to battle with the enemy, always study the enemy’s mental and emotional conditions.
Are the enemy troops homesick, demotivated, or tired?
A clever general, therefore, avoids an army when its spirit is keen but attacks it when it is sluggish and inclined to return home. You must study the art of studying moods.
Chapter 8. Variation of Tactics
Your tactics in warfare depend very much on the ground you are fighting.
Sun Tzu said,
There are some roads that must not be followed, army that must not be attacked, towns that must not be seized, positions that must not be contested and commands of the sovereign that must not be obeyed.
One must know how to fight based on situations.
When you engage in any battle, you must know when to advance and when to retreat.
Sun Tzu warns,
In the Art Of War, always be prepared for the enemy coming. Never assume he will not come. Never presume he will not attack. Make our positions unassailable.
When the army is defeated and the general is killed, it is because of these five faults of the general.
Recklessness
Cowardice
Short Temper
A Delicacy of Honor That is Sensitive to Shame
He is Compassionate for Men, Which Makes Him Unable to Command His Army
A lot of thoughts need to be given.
Chapter 9. The Army on the March
When marching your army, always be observant of the surroundings, whether the mountains, valleys, or rivers.
The general must know when and how to battle the enemy based on the terrain.
Next, the general must gather knowledge of the enemies situation.
As Sun Tzu says,
Having more soldiers does not guarantee victory in a battle. Never attack by relying solely on military power; concentrating our strength, estimating the enemy's position, and seeking his capture is sufficient.
When marching your army, remember that you must always keep your soldiers in tight discipline.
Sun Tzu says,
If his men willingly obey the general’s command, there is mutual respect.
Chapter 10. Terrain
There are six types of natural terrains,
Open Ground,
Entangling,
Inconclusive,
Narrow,
Precipitous and
Distance From the Enemy.
The general has to choose the terrain for his battle wisely and know the enemy’s capabilities.
Each terrain requires the general to use a different strategy to battle with the enemy.
Sun Tzu says,
These six grounds are the principles connected with the Earth element. The general’s responsibility is to analyze and study the terrain.
For the general to attain this responsible post, he must know how to manage his army according to the terrain and understand the enemy.
Sun Tzu says,
“The general is at fault if his army,
Flee
Insubordinate
Collapse
Fall
Disorganized
Rout
This is within the general’s control and does not arise from natural causes”.
The ability of the general lies in his ability to use the natural terrain of the country to his advantage. In this way, he’s able to control his victory.
To win the battle, this is what Sun Tzu says,
If you know the enemy and know yourself, your victory will be undoubted; if you know heaven and know earth, you may make your victory complete.
The general must be in control of his army and understand the enemy's situation.
By understanding the terrain and the weather, the victory is in the general’s hands.
Chapter 11. The Nine Situations
When entering enemy territory, the general must know the situation of the mountain forest, high and dangerous grounds, defiles, marshes, and swam to march the army.
If the general does not know the enemy territory well, he has to hire local guides to advance into enemy territory.
To be successful in marching the army, the general has to have the ability to adapt himself according to the changes of the enemy and have full control over his army.
Sun Tzu says,
He must be able to mystify his officers and men with false reports and appearances, keeping them in total ignorance of his true intentions.
He alters his arrangements and constantly changes his plans so nobody knows his plans. By changing his campsites and taking circuitous routes, he prevents the enemy from anticipating his purpose.
The general have to behave like what Sun Tzu says,
The leader leads his army like a person who has climbed a height and then kicks away the leather behind him, putting his men in deep hostile territory.
He burns his boats and bricks, his cooking pots like a shepherd driving a flock of sheep. He drives his men this way and that, and no one knows where he is going.
When the general takes charge, he must be in complete control of the situation. Here is what Sun Tzu said.
On the day you take up your command, block the border passes, destroy the official correspondence, and stop the passage of all envoys. Be tough to the council chamber so that you can control the situation.
Chapter 12. The Attack by Fire
There are five methods to use fire to attack:
Burn soldiers in the camp or town
To burn stores
Burn baggage trains
To burn arsenals
Fire attached arrows toward the enemy's camp to create disorder
In any method of attack, there must be a reason to use the weapon. Also, one has to consider the right weather and timing to attack.
All your army must be equipped with knowledge of the methods of using the different types of weapons and pay attention to the weather and the enemy movement.
When it comes to battles, one must think of the profitability of the battle.
If there is no profit gain, it is a waste of your time and resources.
Use your troops only if there’s something to profit from, or fight only when you are in a desperate situation.
Sun Tzu said,
Hence, the enlightened ruler is prudent, and the good general should not be too hasty. Thus, the country is at peace, and an army is preserved.
Chapter 13. The Use of Spies
War is very costly. It requires a lot of state resources, and it affects everybody’s wealth.
Sun Tzu says,
What enables the enlightened sovereign and the wise general to subdue and conquer heavenly feats beyond the reach of ordinary men is foreknowledge.
Now, this foreknowledge cannot be elicited from spirits, gods, past experience, or any calculation.
For knowledge can only be obtained from men who know the enemy's dispositions.
These men are your spies.
The use of spies comes in five classes
Local Spies
Inward Spies
Converted Spies
Doomed Spies
Surviving Spies
The ruler must be willing to pay and reward the spies.
The ruler and the general must have wisdom and knowledge when employing spies.
Lastly, Sun Tzu said,
Hence, only the enlightened ruler and the wise general will use espionage intelligence, thereby achieving great results. Spies are a vital element of war because only through them can an army operate.
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