Sūnzǐ Bīngfǎ: One Lesson a Day

Author: Chen Yang
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-05-01
Features: 【Original Text】Sun Tzu said: "War is a matter of life and death to a state, a matter of survival or ruin. It is essential to examine it carefully. Therefore, one must analyze the five factors and compare the seven calculations to seek the truth:
1. The way (moral influence),
2. Heaven (time and weather),
3. Earth (terrain and terrain),
4. The general (wisdom, integrity, benevolence, courage, and discipline),
5. Method (organization, discipline, and logistics).
The way means aligning the people with the ruler so that they are willing to die for him and live with him, without fearing danger. Heaven refers to the alternation of yin and yang, the changes of seasons, and the constraints of time. Earth refers to high and low ground, distance, danger and ease, width and narrowness, and life and death. The general refers to wisdom, trustworthiness, benevolence, courage, and strictness. Method refers to organization, discipline, and logistics.
All these five factors must be known by the general. Those who understand them will win, while those who do not will not. Therefore, one must compare the seven calculations to seek the truth:
- Which ruler has the right way?
- Which general is capable?
- Which terrain is favorable?
- Which laws are enforced?
- Which army is stronger?
- Which troops are better trained?
- Which rewards and punishments are clear?
With these, one can know the outcome of the battle. If the general follows my advice, he will surely win—keep him. If the general does not follow my advice, he will surely lose—discard him. Calculate the advantages and listen to the advice, then create momentum to support the external situation. Momentum means using the advantages to control the situation. War is about deception. Therefore, one must appear weak when strong, appear unprepared when prepared, appear close when distant, and appear distant when close. Use benefits to lure them, take advantage of chaos, prepare against strength, avoid confrontation with strength, provoke anger, humble them to make them arrogant, tire them with rest, and isolate them with closeness. Attack their unpreparedness and strike them when they least expect it. This is the art of winning in war, which cannot be revealed in advance.
Those who win before the battle through temple calculations have many calculations. Those who lose before the battle through temple calculations have few calculations. More calculations lead to victory, fewer calculations lead to defeat, and no calculations lead to certain defeat. From this perspective, the outcome of the battle is clear. 【Notes】
1. "Bing" originally refers to weapons, later extended to soldiers and armies, here meaning war.
2. "Chaci" means to examine and study.
3. The five factors refer to the way, heaven, earth, the general, and method. "Jing" here means analysis.
4. "Jiao" is synonymous with "jiao," meaning comparison; "ji" refers to the "seven calculations"; and "qing" refers to the situation.
5. Yin and yang refer to the changes of day and night in weather and time; cold and heat refer to temperature differences; "shi zhi" here means "seasons," referring to the alternation of seasons.
6. Wisdom, trustworthiness, benevolence, courage, and strictness refer to the general's wisdom, rewards and punishments, care for soldiers, decisiveness, and discipline.
7. "Qu zhi" refers to the organization and regulations of the army; "guan dao" refers to the responsibilities and jurisdiction of officers; "zhu yong" refers to the management of military supplies.
8. "Wen" means to know or understand.
9. "Shu" means who, here referring to which side.
10. "Jiang" here serves as a helper verb for "listening," meaning if the general follows my advice.
11. "Yi" is synonymous with "yi." "Listening" means to follow or adopt.
12. "Quan" means strategy or adaptation.
13. "Gui" means deception or strangeness.
14. "Nao" means to provoke or irritate.
15. "Sheng" refers to a high level of skill.
16. "Miao suan" refers to the military conference held in the temple before battle to plan strategies.
17. "Suan" originally refers to counting tokens, here meaning the conditions for victory. 【Translation】
Sun Tzu said: "War is a matter of life and death to a state, a matter of survival or ruin. It is essential to examine it carefully. Therefore, military strategists must first analyze the five factors carefully to seek and understand the true situation of both sides. These five factors are:
1. Morale (political influence),
2. Heaven (time and weather),
3. Earth (terrain and terrain),
4. The general (wisdom, integrity, benevolence, courage, and discipline),
5. Method (organization, discipline, and logistics).
Morale means aligning the people with the ruler so that they are willing to die for him and live with him, without fearing danger. Heaven refers to the alternation of yin and yang, the changes of seasons, and the constraints of time. Earth refers to high and low ground, distance, danger and ease, width and narrowness, and life and death. The general refers to wisdom, trustworthiness, benevolence, courage, and strictness. Method refers to organization, discipline, and logistics.
All these five factors must be known by the general. Those who understand them will win, while those who do not will not. Therefore, one must compare the seven calculations to seek the truth:
- Which ruler has the right way?
- Which general is capable?
- Which terrain is favorable?
- Which laws are enforced?
- Which army is stronger?
- Which troops are better trained?
- Which rewards and punishments are clear?
With these, one can know the outcome of the battle. If the general follows my advice, he will surely win—keep him. If the general does not follow my advice, he will surely lose—discard him. Calculate the advantages and listen to the advice, then create momentum to support the external situation. Momentum means using the advantages to control the situation. War is about deception. Therefore, one must appear weak when strong, appear unprepared when prepared, appear close when distant, and appear distant when close. Use benefits to lure them, take advantage of chaos, prepare against strength, avoid confrontation with strength, provoke anger, humble them to make them arrogant, tire them with rest, and isolate them with closeness. Attack their unpreparedness and strike them when they least expect it. This is the art of winning in war, which cannot be revealed in advance.
Those who win before the battle through temple calculations have many calculations. Those who lose before the battle through temple calculations have few calculations. More calculations lead to victory, fewer calculations lead to defeat, and no calculations lead to certain defeat. From this perspective, the outcome of the battle is clear.