TutorMing Chinese Language and Culture Blog. Essentially, principles of war are the foundational pillars on which a campaign is built from the planning stage through to its conduct and successful culmination. If commands are consistently executed, they are in accord with the general. This is the Way of securing the nation, and preserving the army. This is positioning the army in swamps and wetlands. Where there are mountains and forests, defiles and ravines, swamps and wetlands, and places difficult to pass, this is called difficult ground. Throw them into danger and they will survive; put them on deadly ground and they will live. In business negotiations, knowing something about your counterpart can be vital to improving communication with them. While this well-known quote from Sun Tzu's text sounds sinister, but it has profound meaning in the business world. Develop a skill (or combination of skills) that nobody else has, and you won't have to compete with anyone. For internal spies we use the enemy’s officials. In warfare, there are flight, insubordination, deterioration, collapse, chaos, and setback. Command the masses like commanding one person. If his troops cry at night, they are afraid. There are no more than five basic flavors, yet the variations in the five flavors cannot all be tasted. Hence it is a subject of inquiry which can on no account be neglected. Bribe them, and instruct and retain them. This is the kind of calamity when laying siege to a walled city. Any blueprint or business plan has to be compiled with reference to 5 basic points: 1. Therefore, of those close to the army, none is closer than spies, no reward more generously given, and no matter in greater secrecy. For this reason, if an army is without its equipment will lose; if an army is without its provisions will lose; if the army is without its stores will lose. Sun Tzu believes it is not enough to have a unique plan, and that a plan must also be disguised by means of deception. For double spies we use the enemy’s spies. Square shapes are still, but round shapes roll. Where there is nowhere to go, this is called deadly ground. In ancient times, the rise of the Yin dynasty was due to I Chih, who served the house of Hsia; the rise of the Chou dynasty was due to Lu Ya, who served the house of Yin. Sun Tzu argues that for any situation, man has more than one tool at his disposal, making it sometimes necessary to engage the enemy in a conventional manner. Therefore, in night battles use torches and drums; Drums, gongs, flags, and pennants are used to unite men’s eyes and ears. Therefore, the victories from those skilled in warfare are not considered of great wisdom or courage, because their victories have no miscalculations. Therefore, enlightened rulers and good generals who are able to obtain intelligent agents as spies are certain for great achievements. This is called a confused and hesitant army leading another to victory. When goods are expensive, the citizens’ wealth will be exhausted. Generally, the requirements of warfare are this way: the distribution of internal and on the field spending. In ancient times, those who are skilled in warfare gained victory where victory was easily gained. However, there cannot be a … There are three ways the ruler can bring difficulty to the army: To order an advance when not realizing the army is in no position to advance, or to order a withdrawal when not realizing the army is in no position to withdraw. The men of Wu and Yueh hated each other, however, encountering severe winds when crossing a river on the same boat, they assisted each other like left and right hands. In observation of the fact that warfare is extremely risky, Sun Tzu proposes that the best tacticians are those who are able to defeat the enemy by diplomacy or other means. … Winning battles such that the whole world says "excellent" is not the highest excellence. The most successful leaders are those who can be disciplined and enforce what … Indeed, after defeating or acquiring all the local rivals, Didi had become a seasoned veteran in the Chinese market and knew how to fight much better than Uber, a U.S.-based company. Those who do battle and do not know these are certain for defeat. The energy of the army can be dampened, and the general’s mind can be dampened. No miscalculations mean the victories are certain, achieving victory over those who have already lost. In, Lesson 6: The Best Way to Win Is Not to Fight At All, In observation of the fact that warfare is extremely risky, Sun Tzu proposes that the best tacticians are those who are able to defeat the enemy by diplomacy or other means. These six situations are not caused by Heaven or Ground, but by the general. 1. To defend when surrounded, to fight hard when there are no other alternatives, and to obey commands promptly when in danger. A nation can be impoverished by the army when it has to supply the army at great distances. If we do not want to do battle, even if we merely draw a line on the ground, he will not do battle, because we divert his movements. Adaptations to the nine grounds, the advantages in defensive and offensive maneuvers, and the patterns of human emotions must be examined. Therefore, armed struggle has advantages, and armed struggle has risks. If the enemy crosses a river, do not meet him in the water. Based on my calculations, though Yueh’s troops were many, what advantage was this to them in respect to victory? Therefore, hobbling horses and burying chariot wheels are not enough. To be certain to take what you attack, attack where the enemy cannot defend. Therefore, you must treat them with the utmost generosity. The principles and suggestions provided throughout the book are geared toward armed struggle and the relationships between governments and military factions. After crossing a river, you must stay far away from it. Sun Tzu's teachings can be applied to one's personal battles by helping us appreciate that self-improvement isn't just a matter of sheer willpower. Similarly, in your career, if you spread your skills over too many diverse areas, you won't be able to specialize in anything. If the enemy presents an opportunity, take advantage of it. Generally, the principles of warfare are: The general receives his commands from the ruler, assembles the troops, mobilizes the army, and sets up camp. Where you leave your country, and lead the troops across the border into enemy ground, this is called isolated ground. Generally, the army prefers high ground and dislikes low ground, values the sunny side and despises the shady side, nourishes its health and occupies places with resources, and avoids numerous sicknesses. If you want to do battle with the enemy, do not position your forces near the water facing the enemy; take high ground facing the sunny side, and do not position downstream. Cheng's string of victories against local rivals eventually helped him outmaneuver Uber despite Uber's ability to match his moves financially. If he prepares to defend the right, the left will be weak. This is essential for warfare, and what the army depends on to move. Therefore, the important thing in doing battle is victory, not protracted warfare. This is positioning the army on level ground. If the enemy’s flags and pennants move about, he is in chaos. His hobbies are soccer, being outdoors, and studying Chinese. This blog copyright © From their knowledge, our living spies can be used as planned. Helping people and businesses achieve more from the internet t:+44.844-453-5591 e:info@gjbenterprises.com, Introduction Chapter One: Calculations Chapter Two: Doing Battle Chapter Three: Planning Attacks Chapter Four: Formation Chapter Five: Force Chapter Six: Weakness and Strength Chapter Seven: Armed Struggle Chapter Eight: Nine Changes Chapter Nine: Army Manoeuvres Chapter Ten: Ground Formation Chapter Eleven: Nine Grounds Chapter Twelve: Fire Attacks Chapter Thirteen: Using Spies, SUN-TZU: THE PRINCIPLES OF WARFARE "THE ART OF WAR". A victorious army is like a ton against an ounce; a defeated army is like an ounce against a ton! When you plunder the countryside, divide the wealth among your troops; when you expand your territory, divide up and hold places of advantage. Get them to face danger, but do not reveal the advantages. Ideally, an army should also be in constant motion so as to appear formless. When all strength has been exhausted and resources depleted, all houses in the central plains utterly impoverished, seven-tenths of the citizens’ wealth dissipated. Not only is it vitally important to have insight into what the enemy might be attempting to do in order to take advantage of their weaknesses and know one's own corresponding strengths and weakness, but it is also important to take into account factors such as the environment, weather, and troop morale. Similarly, in a career, sometimes it is the small actions that snowball into something bigger. However, he also points out that the only way to get ahead is to take the right risks. Therefore, in night battles, use many torches and drums, and in day battles, use many flags and pennants in order to influence men’s eyes and ears. document.write(today.getFullYear()); Therefore, there are five dangerous traits of a general: He who is quick tempered can be insulted. Therefore, the general who does not advance to seek glory, or does not withdraw to avoid punishment, but cares for only the people’s security and promotes the people’s interests, is the nation’s treasure. Where it is advantageous if you occupy it and it is advantageous if the enemy occupies it, this is called contentious ground. No nation has ever benefited from protracted warfare. One who does not know any one of these matters cannot command the army of a ruler. Everyone knows the formation by which you achieved victory, yet no one knows the formations by which you were able to create victory. When this support is in place, the nation will certainly be strong. To calculate the enemy, create conditions leading to victory, calculating the dangers and distances. In business, you have to choose battles all the time, whether it be choosing between project proposals, prioritizing requests for renegotiations, or choosing when to challenge a counterpart. Therefore, if we can make the enemy show his position while we are formless, we will be at full force while the enemy is divided. These four days are when there are rising winds. This is to know the calculations of the circuitous and of the direct. Much of content in "The Art of War" is dedicating to advising how to pick the right time and place for your conflict to occur (it if really needs to occur at all). Before doing battle, in the temple one calculates and will win, because many calculations were made; before doing battle, in the temple one calculates and will not win, because few calculations were made; many calculations, victory, few calculations, no victory, then how much less so when no calculations? For stalemated ground, though the enemy offers you advantage, do not advance. Therefore, know the enemy’s plans and calculate their strengths and weaknesses. Move when advantageous, stop when not advantageous. Companies like Didi are able to scale quickly once they have a few successes, and the momentum starts shifting their way. Having good timing means that while you do not hesitate to execute when the time is right, you don't rush in either unless the conditions favor it. Do not depend on the enemy not attacking, but depend on our position that cannot be attacked. In the business world, you don't want to drain your resources attacking a rival when you could invest them in your future development. Therefore, we are many and the enemy few. With the large volume of training information out there, it’s easy to get overwhelmed and over-complicate things. If the enemy is far away and challenges you to do battle, he wants you to advance, because he occupies level ground that is to his advantage. As a realist, Sun Tzu emphasizes that anything can happen in warfare, and proposing that generals always prepare for the worst. One takes on invincibility defending, one takes on vulnerability attacking. That is not to saying having diverse skills won't help you get a job, but you have to diversify your skills in a smart way. He changes his campsites and takes circuitous routes, keeping them from anticipating. Therefore, the army is established on deception, mobilized by advantage, and changed through dividing up and consolidating the troops. Give your troops tasks, but do not reveal them your plans. On surrounded ground, I block off openings. Large corporate monopolies will often take measures to appear smaller, while small startups will claim they are changing the world through the uniqueness of their innovation, even though they might not be at that stage yet. If he gives out punishments frequently, he is dire straits. If the army is unsettled, the general is weak. 9 Practical Life Lessons from Sun Tzu's Art of War. By means of these, I can observe them, beholding victory or defeat!
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