But,atanyrate,ithascomeaboutthatthemembersofthegoverningclassarequiteafraidofenlargingonmilitarytopics,ordosoonlyinashamefacedmanner.Ifanyareboldenoughtodiscussthesubject,theyareatoncesetdownaseccentricindividualsofcoarseandbrutalpropensities.
Thisisanextraordinaryinstanceinwhich,throughsheerlackofreasoning,menunhappilylosesightoffundamentalprinciples.
WhentheDukeofChouwasministerunderCh`engWang,heregulatedceremoniesandmademusic,andveneratedtheartsofscholarshipandlearning;yetwhenthebarbariansoftheRiverHuairevolted,[60]hesalliedforthandchastisedthem.WhenConfuciusheldofficeundertheDukeofLu,andameetingwasconvenedatChia—ku,[61]hesaid:\"Ifpacificnegotiationsareinprogress,warlikepreparationsshouldhavebeenmadebeforehand.\"HerebukedandshamedtheMarquisofCh`i,whocoweredunderhimanddarednotproceedtoviolence.HowcanitbesaidthatthesetwogreatSageshadnoknowledgeofmilitarymatters?
WehaveseenthatthegreatChuHsiheldSunTzuinhighesteem.HealsoappealstotheauthorityoftheClassics:——
OurMasterConfucius,answeringDukeLingofWei,said:
\"Ihaveneverstudiedmattersconnectedwitharmiesandbattalions.\"[62]ReplyingtoK`ungWen—tzu,hesaid:I
havenotbeeninstructedaboutbuff—coatsandweapons.\"ButifweturntothemeetingatChia—ku,wefindthatheusedarmedforceagainstthemenofLai,sothatthemarquisofCh`iwasoverawed.Again,whentheinhabitantsofPirevolted,theorderedhisofficerstoattackthem,whereupontheyweredefeatedandfledinconfusion.Heonceutteredthewords:\"IfIfight,Iconquer.\"[63]AndJanYualsosaid:\"TheSageexercisesbothcivilandmilitaryfunctions.\"[64]CanitbeafactthatConfuciusneverstudiedorreceivedinstructionintheartofwar?Wecanonlysaythathedidnotspeciallychoosemattersconnectedwitharmiesandfightingtobethesubjectofhisteaching.
SunHsing—yen,theeditorofSunTzu,writesinsimilarstrain:——
Confuciussaid:\"Iamunversedinmilitarymatters.\"
[65]Healsosaid:\"IfIfight,Iconquer.\"Confuciusorderedceremoniesandregulatedmusic.NowwarconstitutesoneofthefiveclassesofStateceremonial,[66]andmustnotbetreatedasanindependentbranchofstudy.Hence,thewords\"Iamunversedin\"mustbetakentomeanthattherearethingswhichevenaninspiredTeacherdoesnotknow.Thosewhohavetoleadanarmyanddevisestratagems,mustlearntheartofwar.ButifonecancommandtheservicesofagoodgenerallikeSunTzu,whowasemployedbyWuTzu—hsu,thereisnoneedtolearnitoneself.HencetheremarkaddedbyConfucius:\"IfIfight,Iconquer.\"
Themenofthepresentday,however,willfullyinterpretthesewordsofConfuciusintheirnarrowestsense,asthoughhemeantthatbooksontheartofwarwerenotworthreading.
Withblindpersistency,theyadducetheexampleofChaoKua,whoporedoverhisfather’sbookstonopurpose,[67]asaproofthatallmilitarytheoryisuseless.Again,seeingthatbooksonwarhavetodowithsuchthingsasopportunismindesigningplans,andtheconversionofspies,theyholdthattheartisimmoralandunworthyofasage.Thesepeopleignorethefactthatthestudiesofourscholarsandtheciviladministrationofourofficialsalsorequiresteadyapplicationandpracticebeforeefficiencyisreached.Theancientswereparticularlycharyofallowingmerenovicestobotchtheirwork.[68]Weaponsarebaneful[69]andfightingperilous;anduselessunlessageneralisinconstantpractice,heoughtnottohazardothermen’slivesinbattle.
[70]HenceitisessentialthatSunTzu’s13chaptersshouldbestudied.
HsiangLiangusedtoinstructhisnephewChi[71]intheartofwar.Chigotaroughideaoftheartinitsgeneralbearings,butwouldnotpursuehisstudiestotheirproperoutcome,theconsequencebeingthathewasfinallydefeatedandoverthrown.Hedidnotrealizethatthetricksandartificesofwararebeyondverbalcomputation.DukeHsiangofSungandKingYenofHsuwerebroughttodestructionbytheirmisplacedhumanity.Thetreacherousandunderhandnatureofwarnecessitatestheuseofguileandstratagemsuitedtotheoccasion.ThereisacaseonrecordofConfuciushimselfhavingviolatedanextortedoath,[72]andalsoofhishavinglefttheSungStateindisguise.[73]CanwethenrecklesslyarraignSunTzufordisregardingtruthandhonesty?
Bibliography————
ThefollowingaretheoldestChinesetreatisesonwar,afterSunTzu.ThenotesoneachhavebeendrawnprincipallyfromtheSSUK`UCH`UANSHUCHIENMINGMULU,ch.9,fol.22sqq.
1.WUTZU,in1CHUANor6chapters.ByWuCh`i(d.381
B.C.).Agenuinework.SeeSHIHCHI,ch.65.
2.SSU—MAFA,in1CHUANor5chapters.WronglyattributedtoSsu—maJang—chuofthe6thcenturyB.C.Itsdate,however,mustbeearly,asthecustomsofthethreeancientdynastiesareconstantlytobemetwithinitspages.SeeSHIHCHI,ch.64.
TheSSUK`UCH`UANSHU(ch.99,f.1)remarksthattheoldestthreetreatisesonwar,SUNTZU,WUTZUandSSU—MAFA,are,generallyspeaking,onlyconcernedwiththingsstrictlymilitary——theartofproducing,collecting,traininganddrillingtroops,andthecorrecttheorywithregardtomeasuresofexpediency,layingplans,transportofgoodsandthehandlingofsoldiers——instrongcontrasttolaterworks,inwhichthescienceofwarisusuallyblendedwithmetaphysics,divinationandmagicalartsingeneral.
3.LIUT`AO,in6CHUAN,or60chapters.AttributedtoLuWang(orLuShang,alsoknownasT`aiKung)ofthe12thcenturyB.C.[74]ButitsstyledoesnotbelongtotheeraoftheThreeDynasties.LuTe—ming(550—625A.D.)mentionsthework,andenumeratestheheadingsofthesixsectionssothattheforgerycannothavebeenlaterthanSuidynasty.
4.WEILIAOTZU,in5CHUAN.AttributedtoWeiLiao(4thcent.B.C.),whostudiedunderthefamousKuei—kuTzu.Theworkappearstohavebeenoriginallyin31chapters,whereasthetextwepossesscontainsonly24.Itsmatterissoundenoughinthemain,thoughthestrategicaldevicesdifferconsiderablyfromthoseoftheWarringStatesperiod.Itisbeenfurnishedwithacommentarybythewell—knownSungphilosopherChangTsai.
5.SANLUEH,in3CHUAN.AttributedtoHuang—shihKung,alegendarypersonagewhoissaidtohavebestoweditonChangLiang(d.187B.C.)inaninterviewonabridge.Buthereagain,thestyleisnotthatofworksdatingfromtheCh`inorHanperiod.TheHanEmperorKuangWu[25—57A.D.]apparentlyquotesfromitinoneofhisproclamations;butthepassageinquestionmayhavebeeninsertedlateron,inordertoprovethegenuinenessofthework.WeshallnotbefaroutifwereferittotheNorthernSungperiod[420—478A.D.],orsomewhatearlier.
6.LIWEIKUNGWENTUI,in3sections.WrittenintheformofadialoguebetweenT`aiTsungandhisgreatgeneralLiChing,itisusuallyascribedtothelatter.Competentauthoritiesconsideritaforgery,thoughtheauthorwasevidentlywellversedintheartofwar.
7.LICHINGPINGFA(nottobeconfoundedwiththeforegoing)isashorttreatisein8chapters,preservedintheT`ungTien,butnotpublishedseparately.ThisfactexplainsitsomissionfromtheSSUK`UCH`UANSHU.
8.WUCH`ICHING,in1CHUAN.AttributedtothelegendaryministerFengHou,withexegeticalnotesbyKung—sunHungoftheHandynasty(d.121B.C.),andsaidtohavebeeneulogizedbythecelebratedgeneralMaLung(d.300A.D.).YettheearliestmentionofitisintheSUNGCHIH.Althoughaforgery,theworkiswellputtogether.
ConsideringthehighpopularestimationinwhichChu—koLianghasalwaysbeenheld,itisnotsurprisingtofindmorethanoneworkonwarascribedtohispen.Suchare(1)theSHIH
LIUTS`E(1CHUAN),preservedintheYUNGLOTATIEN;(2)CHIANG
YUAN(1CHUAN);and(3)HSINSHU(1CHUAN),whichstealswholesalefromSunTzu.Noneofthesehastheslightestclaimtobeconsideredgenuine.
MostofthelargeChineseencyclopediascontainextensivesectionsdevotedtotheliteratureofwar.Thefollowingreferencesmaybefounduseful:——
T`UNGTIEN(circa800A.D.),ch.148—162.
T`AIP`INGYULAN(983),ch.270—359.
WENHSIENTUNGK`AO(13thcent.),ch.221.
YUHAI(13thcent.),ch.140,141.
SANTS`AIT`UHUI(16thcent).
KUANGPOWUCHIH(1607),ch.31,32.
CH`IENCH`IOLEISHU(1632),ch.75.
YUANCHIENLEIHAN(1710),ch.206—229.
KUCHINT`USHUCHICH`ENG(1726),sectionXXX,esp.ch.81—
90.
HSUWENHSIENT`UNGK`AO(1784),ch.121—134.
HUANGCH`AOCHINGSHIHWENPIEN(1826),ch.76,77.
Thebibliographicalsectionsofcertainhistoricalworksalsodeservemention:——
CH`IENHANSHU,ch.30.
SUISHU,ch.32—35.
CHIUT`ANGSHU,ch.46,47.
HSINT`ANGSHU,ch.57,60.
SUNGSHIH,ch.202—209.
T`UNGCHIH(circa1150),ch.68.
TotheseofcoursemustbeaddedthegreatCatalogueoftheImperialLibrary:——
SSUK`UCH`UANSHUTSUNGMUT`IYAO(1790),ch.99,100.
Footnotes—
1.SHICHI,ch.65.
2.Hereignedfrom514to496B.C.
3.SHICHI,ch.130.
4.TheappellationofNangWa.
5.SHICHI,ch.31.
6.SHICHI,ch.25.
7.TheappellationofHuYen,mentionedinch.39undertheyear637.
8.Wang—tzuCh`eng—fu,ch.32,year607.
9.Themistakeisnaturalenough.NativecriticsrefertoaworkoftheHandynasty,whichsays:\"TenLIoutsidetheWUgate[ofthecityofWu,nowSoochowinKiangsu]thereisagreatmound,raisedtocommemoratetheentertainmentofSunWuofCh`i,whoexcelledintheartofwar,bytheKingofWu.\"
10.\"Theyattachedstringstowoodtomakebows,andsharpenedwoodtomakearrows.TheuseofbowsandarrowsistokeeptheEmpireinawe.\"
11.ThesonandsuccessorofHoLu.HewasfinallydefeatedandoverthrownbyKouchien,KingofYueh,in473B.C.Seepost.
12.KingYenofHsu,afabulousbeing,ofwhomSunHsing—yensaysinhispreface:\"Hishumanitybroughthimtodestruction.\"
13.ThepassageIhaveputinbracketsisomittedintheT`U
SHU,andmaybeaninterpolation.Itwasknown,howevertoChangShou—chiehoftheT`angdynasty,andappearsintheT`AIP`INGYU
LAN.
14.Ts`aoKungseemstobethinkingofthefirstpartofchap.
II,perhapsespeciallyofss.8.
15.Seechap.XI.
16.Ontheotherhand,itisnoteworthythatWUTZU,whichisnotin6chapters,has48assignedtoitintheHANCHIH.
Likewise,theCHUNGYUNGiscreditedwith49chapters,thoughnowonlyinoneonly.Inthecaseofveryshortworks,oneistemptedtothinkthatP`IENmightsimplymean\"leaves.\"
17.YehShihoftheSungdynasty[1151—1223].
18.Hehardlydeservestobebracketedwithassassins.
19.SeeChapter7,ss.27andChapter11,ss.28.
20.SeeChapter11,ss.28.ChuanChuistheabbreviatedformofhisname.
21.I.e.PoP`ei.Seeante.
22.Thenucleusofthisworkisprobablygenuine,thoughlargeadditionshavebeenmadebylaterhands.Kuanchungdiedin645
B.C.
23.Seeinfra,beginningofINTRODUCTION.
24.Idonotknowwhatthiswork,unlessitbethelastchapterofanotherwork.Whythatchaptershouldbesingledout,however,isnotclear.
25.About480B.C.
26.Thatis,Isuppose,theageofWuWangandChouKung.
27.Inthe3rdcenturyB.C.
28.Ssu—maJang—chu,whosefamilynamewasT`ien,livedinthelatterhalfofthe6thcenturyB.C.,andisalsobelievedtohavewrittenaworkonwar.SeeSHIHCHI,ch.64,andinfraatthebeginningoftheINTRODUCTION.
29.SeeLegge’sClassics,vol.V,Prolegomenap.27.LeggethinksthattheTSOCHUANmusthavebeenwritteninthe5thcentury,butnotbefore424B.C.
30.SeeMENCIUSIII.1.iii.13—20.
31.WhenWufirstappearsintheCH`UNCH`IUin584,itisalreadyatvariancewithitspowerfulneighbor.TheCH`UNCH`IU
firstmentionsYuehin537,theTSOCHUANin601.
32.ThisisexplicitlystatedintheTSOCHUAN,XXXII,2.
33.Thereisthistobesaidforthelaterperiod,thatthefeudwouldtendtogrowmorebitteraftereachencounter,andthusmorefullyjustifythelanguageusedinXI.ss.30.
34.WithWuYuanhimselfthecaseisjustthereverse:——aspurioustreatiseonwarhasbeenfatheredonhimsimplybecausehewasagreatgeneral.Herewehaveanobviousinducementtoforgery.SunWu,ontheotherhand,cannothavebeenwidelyknowntofameinthe5thcentury.
35.FromTSOCHUAN:\"FromthedateofKingChao’saccession[515]therewasnoyearinwhichCh`uwasnotattackedbyWu.\"
36.Prefaceadfin:\"MyfamilycomesfromLo—an,andwearereallydescendedfromSunTzu.IamashamedtosaythatIonlyreadmyancestor’sworkfromaliterarypointofview,withoutcomprehendingthemilitarytechnique.Solonghavewebeenenjoyingtheblessingsofpeace!\"
37.Hoa—yinisabout14milesfromT`ung—kuanontheeasternborderofShensi.ThetempleinquestionisstillvisitedbythoseabouttheascentoftheWesternSacredMountain.Itismentionedinatextasbeing\"situatedfiveLIeastofthedistrictcityofHua—yin.ThetemplecontainstheHua—shantabletinscribedbytheT`angEmperorHsuanTsung[713—755].\"
38.Seemy\"CatalogueofChineseBooks\"(Luzac&Co.,1908),no.
40.
39.Thisisadiscussionof29difficultpassagesinSunTzu.
40.Cf.CatalogueofthelibraryofFanfamilyatNingpo:\"Hiscommentaryisfrequentlyobscure;itfurnishesaclue,butdoesnotfullydevelopthemeaning.\"
41.WENHSIENT`UNGK`AO,ch.221.
42.ItisinterestingtonotethatM.Pelliothasrecentlydiscoveredchapters1,4and5ofthislostworkinthe\"GrottosoftheThousandBuddhas.\"SeeB.E.F.E.O.,t.VIII,nos.3—4,p.
525.
43.TheHsia,theShangandtheChou.Althoughthelast—namedwasnominallyexistentinSunTzu’sday,itretainedhardlyavestigeofpower,andtheoldmilitaryorganizationhadpracticallygonebytheboard.Icansuggestnootherexplanationofthepassage.
44.SeeCHOULI,xxix.6—10.
45.T`UNGK`AO,ch.221.
46.Thisappearstobestillextant.SeeWylie’s\"Notes,\"p.91
(newedition).
47.T`UNGK`AO,loc.cit.
48.Anotablepersoninhisday.HisbiographyisgivenintheSANKUOCHIH,ch.10.
49.SeeXI.ss.58,note.
50.HOUHANSHU,ch.17adinit.
51.SANKUOCHIH,ch.54.
52.SUNGSHIH,ch.365adinit.
53.ThefewEuropeanswhohaveyethadanopportunityofacquaintingthemselveswithSunTzuarenotbehindhandintheirpraise.Inthisconnection,ImayperhapsbeexcusedforquotingfromaletterfromLordRoberts,towhomthesheetsofthepresentworkweresubmittedprevioustopublication:\"ManyofSunWu’smaximsareperfectlyapplicabletothepresentday,andno.11[inChapterVIII]isonethatthepeopleofthiscountrywoulddowelltotaketoheart.\"
54.Ch.140.
55.SeeIV.ss.3.
56.TheallusionmaybetoMenciusVI.2.ix.2.
57.TheTSOCHUAN.
58.SHIHCHI,ch.25,fol.I.
59.Cf.SHIHCHI,ch47.
60.SeeSHUCHING,prefacess.55.
61.SeeSHIHCHI,ch.47.
62.LunYu,XV.1.
63.Ifailedtotracethisutterance.
64.Supra.
65.Supra.
66.Theotherfourbeingworship,mourning,entertainmentofguests,andfestiverites.SeeSHUCHING,ii.1.III.8,andCHOULI,IX.fol.49.
67.SeeXIII.ss.11,note.
68.ThisisaratherobscureallusiontotheTSOCHUAN,whereTzu—ch`ansays:\"Ifyouhaveapieceofbeautifulbrocade,youwillnotemployamerelearnertomakeitup.\"
69.Cf.TAOTECHING,ch.31.
70.SunHsing—yenmighthavequotedConfuciusagain.SeeLUN
YU,XIII.29,30.
71.BetterknownasHsiangYu[233—202B.C.].
72.SHIHCHI,ch.47.
73.SHIHCHI,ch.38.
74.SeeXIII.ss.27,note.FurtherdetailsonT`aiKungwillbefoundintheSHIHCHI,ch.32adinit.BesidesthetraditionwhichmakeshimaformerministerofChouHsin,twootheraccountsofhimaretheregiven,accordingtowhichhewouldappeartohavebeenfirstraisedfromahumbleprivatestationbyWenWang.
I.LAYINGPLANS
[Ts`aoKung,indefiningthemeaningoftheChineseforthetitleofthischapter,saysitreferstothedeliberationsinthetempleselectedbythegeneralforhistemporaryuse,orasweshouldsay,inhistent.See.ss.26.]
1.SunTzusaid:TheartofwarisofvitalimportancetotheState.
2.Itisamatteroflifeanddeath,aroadeithertosafetyortoruin.Henceitisasubjectofinquirywhichcanonnoaccountbeneglected.
3.Theartofwar,then,isgovernedbyfiveconstantfactors,tobetakenintoaccountinone’sdeliberations,whenseekingtodeterminetheconditionsobtaininginthefield.
4.Theseare:(1)TheMoralLaw;(2)Heaven;(3)Earth;
(4)TheCommander;(5)Methodanddiscipline.
[ItappearsfromwhatfollowsthatSunTzumeansby\"MoralLaw\"aprincipleofharmony,notunliketheTaoofLaoTzuinitsmoralaspect.Onemightbetemptedtorenderitby\"morale,\"
wereitnotconsideredasanattributeoftherulerinss.13.]
5,6.TheMORALLAWcausesthepeopletobeincompleteaccordwiththeirruler,sothattheywillfollowhimregardlessoftheirlives,undismayedbyanydanger.
[TuYuquotesWangTzuassaying:\"Withoutconstantpractice,theofficerswillbenervousandundecidedwhenmusteringforbattle;withoutconstantpractice,thegeneralwillbewaveringandirresolutewhenthecrisisisathand.\"]
7.HEAVENsignifiesnightandday,coldandheat,timesandseasons.
[Thecommentators,Ithink,makeanunnecessarymysteryoftwowordshere.MengShihrefersto\"thehardandthesoft,waxingandwaning\"ofHeaven.WangHsi,however,mayberightinsayingthatwhatismeantis\"thegeneraleconomyofHeaven,\"
includingthefiveelements,thefourseasons,windandclouds,andotherphenomena.]
8.EARTHcomprisesdistances,greatandsmall;dangerandsecurity;opengroundandnarrowpasses;thechancesoflifeanddeath.
9.TheCOMMANDERstandsforthevirtuesofwisdom,sincerely,benevolence,courageandstrictness.
[ThefivecardinalvirtuesoftheChineseare(1)humanityorbenevolence;(2)uprightnessofmind;(3)self—respect,self—
control,or\"properfeeling;\"(4)wisdom;(5)sincerityorgoodfaith.Here\"wisdom\"and\"sincerity\"areputbefore\"humanityorbenevolence,\"andthetwomilitaryvirtuesof\"courage\"and\"strictness\"substitutedfor\"uprightnessofmind\"and\"self—
respect,self—control,or’properfeeling.’\"]
10.ByMETHODANDDISCIPLINEaretobeunderstoodthemarshalingofthearmyinitspropersubdivisions,thegraduationsofrankamongtheofficers,themaintenanceofroadsbywhichsuppliesmayreachthearmy,andthecontrolofmilitaryexpenditure.
11.Thesefiveheadsshouldbefamiliartoeverygeneral:
hewhoknowsthemwillbevictorious;hewhoknowsthemnotwillfail.
12.Therefore,inyourdeliberations,whenseekingtodeterminethemilitaryconditions,letthembemadethebasisofacomparison,inthiswise:——
13.(1)WhichofthetwosovereignsisimbuedwiththeMorallaw?
[I.e.,\"isinharmonywithhissubjects.\"Cf.ss.5.]
(2)Whichofthetwogeneralshasmostability?
(3)WithwhomlietheadvantagesderivedfromHeavenandEarth?
[Seess.7,8]
(4)Onwhichsideisdisciplinemostrigorouslyenforced?
[TuMualludestotheremarkablestoryofTs`aoTs`ao(A.D.
155—220),whowassuchastrictdisciplinarianthatonce,inaccordancewithhisownsevereregulationsagainstinjurytostandingcrops,hecondemnedhimselftodeathforhavingallowedhimhorsetoshyintoafieldofcorn!However,inlieuoflosinghishead,hewaspersuadedtosatisfyhissenseofjusticebycuttingoffhishair.Ts`aoTs`ao’sowncommentonthepresentpassageischaracteristicallycurt:\"whenyoulaydownalaw,seethatitisnotdisobeyed;ifitisdisobeyedtheoffendermustbeputtodeath.\"]
(5)Whicharmyisstronger?
[Morallyaswellasphysically.AsMeiYao—ch`enputsit,freelyrendered,\"ESPIRITDECORPSand’bigbattalions.’\"]
(6)Onwhichsideareofficersandmenmorehighlytrained?
[TuYuquotesWangTzuassaying:\"Withoutconstantpractice,theofficerswillbenervousandundecidedwhenmusteringforbattle;withoutconstantpractice,thegeneralwillbewaveringandirresolutewhenthecrisisisathand.\"]
(7)Inwhicharmyistherethegreaterconstancybothinrewardandpunishment?
[Onwhichsideistherethemostabsolutecertaintythatmeritwillbeproperlyrewardedandmisdeedssummarilypunished?]
14.BymeansofthesesevenconsiderationsIcanforecastvictoryordefeat.
15.Thegeneralthathearkenstomycounselandactsuponit,willconquer:——letsuchaoneberetainedincommand!Thegeneralthathearkensnottomycounselnoractsuponit,willsufferdefeat:——letsuchaonebedismissed!
[TheformofthisparagraphremindsusthatSunTzu’streatisewascomposedexpresslyforthebenefitofhispatronHoLu,kingoftheWuState.]
16.Whileheadingtheprofitofmycounsel,availyourselfalsoofanyhelpfulcircumstancesoverandbeyondtheordinaryrules.
17.Accordingascircumstancesarefavorable,oneshouldmodifyone’splans.
[SunTzu,asapracticalsoldier,willhavenoneofthe\"bookishtheoric.\"Hecautionsusherenottopinourfaithtoabstractprinciples;\"for,\"asChangYuputsit,\"whilethemainlawsofstrategycanbestatedclearlyenoughforthebenefitofallandsundry,youmustbeguidedbytheactionsoftheenemyinattemptingtosecureafavorablepositioninactualwarfare.\"OntheeveofthebattleofWaterloo,LordUxbridge,commandingthecavalry,wenttotheDukeofWellingtoninordertolearnwhathisplansandcalculationswereforthemorrow,because,asheexplained,hemightsuddenlyfindhimselfCommander—in—chiefandwouldbeunabletoframenewplansinacriticalmoment.TheDukelistenedquietlyandthensaid:\"Whowillattackthefirsttomorrow——IorBonaparte?\"\"Bonaparte,\"repliedLordUxbridge.
\"Well,\"continuedtheDuke,\"Bonapartehasnotgivenmeanyideaofhisprojects;andasmyplanswilldependuponhis,howcanyouexpectmetotellyouwhatmineare?\"[1]]
18.Allwarfareisbasedondeception.
[Thetruthofthispithyandprofoundsayingwillbeadmittedbyeverysoldier.Col.HendersontellsusthatWellington,greatinsomanymilitaryqualities,wasespeciallydistinguishedby\"theextraordinaryskillwithwhichheconcealedhismovementsanddeceivedbothfriendandfoe.\"]
19.Hence,whenabletoattack,wemustseemunable;whenusingourforces,wemustseeminactive;whenwearenear,wemustmaketheenemybelievewearefaraway;whenfaraway,wemustmakehimbelievewearenear.
20.Holdoutbaitstoenticetheenemy.Feigndisorder,andcrushhim.
[Allcommentators,exceptChangYu,say,\"Whenheisindisorder,crushhim.\"ItismorenaturaltosupposethatSunTzuisstillillustratingtheusesofdeceptioninwar.]
21.Ifheissecureatallpoints,bepreparedforhim.Ifheisinsuperiorstrength,evadehim.
22.Ifyouropponentisofcholerictemper,seektoirritatehim.Pretendtobeweak,thathemaygrowarrogant.
[WangTzu,quotedbyTuYu,saysthatthegoodtacticianplayswithhisadversaryasacatplayswithamouse,firstfeigningweaknessandimmobility,andthensuddenlypouncinguponhim.]
23.Ifheistakinghisease,givehimnorest.
[ThisisprobablythemeaningthoughMeiYao—ch`enhasthenote:\"whilewearetakingourease,waitfortheenemytotirehimselfout.\"TheYULANhas\"Lurehimonandtirehimout.\"]
Ifhisforcesareunited,separatethem.
[Lessplausibleistheinterpretationfavoredbymostofthecommentators:\"Ifsovereignandsubjectareinaccord,putdivisionbetweenthem.\"]
24.Attackhimwhereheisunprepared,appearwhereyouarenotexpected.
25.Thesemilitarydevices,leadingtovictory,mustnotbedivulgedbeforehand.
26.Nowthegeneralwhowinsabattlemakesmanycalculationsinhistempleerethebattleisfought.
[ChangYutellsusthatinancienttimesitwascustomaryforatempletobesetapartfortheuseofageneralwhowasabouttotakethefield,inorderthathemightthereelaboratehisplanofcampaign.]
Thegeneralwholosesabattlemakesbutfewcalculationsbeforehand.Thusdomanycalculationsleadtovictory,andfewcalculationstodefeat:howmuchmorenocalculationatall!ItisbyattentiontothispointthatIcanforeseewhoislikelytowinorlose.
[1]\"WordsonWellington,\"bySir.W.Fraser.
II.WAGINGWAR
[Ts`aoKunghasthenote:\"Hewhowishestofightmustfirstcountthecost,\"whichpreparesusforthediscoverythatthesubjectofthechapterisnotwhatwemightexpectfromthetitle,butisprimarilyaconsiderationofwaysandmeans.]
1.SunTzusaid:Intheoperationsofwar,wherethereareinthefieldathousandswiftchariots,asmanyheavychariots,andahundredthousandmail—cladsoldiers,[The\"swiftchariots\"werelightlybuiltand,accordingtoChangYu,usedfortheattack;the\"heavychariots\"wereheavier,anddesignedforpurposesofdefense.LiCh`uan,itistrue,saysthatthelatterwerelight,butthisseemshardlyprobable.
ItisinterestingtonotetheanalogiesbetweenearlyChinesewarfareandthatoftheHomericGreeks.Ineachcase,thewar—
chariotwastheimportantfactor,formingasitdidthenucleusroundwhichwasgroupedacertainnumberoffoot—soldiers.Withregardtothenumbersgivenhere,weareinformedthateachswiftchariotwasaccompaniedby75footmen,andeachheavychariotby25footmen,sothatthewholearmywouldbedividedupintoathousandbattalions,eachconsistingoftwochariotsandahundredmen.]
withprovisionsenoughtocarrythemathousandLI,[2.78modernLIgotoamile.ThelengthmayhavevariedslightlysinceSunTzu’stime.]
theexpenditureathomeandatthefront,includingentertainmentofguests,smallitemssuchasglueandpaint,andsumsspentonchariotsandarmor,willreachthetotalofathousandouncesofsilverperday.Suchisthecostofraisinganarmyof100,000
men.
2.Whenyouengageinactualfighting,ifvictoryislongincoming,thenmen’sweaponswillgrowdullandtheirardorwillbedamped.Ifyoulaysiegetoatown,youwillexhaustyourstrength.
3.Again,ifthecampaignisprotracted,theresourcesoftheStatewillnotbeequaltothestrain.
4.Now,whenyourweaponsaredulled,yourardordamped,yourstrengthexhaustedandyourtreasurespent,otherchieftainswillspringuptotakeadvantageofyourextremity.Thennoman,howeverwise,willbeabletoaverttheconsequencesthatmustensue.
5.Thus,thoughwehaveheardofstupidhasteinwar,clevernesshasneverbeenseenassociatedwithlongdelays.
[Thisconciseanddifficultsentenceisnotwellexplainedbyanyofthecommentators.Ts`aoKung,LiCh`uan,MengShih,TuYu,TuMuandMeiYao—ch`enhavenotestotheeffectthatageneral,thoughnaturallystupid,mayneverthelessconquerthroughsheerforceofrapidity.HoShihsays:\"Hastemaybestupid,butatanyrateitsavesexpenditureofenergyandtreasure;protractedoperationsmaybeveryclever,buttheybringcalamityintheirtrain.\"WangHsievadesthedifficultybyremarking:\"Lengthyoperationsmeananarmygrowingold,wealthbeingexpended,anemptyexchequeranddistressamongthepeople;trueclevernessinsuresagainsttheoccurrenceofsuchcalamities.\"ChangYusays:\"Solongasvictorycanbeattained,stupidhasteispreferabletocleverdilatoriness.\"
NowSunTzusaysnothingwhatever,exceptpossiblybyimplication,aboutill—consideredhastebeingbetterthaningeniousbutlengthyoperations.Whathedoessayissomethingmuchmoreguarded,namelythat,whilespeedmaysometimesbeinjudicious,tardinesscanneverbeanythingbutfoolish——ifonlybecauseitmeansimpoverishmenttothenation.InconsideringthepointraisedherebySunTzu,theclassicexampleofFabiusCunctatorwillinevitablyoccurtothemind.ThatgeneraldeliberatelymeasuredtheenduranceofRomeagainstthatofHannibals’sisolatedarmy,becauseitseemedtohimthatthelatterwasmorelikelytosufferfromalongcampaigninastrangecountry.Butitisquiteamootquestionwhetherhistacticswouldhaveprovedsuccessfulinthelongrun.Theirreversalitistrue,ledtoCannae;butthisonlyestablishesanegativepresumptionintheirfavor.]
6.Thereisnoinstanceofacountryhavingbenefitedfromprolongedwarfare.
7.Itisonlyonewhoisthoroughlyacquaintedwiththeevilsofwarthatcanthoroughlyunderstandtheprofitablewayofcarryingiton.
[Thatis,withrapidity.Onlyonewhoknowsthedisastrouseffectsofalongwarcanrealizethesupremeimportanceofrapidityinbringingittoaclose.Onlytwocommentatorsseemtofavorthisinterpretation,butitfitswellintothelogicofthecontext,whereastherendering,\"Hewhodoesnotknowtheevilsofwarcannotappreciateitsbenefits,\"isdistinctlypointless.]
8.Theskillfulsoldierdoesnotraiseasecondlevy,neitherarehissupply—wagonsloadedmorethantwice.
[Oncewarisdeclared,hewillnotwasteprecioustimeinwaitingforreinforcements,norwillhereturnhisarmybackforfreshsupplies,butcrossestheenemy’sfrontierwithoutdelay.
Thismayseemanaudaciouspolicytorecommend,butwithallgreatstrategists,fromJuliusCaesartoNapoleonBonaparte,thevalueoftime——thatis,beingalittleaheadofyouropponent——
hascountedformorethaneithernumericalsuperiorityorthenicestcalculationswithregardtocommissariat.]
9.Bringwarmaterialwithyoufromhome,butforageontheenemy.Thusthearmywillhavefoodenoughforitsneeds.
[TheChinesewordtranslatedhereas\"warmaterial\"
literallymeans\"thingstobeused\",andismeantinthewidestsense.Itincludesalltheimpedimentaofanarmy,apartfromprovisions.]
10.PovertyoftheStateexchequercausesanarmytobemaintainedbycontributionsfromadistance.Contributingtomaintainanarmyatadistancecausesthepeopletobeimpoverished.
[Thebeginningofthissentencedoesnotbalanceproperlywiththenext,thoughobviouslyintendedtodoso.Thearrangement,moreover,issoawkwardthatIcannothelpsuspectingsomecorruptioninthetext.ItneverseemstooccurtoChinesecommentatorsthatanemendationmaybenecessaryforthesense,andwegetnohelpfromthemthere.TheChinesewordsSunTzuusedtoindicatethecauseofthepeople’simpoverishmentclearlyhavereferencetosomesystembywhichthehusbandmensenttheircontributionsofcorntothearmydirect.Butwhyshoulditfallonthemtomaintainanarmyinthisway,exceptbecausetheStateorGovernmentistoopoortodoso?]
11.Ontheotherhand,theproximityofanarmycausespricestogoup;andhighpricescausethepeople’ssubstancetobedrainedaway.
[WangHsisayshighpricesoccurbeforethearmyhasleftitsownterritory.Ts`aoKungunderstandsitofanarmythathasalreadycrossedthefrontier.]
12.Whentheirsubstanceisdrainedaway,thepeasantrywillbeafflictedbyheavyexactions.
13,14.Withthislossofsubstanceandexhaustionofstrength,thehomesofthepeoplewillbestrippedbare,andthree—tenthsoftheirincomewillbedissipated;
[TuMuandWangHsiagreethatthepeoplearenotmulctednotof3/10,butof7/10,oftheirincome.Butthisishardlytobeextractedfromourtext.HoShihhasacharacteristictag:
\"ThePEOPLEbeingregardedastheessentialpartoftheState,andFOODasthepeople’sheaven,isitnotrightthatthoseinauthorityshouldvalueandbecarefulofboth?\"]
whilegovernmentexpensesforbrokenchariots,worn—outhorses,breast—platesandhelmets,bowsandarrows,spearsandshields,protectivemantles,draught—oxenandheavywagons,willamounttofour—tenthsofitstotalrevenue.
15.Henceawisegeneralmakesapointofforagingontheenemy.Onecartloadoftheenemy’sprovisionsisequivalenttotwentyofone’sown,andlikewiseasinglePICULofhisprovenderisequivalenttotwentyfromone’sownstore.
[Becausetwentycartloadswillbeconsumedintheprocessoftransportingonecartloadtothefront.APICULisaunitofmeasureequalto133.3pounds(65.5kilograms).]
16.Nowinordertokilltheenemy,ourmenmustberousedtoanger;thattheremaybeadvantagefromdefeatingtheenemy,theymusthavetheirrewards.
[TuMusays:\"Rewardsarenecessaryinordertomakethesoldiersseetheadvantageofbeatingtheenemy;thus,whenyoucapturespoilsfromtheenemy,theymustbeusedasrewards,sothatallyourmenmayhaveakeendesiretofight,eachonhisownaccount.\"]
17.Thereforeinchariotfighting,whentenormorechariotshavebeentaken,thoseshouldberewardedwhotookthefirst.Ourownflagsshouldbesubstitutedforthoseoftheenemy,andthechariotsmingledandusedinconjunctionwithours.Thecapturedsoldiersshouldbekindlytreatedandkept.
18.Thisiscalled,usingtheconqueredfoetoaugmentone’sownstrength.
19.Inwar,then,letyourgreatobjectbevictory,notlengthycampaigns.
[AsHoShihremarks:\"Warisnotathingtobetrifledwith.\"SunTzuherereiteratesthemainlessonwhichthischapterisintendedtoenforce.\"]
20.Thusitmaybeknownthattheleaderofarmiesisthearbiterofthepeople’sfate,themanonwhomitdependswhetherthenationshallbeinpeaceorinperil.
III.ATTACKBYSTRATAGEM
1.SunTzusaid:Inthepracticalartofwar,thebestthingofallistotaketheenemy’scountrywholeandintact;toshatteranddestroyitisnotsogood.So,too,itisbettertorecaptureanarmyentirethantodestroyit,tocapturearegiment,adetachmentoracompanyentirethantodestroythem.
[Theequivalenttoanarmycorps,accordingtoSsu—maFa,consistednominallyof12500men;accordingtoTs`aoKung,theequivalentofaregimentcontained500men,theequivalenttoadetachmentconsistsfromanynumberbetween100and500,andtheequivalentofacompanycontainsfrom5to100men.Forthelasttwo,however,ChangYugivestheexactfiguresof100and5
respectively.]
2.Hencetofightandconquerinallyourbattlesisnotsupremeexcellence;supremeexcellenceconsistsinbreakingtheenemy’sresistancewithoutfighting.
[Hereagain,nomodernstrategistbutwillapprovethewordsoftheoldChinesegeneral.Moltke’sgreatesttriumph,thecapitulationofthehugeFrencharmyatSedan,waswonpracticallywithoutbloodshed.]
3.Thusthehighestformofgeneralshipistobalktheenemy’splans;
[Perhapstheword\"balk\"fallsshortofexpressingthefullforceoftheChineseword,whichimpliesnotanattitudeofdefense,wherebyonemightbecontenttofoiltheenemy’sstratagemsoneafteranother,butanactivepolicyofcounter—
attack.HoShihputsthisveryclearlyinhisnote:\"Whentheenemyhasmadeaplanofattackagainstus,wemustanticipatehimbydeliveringourownattackfirst.\"]
thenextbestistopreventthejunctionoftheenemy’sforces;
[Isolatinghimfromhisallies.WemustnotforgetthatSunTzu,inspeakingofhostilities,alwayshasinmindthenumerousstatesorprincipalitiesintowhichtheChinaofhisdaywassplitup.]
thenextinorderistoattacktheenemy’sarmyinthefield;
[Whenheisalreadyatfullstrength.]
andtheworstpolicyofallistobesiegewalledcities.
4.Theruleis,nottobesiegewalledcitiesifitcanpossiblybeavoided.
[Anothersoundpieceofmilitarytheory.HadtheBoersacteduponitin1899,andrefrainedfromdissipatingtheirstrengthbeforeKimberley,Mafeking,orevenLadysmith,itismorethanprobablethattheywouldhavebeenmastersofthesituationbeforetheBritishwerereadyseriouslytoopposethem.]
Thepreparationofmantlets,movableshelters,andvariousimplementsofwar,willtakeupthreewholemonths;
[ItisnotquiteclearwhattheChineseword,heretranslatedas\"mantlets\",described.Ts`aoKungsimplydefinesthemas\"largeshields,\"butwegetabetterideaofthemfromLiCh`uan,whosaystheyweretoprotecttheheadsofthosewhowereassaultingthecitywallsatclosequarters.ThisseemstosuggestasortofRomanTESTUDO,readymade.TuMusaystheywerewheeledvehiclesusedinrepellingattacks,butthisisdeniedbyCh`enHao.SeesupraII.14.Thenameisalsoappliedtoturretsoncitywalls.Ofthe\"movableshelters\"wegetafairlycleardescriptionfromseveralcommentators.Theywerewoodenmissile—proofstructuresonfourwheels,propelledfromwithin,coveredoverwithrawhides,andusedinsiegestoconveypartiesofmentoandfromthewalls,forthepurposeoffillinguptheencirclingmoatwithearth.TuMuaddsthattheyarenowcalled\"woodendonkeys.\"]
andthepilingupofmoundsoveragainstthewallswilltakethreemonthsmore.
[Theseweregreatmoundsorrampartsofearthheapeduptotheleveloftheenemy’swallsinordertodiscovertheweakpointsinthedefense,andalsotodestroythefortifiedturretsmentionedintheprecedingnote.]
5.Thegeneral,unabletocontrolhisirritation,willlaunchhismentotheassaultlikeswarmingants,[ThisvividsimileofTs`aoKungistakenfromthespectacleofanarmyofantsclimbingawall.Themeaningisthatthegeneral,losingpatienceatthelongdelay,maymakeaprematureattempttostormtheplacebeforehisenginesofwarareready.]
withtheresultthatone—thirdofhismenareslain,whilethetownstillremainsuntaken.Sucharethedisastrouseffectsofasiege.
[WeareremindedoftheterriblelossesoftheJapanesebeforePortArthur,inthemostrecentsiegewhichhistoryhastorecord.]
6.Thereforetheskillfulleadersubduestheenemy’stroopswithoutanyfighting;hecapturestheircitieswithoutlayingsiegetothem;heoverthrowstheirkingdomwithoutlengthyoperationsinthefield.
[ChiaLinnotesthatheonlyoverthrowstheGovernment,butdoesnoharmtoindividuals.TheclassicalinstanceisWuWang,whoafterhavingputanendtotheYindynastywasacclaimed\"Fatherandmotherofthepeople.\"]
7.WithhisforcesintacthewilldisputethemasteryoftheEmpire,andthus,withoutlosingaman,histriumphwillbecomplete.
[OwingtothedoublemeaningsintheChinesetext,thelatterpartofthesentenceissusceptibleofquiteadifferentmeaning:\"Andthus,theweaponnotbeingbluntedbyuse,itskeennessremainsperfect.\"]
Thisisthemethodofattackingbystratagem.
8.Itistheruleinwar,ifourforcesaretentotheenemy’sone,tosurroundhim;iffivetoone,toattackhim;
[Straightway,withoutwaitingforanyfurtheradvantage.]
iftwiceasnumerous,todivideourarmyintotwo.
[TuMutakesexceptiontothesaying;andatfirstsight,indeed,itappearstoviolateafundamentalprincipleofwar.
Ts’aoKung,however,givesacluetoSunTzu’smeaning:\"Beingtwototheenemy’sone,wemayuseonepartofourarmyintheregularway,andtheotherforsomespecialdiversion.\"ChangYuthusfurtherelucidatesthepoint:\"Ifourforceistwiceasnumerousasthatoftheenemy,itshouldbesplitupintotwodivisions,onetomeettheenemyinfront,andonetofalluponhisrear;ifherepliestothefrontalattack,hemaybecrushedfrombehind;iftotherearwardattack,hemaybecrushedinfront.\"Thisiswhatismeantbysayingthat’onepartmaybeusedintheregularway,andtheotherforsomespecialdiversion.’TuMudoesnotunderstandthatdividingone’sarmyissimplyanirregular,justasconcentratingitistheregular,strategicalmethod,andheistoohastyincallingthisamistake.\"]
9.Ifequallymatched,wecanofferbattle;
[LiCh`uan,followedbyHoShih,givesthefollowingparaphrase:\"Ifattackersandattackedareequallymatchedinstrength,onlytheablegeneralwillfight.\"]
ifslightlyinferiorinnumbers,wecanavoidtheenemy;
[Themeaning,\"wecanWATCHtheenemy,\"iscertainlyagreatimprovementontheabove;butunfortunatelythereappearstobenoverygoodauthorityforthevariant.ChangYuremindsusthatthesayingonlyappliesiftheotherfactorsareequal;asmalldifferenceinnumbersisoftenmorethancounterbalancedbysuperiorenergyanddiscipline.]
ifquiteunequalineveryway,wecanfleefromhim.
10.Hence,thoughanobstinatefightmaybemadebyasmallforce,intheenditmustbecapturedbythelargerforce.
11.NowthegeneralisthebulwarkoftheState;ifthebulwarkiscompleteatallpoints;theStatewillbestrong;ifthebulwarkisdefective,theStatewillbeweak.
[AsLiCh`uanterselyputsit:\"Gapindicatesdeficiency;
ifthegeneral’sabilityisnotperfect(i.e.ifheisnotthoroughlyversedinhisprofession),hisarmywilllackstrength.\"]
12.Therearethreewaysinwhicharulercanbringmisfortuneuponhisarmy:——
13.(1)Bycommandingthearmytoadvanceortoretreat,beingignorantofthefactthatitcannotobey.Thisiscalledhobblingthearmy.