The Art Of War

I. LAYING PLANS

1. Sun Tzu said: The art of war is of vital importance 

to the State.

2. It is a matter of life and death, a road either 

to safety or to ruin. Hence it is a subject of inquiry 

which can on no account be neglected.

3. The art of war, then, is governed by five constant 

factors, to be taken into account in one's deliberations, 

when seeking to determine the conditions obtaining in the field.

4. These are: (1) The Moral Law; (2) Heaven; (3) Earth; 

(4) The Commander; (5) Method and discipline.

5,6. The Moral Law causes the people to be in complete 

accord with their ruler, so that they will follow him 

regardless of their lives, undismayed by any danger.

7. Heaven signifies night and day, cold and heat, 

times and seasons.

8. Earth comprises distances, great and small; 

danger and security; open ground and narrow passes; 

the chances of life and death.

9. The Commander stands for the virtues of wisdom, 

sincerely, benevolence, courage and strictness.

10. By method and discipline are to be understood 

the marshaling of the army in its proper subdivisions, 

the graduations of rank among the officers, the maintenance 

of roads by which supplies may reach the army, and the 

control of military expenditure.

11. These five heads should be familiar to every general:  

he who knows them will be victorious; he who knows them 

not will fail.

12. Therefore, in your deliberations, when seeking 

to determine the military conditions, let them be made 

the basis of a comparison, in this wise:--

13. (1) Which of the two sovereigns is imbued 

with the Moral law? 

(2) Which of the two generals has most ability? 

(3) With whom lie the advantages derived from Heaven 

and Earth? 

(4) On which side is discipline most rigorously enforced? 

(5) Which army is stronger? 

(6) On which side are officers and men more highly trained? 

(7) In which army is there the greater constancy 

both in reward and punishment?

14. By means of these seven considerations I can 

forecast victory or defeat.

15. The general that hearkens to my counsel and acts 

upon it, will conquer: let such a one be retained in command!