This is my first post of many that I will be dedicating to the Art of War by Sunzi. My goal for this post is to provide an overview of this text for those who don’t know much about it.
The Art of War is one of the seven military classics of ancient
Warfare is the greatest affair of state, the basis of life and death, the Way [Tao] to survival or extinction. It must be thoroughly pondered and analyzed.
Sun Tzu, Art of War, ch 1, translated by Ralph D. Sawyer
The idea of warfare is very broad to Sunzi. The Art of War is very much concerned with grand strategy. Political, social, economic, logistic, and military considerations are all included in strategic development.
Right from the first line Sunzi brings to light the primacy of politics in the subject of warfare. To quote Michael Handel:
Sun Tzu clearly recognizes the supremacy of raison d’etat over all other considerations. War is a rational activity of the last resort (the ultima ratio) that correlates ends and means to enhance the vital interests of the state: it is a political activity as we understand it today. The decision to initiate war is therefore political and must be made by political – not military – leaders.
Michael I. Handel, Masters of War: Classical Strategic Thoughts, ch 6
Military arms are a necessary means to serve the ruler’s primary concern of national security. Saying this, the use of military force cost lives as much as it protects them. Therfore, warfare must be examined thoroughly and considered carefully.
It is due to Sunzi’s vast consideration of politics that makes this text stand out as a positive approach to conflict. Discussing war from this higher level allows him to address the hierarchy of tactics from non-violent means such as diplomacy down to the inferior means of military force. If his focus was down on the operational levels of the military, we would have a text that shows little consideration for diplomacy and primarily focused on military force.
Therefore, structure it according to [the following] five factors, evaluate it comparatively through estimations, and seek out its true nature. The first is termed the Tao, the second Heaven, the third Earth, the fourth generals, and the fifth the laws [for military organization and discipline].
Sun Tzu, Art of War, ch 1, translated by Ralph D. Sawyer
The Art of War is primarily a comprehensive system of strategic analysis. Sunzi’s analysis is of a top-down design, which is shown in the sequence of the five factors.
Many people view the Dao as a moral influence that the ruler possesses. It is implicit that it relates to an influence that unites the people to the ruler. Overall, it relates to the effectiveness of the government. I will be dedicating an in-depth discussing to this elusive concept in the near future.
Heaven refers to nature of cycles - the weather, time, and long term seasons. Earth refers to the advantages and disadvantages of terrain. General refers to the attributes that Sunzi believes a general requires to be successful in leading a military. Laws refer to the structure of the military organization, including regulations and ranks. It also concerns the subject of logistics.
After estimating the advantages in accord with what you have heard, put it into effect with strategic power [shih] supplemented by field tactics which respond to external factors. As for strategic power, [it is] controlling the tactical imbalance of power [ch’uan] in accord with the gains to be realized.
Sun Tzu, Art of War, ch 1, translated by Ralph D. Sawyer
Here Sunzi illuminates the purpose for his strategic analysis – to determine our compared advantages in relation to the enemy, which in turn helps us realize tangible goals. Once realized, plans translate compared advantages into shih(strategic power), which can be employed in the direction of specific goals.
Warfare is the Way [Tao] of deception.
Sun Tzu, Art of War, ch 1, translated by Ralph D. Sawyer
Warfare here is confined to the employment of the military. Deception is a means to present a false form and intentions to an enemy. This can compel them to concentrate their force in the wrong areas or spread themselves thin, which can open up strategic advantages. The concepts of formlessness and indirectness are related to deception, which I will discuss in the future.
Before the engagement, one who determines in the ancestral temple that he will be victorious has found that the majority of factors are in his favor. Before the engagement one who determines in the ancestral temple that he will not be victorious has found few factors are in his favor.
If one who finds that the majority of factors favor him will be victorious while one who has found few factors favor him will be defeated, what about someone who finds no factors in his favor?
If I observe it from this perspective, victory and defeat will be apparent.
Sun Tzu, Art of War, ch 1, translated by Ralph D. Sawyer
As seen here, Sunzi very much believes that victory can be decided rationally through compared estimations - there is very little consideration for uncertainty in the Art of War. To Sunzi, a military should never be employed until thorough estimations dictates that victory is tangible. Knowing when you shouldn't employ military force is just as important as knowing when you should employ it.
This has been a short overview, which hopefully gives you a basic understanding of the Art of War. There is a great amount of discussion that will be needed to develop a comprehensive understanding, which will allow you to apply it pragmatically. In the future I will be exploring the different chapters and specific key elements of the Art of War in greater detail. As well, I will eventually get to the discussion of how this text can be applied pragmatically to our everyday lives.
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