The Art of War (Wisehouse Classics Edition)

Sun Tzu

• Editore: Wisehouse Classics
• Anno: 2016
• ISBN:
  9789176371619
• Edizione: 1
• Argomento: Negocios y empresa
• Categoria: Manufactura

THE ART OF WAR (Chinese: ????; pinyin: S?nz? b?ngf?) is an ancient Chinese military treatise attributed to Sun Tzu, a high-ranking military general, strategist and tactician, and kindred to the Realpolitik of his time, termed in China as Legalism. The text is composed of 13 chapters, each of which is devoted to one aspect of warfare. It is commonly thought of as a definitive work on military strategy and tactics. It has been the most famous and influential of China's Seven Military Classics, and "for the last two thousand years it remained the most important military treatise in Asia, where even the common people knew it by name." It has had an influence on Eastern and Western military thinking, business tactics, legal strategy and beyond. Beyond its military and intelligence applications from earliest days to the present time, THE ART OF WAR has been applied to many fields well outside of the military. Much of the text is about how to fight wars without actually having to do battle: it gives tips on how to outsmart one's opponent so that physical battle is not necessary. As such, it has found application as a training guide for many competitive endeavors that do not involve actual combat. There are business books applying its lessons to office politics and corporate strategy. Many companies make the book required reading for their key executives. The book is also popular among Western business management, who have turned to it for inspiration and advice on how to succeed in competitive business situations. It has also been applied to the field of education. The Art of War has been the subject of law books and legal articles on the trial process, including negotiation tactics and trial strategy.

xi. The Nine Situations

1.	Sun Tzu said: The art of war recognizes nine varieties of ground: (1) Dispersive ground; (2) facile ground; (3) contentious ground; (4) open ground; (5) ground of intersecting highways; (6) serious ground; (7) difficult ground; (8) hemmed-in ground; (9) desperate ground.
2.	When a chieftain is fighting in his own territory, it is dispersive ground.
3.	When he has penetrated into hostile territory, but to no great distance, it is facile ground.
4.	Ground the possession of which imports great advantage to either side, is contentious ground.
5.	Ground on which each side has liberty of movement is open ground.
6.	Ground which forms the key to three contiguous states, so that he who occupies it first has most of the Empire at his command, is a ground of intersecting highways.
7.	When an army has penetrated into the heart of a hostile country, leaving a number of fortified cities in its rear, it is serious ground.
8.	Mountain forests, rugged steeps, marshes and fens—all country that is hard to traverse: this is difficult ground.
9.	Ground which is reached through narrow gorges, and from which we can only retire by tortuous paths, so that a small number of the enemy would suffice to crush a large body of our men: this is hemmed in ground.
10.	Ground on which we can only be saved from destruction by fighting without delay, is desperate ground.
11.	On dispersive ground, therefore, fight not. On facile ground, halt not. On contentious ground, attack not.
12.	On open ground, do not try to block the enemy’s way. On the ground of intersecting highways, join hands with your allies.
13.	On serious ground, gather in plunder. In difficult ground, keep steadily on the march.
14.	On hemmed-in ground, resort to stratagem. On desperate ground, fight.

15.	Those who were called skillful leaders of old knew how to drive a wedge between the enemy’s front and rear; to prevent co-operation between his large and small divisions; to hinder the good troops from rescuing the bad, the officers from rallying their men.
16.	When the enemy’s men were united, they managed to keep them in disorder.
17.	When it was to their advantage, they made a forward move; when otherwise, they stopped still.
18.	If asked how to cope with a great host of the enemy in orderly array and on the point of marching to the attack, I should say: “Begin by seizing something which your opponent holds dear; then he will be amenable to your will.”
19.	Rapidity is the essence of war: take advantage of the enemy’s unreadiness, make your way by unexpected routes, and attack unguarded spots.
20.	The following are the principles to be observed by an invading force: The further you penetrate into a country, the greater will be the solidarity of your troops, and thus the defenders will not prevail against you.
21.	Make forays in fertile country in order to supply your army with food.
22.	Carefully study the well-being of your men, and do not overtax them. Concentrate your energy and hoard your strength. Keep your army continually on the move, and devise unfathomable plans.
23.	Throw your soldiers into positions whence there is no escape, and they will prefer death to flight. If they will face death, there is nothing they may not achieve. Officers and men alike will put forth their uttermost strength.
24.	Soldiers when in desperate straits lose the sense of fear....