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AB PolSci 2
 SUN TZU
“THE ART OF WAR”

"The purpose of war is peace"

Ancient China
Sun Tzu and the
Art of War
Occupation: General and Military Strategist
Born: 544 BC
Died: 496 BC
Best known for: Wrote the Art of War
Biography:

Early Life

Little is known of Sun Tzu's early life. He was originally born Sun Wu, the son of an aristocrat
during the Spring and Autumn period of Ancient China. He had a strong interest in battle and
became a mercenary soldier. Over time Sun Tzu gained a reputation as a good leader of soldiers.

The King's Test

The King of Wu noticed that Sun Tzu was a good leader. He brought Sun Tzu to his palace to test
him. He ordered Sun Tzu to train 180 of his concubines (wives) as soldiers. Sun Tzu divided the
women up into two groups and assigned two of the women as their leaders. He then gave them a
command. The women just giggled. Sun Tzu had the two leaders executed. He then assigned two
more women as leaders. The next time he gave the command, the women obeyed flawlessly.

Military Leader

As his knowledge about war grew, Sun Tzu had begun to form his own theories and strategies
regarding war. He tested many of them out as general for the King of Wu. When the state of Wu
went to war against the powerful Chu state, Sun Tzu led them to many victories including the
capture of the Chu capital city of Ying.
 • Chinese military treatise.

• Written by Sun Tzu in the 6th

century BC.

• Military strategies & tactics of

its time.

• One of the oldest & most

successful books on military
strategy.

• Influence on Eastern military

thinking, business tactics, &
beyond.

• Was translated into the French

& English.

• Been applied to business &

managerial strategies.
Statue of Sun Tzu in Yurihama,
 • Philosophy: "winning without
conflict.“

• Its philosophy has several

aspects:

a) Understanding strategic
positions,

b) Collecting competitive
information & recognizing
opportunities,

c) Automatically selecting moves

that minimize losses and avoid
dangerous situations,
Image of Sun Tzu

d) Instantly recognizing the

specifics of situations and the
responses they require,
 Chapter 1 - Laying Plans

“The art of war is of vital importance to the State.”

Laying Plans/The Calculations explores the five fundamental factors
(the Way, seasons, terrain, leadership, and management) and seven
elements that define a successful outcome. By thinking, assessing
and comparing these points you can calculate a victory, deviation
from them will ensure failure. Remember that war is a very grave
 Chapter 2 - Waging War

“In the operations of war, where there are in the field a

thousand swift chariots, as many heavy chariots, and a
hundred thousand mail-clad soldiers, with provisions
enough to carry them a thousand li,the expenditure at
home and at the front, including entertainment of guests,
small items such as glue and paint, and sums spent on
chariots and armor, will reach the total of a thousand
ounces of silver per day. Such is the cost of raising an army
of 100,000
Waging men.”
War/The Challenge explains how to understand the economy
of war and how success requires making the winning play, which in
 Chapter 3 - Attack By Stratagem

“In the practical art of war, the best thing of all is to take
the enemy’s country whole and intact; to shatter and
destroy it is not so good. So, too, it is better to recapture
an army entire than to destroy it, to capture a regiment, a
detachment or a company entire than to destroy them.”
Attack by Stratagem/The Plan of Attack defines the source of
strength as unity, not size, and the five ingredients that you need to
succeed in any war. In order of importance: Attack, Strategy,
 Chapter 4 -Tactical Dispositions/Positioning

“The good fighters of old first put themselves beyond the

possibility of defeat, and then waited for an opportunity of
defeating the enemy.”
Tactical Dispositions/Positioning explains the importance of
defending existing positions until you can advance them and how you
must recognize opportunities, not try to create them.
 Chapter 5 - Energy/Directing

“A clever fighter is one who not only wins, but excels in

winning with ease.”
Energy/Directing explains the use of creativity and
timing in
 Chapter 6 - Weak Points & Strong/Illusion
and Reality

"Whoever is first in the field and awaits the coming of the

enemy will be fresh
for the fight; whoever is second in the field and has to
hasten to battle
Weak
will Points
arrive & Strong/Illusion and Reality explains how your
exhausted."
opportunities come from the openings in the environment caused by
 Chapter 7 - Maneuvering/Engaging The
Force

“Move only if there is a real advantage to be

gained..”
“..when you move, fall like a thunderbolt.”
Maneuvering/Engaging The Force explains the dangers of
direct conflict and how to win those confrontations when they
 Chapter 8 - Variation in Tactics/The Nine Variations

"The art of war teaches us to rely not on the likelihood

of the enemy's not coming, but on our own readiness to
receive him; not on the chance of his not attacking, but
rather on the fact that we have made our position
unassailable."
Variation in Tactics/The Nine Variations focuses on the need
for flexibility in your
responses. It explains how to respond to shifting
Seek Circumstances Which Assure
Victory from Sun Tzu

 Thus, there are five points in which

victory may be predicted:

i.He who knows when to fight and when

not to fight will win. (scheduling)
ii.He who understands how to handle
both superior and inferior forces will
win. (system of play)
iii.He whose ranks are united in purpose
will win. (chemistry)
iv.He who is well prepared and lies in
wait for an enemy who is not well
prepared will win. (practice)
v.He whose generals are able and not
interfered with by the sovereign will
win. (leadership)
6 Points that turns the Art of War
into Actions

1) Win All Without Fighting : Capturing Your Market without Destroying

It
2) Avoid Strength, Attack Weakness: Striking Where the Competition is Vu
lnerable
3) Foreknowledge: Maximizing the Power of Business Intelligence
4) Speed and Preparation: Moving Swiftly to Overcome the Competition
5) Shaping the Opponent: Employing Strategy to Master the Competition
6) Character-based Leadership: Leading by Example
 #1
Win All Without Fighting

Your aim must be to take All-under-Heaven intact. Thus your troop

s are not worn out and your gains will be complete. This is the art
of offensive strategy.
 #2
Avoid Strength,
Attack Weakness
Now an army may be likened to water, for just as flowing water a
voids heights and hastens to the lowlands, so an army avoids streng
ths and attacks weakness.
 #3
Foreknowledge

Determine the enemy’s plans and you will know which str
ategy will be successful and which will not.
 #4
Speed and Preparation
Speed is the essence of war. Take advantage of the enemies lack
of preparedness; travel by unexpected routes and strike him where
he has taken no precautions.
Preparation “ He who excels at resolving difficulties
does so before they arise. He who excels in
conquering his enemies triumphs before threats
 #5
Shaping the Opponent

Therefore, those skilled in war bring the enemy to the fiel

d of battle and are not brought there by him.
 #6
Character-based Leadershi
p
“ By command I mean the general’s qualities of wisdom, sincerity, humanity, co
urage and strictness.”
- If wise , a commander is able to recognize changing circumstances and to act
expediently.
- If sincere, his men will have no doubt of the certainty of rewards and punish
ments.
- If humane, he loves mankind, sympathizes with others, and appreciates their in
dustry and toil.
- If courageous, he gains victory by seizing opportunity without hesitation.
- If strict, his troops are disciplined because they are in awe of him and are afr
aid of punishment.
 Chapter 9

The Army on the March

• The knowledge of the military.
a) Mountains.
b) Rivers.
c) Marshes.
d) Plain.
• The opponent act or gesture.
a) If the enemy shows their increased preparation- the enemy will conduct a war in advance.
b) if the enemy lights the chariots and take up a position on the wings - is forming for battle.

• The army itself.

- need to be treated with humanity even though they are kept under disciplines

• The role of general or person in charge during the battle.

 Chapter 10
Terrain

• 6 kinds of terrain which connected to the Earth.

a) Accessible ground
b) Entangling ground
c) Temporizing ground
d) Narrow passes
e) Precipitous heights
f) Position or distance from the enemy.
• 6 faults for which the general is responsible.
a) Flight.
b) Insubordination.
c) Collapse.
d) Ruin.
e) Disorganization.
f) Route
 Chapter 11
The Nine Situations

• 9 important situations which normally happened during the war.

a) Dispersive ground.
b) Facile ground.
c) Contentious ground.
d) Open ground.
e) Intersecting highways.
f) Serious ground.
g) Difficult ground.
h) Hammed in ground.
i) Desperate ground
 Chapter 12

The Attack by Fire

• Several ways of attacking by fire.

a) Burn soldier camp.
b) Burn stores.
c) Burn baggage train.
d) Burn weapons, other implements, bullion and clothing.
e) Dropping fire amongst the enemy.
• The developments which connected with fire.
a) When fire breaks out inside to enemy’s camp, respond at once with an attack
from without.
b) When there is outbreak fire and the enemy’s soldiers remain quiet bide your time
and do not attack.
c) When the force of the flames has reached its height, follow it up with an attack, if
that is practicable, if not stay where you are.
 Chapter 12

The Attack by Fire

d) When there is possible to make an assault with fire from without do not wait for
it to break out within but deliver your attack at a favorable moment.
e) Start the fire on windward not attack on leeward.

• The proper season before attacking by fire – have their own day
• The movements of the star – need a proper calculation so that will know the
movement of the wind during the attacking by fire.
 Chapter 13
The Use of Spies
a) Local spies
b) Inward spies
c) Converted spies
d) Doomed spies
e) Surviving spies

• Once the information or news of the enemy could be gathering

safely and accurate, then they will achieve great results.
 Lesson Learnt - the Art of War
Clear objectives and mission of projects that will be managed
Place what we fight over, understands your customer
 The first step is Analysis, not Planning, in comparative.
 The 4 attack plan – Battle, Siege, Surprise, Deception
Success is profiting from winning.
There are different attacks for different skills, therefore analyze
the environment,
understands it and began to actions.
The heart of Sun Tzu’s system is managing information.
Managing information is important in order to conquer and be
successful.
Time beyond our control. We do not control trends over time. Thus,
 Lesson Learnt - the Art of War

Know yourself, your opposition, and the environment within which interacti
on will occur.
 Rely on your own preparations. Do not hope for success based on the oppo
sition not preparing.
 At all times, and especially when strategies are in play, seek to keep all re
sources in profitable and advantageous positions. Likewise, quickly liquidate u
nprofitable positions and minimize exposure to situations with inordinate risk t
o uncertain market movements.
Thank You