Sun Zi – The Art of War

Chinese strategy explained : know yourself and the ennemy, use deception, spies, and "win with ease". Tr. Giles (en, annotated) and Amiot (fr).

Introduction
I. Laying Plans
II. Waging War
III. Attack by Stratagem
IV. Tactical Dispositions

V. Energy
VI. Weak Points and Strong
VII. Maneuvering
VIII. Variation in Tactics
IX. The Army On The March

X. Terrain
XI. The Nine Situations
XII. The Attack By Fire
XIII. The Use of Spies

Laying Plans

Ts`ao Kung, in defining the meaning of the Chinese for the title of this chapter, says it refers to the deliberations in the temple selected by the general for his temporary use, or as we should say, in his tent. See. ss. 26.

Sunzi I. 2.

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.

These are: 1) The Moral Law; 2) Heaven; 3) Earth; 4) The Commander; 5) Method and discipline.1

1. It appears from what follows that Sun Tzu means by "Moral Law" a principle of harmony, not unlike the Tao of Lao Tzu in its moral aspect. One might be tempted to render it by "morale," were it not considered as an attribute of the ruler in ss. 13.

Giles I.3,4.

Cinq choses principales doivent faire l'objet de nos continuelles méditations et de tous nos soins. Comme le font ces grands artistes qui, lorsqu'ils entreprennent quelque chef-d'œuvre, ont toujours présent à l'esprit le but qu'ils se proposent, mettent à profit tout ce qu'ils voient, tout ce qu'ils entendent, ne négligent rien pour acquérir de nouvelles connaissances et tous les secours qui peuvent les conduire heureusement à leur fin.

Si nous voulons que la gloire et les succès accompagnent nos armes, nous ne devons jamais perdre de vue : La doctrine, le temps, l'espace, le commandement, la discipline.

Amiot

jkioo, uirza

sxcfgh – 40 – 2008/12/04

Sun Zi I. 2.