Chinese strategy explained : know yourself and the ennemy, use deception, spies, and "win with ease". Tr. Giles (en, annotated) and Amiot (fr).
Weak Points And Strong
Chang Yu attempts to explain the sequence of chapters as follows: "Chapter IV, on Tactical Dispositions, treated of the offensive and the defensive; chapter V, on Energy, dealt with direct and indirect methods. The good general acquaints himself first with the theory of attack and defense, and then turns his attention to direct and indirect methods. He studies the art of varying and combining these two methods before proceeding to the subject of weak and strong points. For the use of direct or indirect methods arises out of attack and defense, and the perception of weak and strong points depends again on the above methods. Hence the present chapter comes immediately after the chapter on Energy."
By holding out advantages to him, he can cause the enemy to approach of his own accord; or, by inflicting damage, he can make it impossible for the enemy to draw near.1
If the enemy is taking his ease, he can harass him;2 if well supplied with food, he can starve him out; if quietly encamped, he can force him to move.
Giles VI.3,4.
Après que vous aurez ainsi disposé du lieu de votre campement et de celui de l'ennemi lui-même, attendez tranquillement que votre adversaire fasse les premières démarches ; mais en attendant, tâchez de l'affamer au milieu de l'abondance, de lui procurer du tracas dans le sein du repos, et de lui susciter mille terreurs dans le temps même de sa plus grande sécurité.
Amiot
The Art of War – Sun Zi VI. 3. – Chinese on/off – Français/English
Alias Sun Tzu, Sun Wu, Sun Tse, Sunzi Bingfa, Souen Tseu, Souen Wou, 孫武.
The Book of Odes, The Analects, Great Learning, Doctrine of the Mean, Three-characters book, The Book of Changes, The Way and its Power, 300 Tang Poems, The Art of War, Thirty-Six Strategies
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