XI. THE NINE SITUATIONS

SUN TZU ON THE ART OF WAR

THE OLDEST MILITARY TREATISE IN THE WORLD

孫子兵法

Translated from the Chinese

By LIONEL GILES, M.A. (1910)

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.  If there is no place of refuge,

    they will stand firm.  If they are in hostile country,

    they will show a stubborn front.  If there is no help

    for it, they will fight hard.

25. Thus, without waiting to be marshaled, the soldiers

    will be constantly on the qui vive; without waiting to

    be asked, they will do your will; without restrictions,

    they will be faithful; without giving orders, they can

    be trusted.

26. Prohibit the taking of omens, and do away with

    superstitious doubts.  Then, until death itself comes,

    no calamity need be feared.

27. If our soldiers are not overburdened with money,

    it is not because they have a distaste for riches;

    if their lives are not unduly long, it is not because they

    are disinclined to longevity.

28. On the day they are ordered out to battle,

    your soldiers may weep, those sitting up bedewing

    their garments, and those lying down letting the tears run

    down their cheeks.  But let them once be brought to bay,

    and they will display the courage of a Chu or a Kuei.

29. The skillful tactician may be likened to the

    shuai-jan. Now the shuai-jan is a snake that is found

    in the ChUng mountains.  Strike at its head, and you

    will be attacked by its tail; strike at its tail, and you

    will be attacked by its head; strike at its middle,

    and you will be attacked by head and tail both.

30. Asked if an army can be made to imitate the shuai-jan,

    I should answer, Yes.  For the men of Wu and the men

    of Yueh are enemies; yet if they are crossing a river

    in the same boat and are caught by a storm, they will come

    to each other's assistance just as the left hand helps the right.

31. Hence it is not enough to put one's trust

    in the tethering of horses, and the burying of chariot

    wheels in the ground

32. The principle on which to manage an army is to set

    up one standard of courage which all must reach.

33. How to make the best of both strong and weak--that

    is a question involving the proper use of ground.

34. Thus the skillful general conducts his army just

    as though he were leading a single man, willy-nilly, by

    the hand.

35. It is the business of a general to be quiet and thus

    ensure secrecy; upright and just, and thus maintain order.

36. He must be able to mystify his officers and men

    by false reports and appearances, and thus keep them

    in total ignorance.

37. By altering his arrangements and changing

    his plans, he keeps the enemy without definite knowledge. 

    By shifting his camp and taking circuitous routes,

    he prevents the enemy from anticipating his purpose.

38. At the critical moment, the leader of an army

    acts like one who has climbed up a height and then kicks

    away the ladder behind him.  He carries his men deep

    into hostile territory before he shows his hand.

39. He burns his boats and breaks his cooking-pots;

    like a shepherd driving a flock of sheep, he drives

    his men this way and that, and nothing knows whither he

    is going.

40. To muster his host and bring it into danger:--this

    may be termed the business of the general.

41. The different measures suited to the nine

    varieties of ground; the expediency of aggressive or

    defensive tactics; and the fundamental laws of human nature: 

    these are things that must most certainly be studied.

42. When invading hostile territory, the general

    principle is, that penetrating deeply brings cohesion;

    penetrating but a short way means dispersion.

43. When you leave your own country behind, and take

    your army across neighborhood territory, you find yourself

    on critical ground.  When there are means of communication

    on all four sides, the ground is one of intersecting highways.

44. When you penetrate deeply into a country, it is

    serious ground.  When you penetrate but a little way,

    it is facile ground.

45. When you have the enemy's strongholds on your rear,

    and narrow passes in front, it is hemmed-in ground. 

    When there is no place of refuge at all, it is desperate ground.

46. Therefore, on dispersive ground, I would inspire

    my men with unity of purpose.  On facile ground, I would

    see that there is close connection between all parts

    of my army.

47. On contentious ground, I would hurry up my rear.

48. On open ground, I would keep a vigilant eye

    on my defenses.  On ground of intersecting highways,

    I would consolidate my alliances.

49. On serious ground, I would try to ensure

    a continuous stream of supplies.  On difficult ground,

    I would keep pushing on along the road.

50. On hemmed-in ground, I would block any way

    of retreat.  On desperate ground, I would proclaim

    to my soldiers the hopelessness of saving their lives.

51. For it is the soldier's disposition to offer

    an obstinate resistance when surrounded, to fight hard

    when he cannot help himself, and to obey promptly when he

    has fallen into danger.

52. We cannot enter into alliance with neighboring

    princes until we are acquainted with their designs.  We are

    not fit to lead an army on the march unless we are familiar

    with the face of the country--its mountains and forests,

    its pitfalls and precipices, its marshes and swamps. 

    We shall be unable to turn natural advantages to account

    unless we make use of local guides.

53. To be ignored of any one of the following four

    or five principles does not befit a warlike prince.

54. When a warlike prince attacks a powerful state,

    his generalship shows itself in preventing the concentration

    of the enemy's forces.  He overawes his opponents,

    and their allies are prevented from joining against him.

55. Hence he does not strive to ally himself with all

    and sundry, nor does he foster the power of other states. 

    He carries out his own secret designs, keeping his

    antagonists in awe.  Thus he is able to capture their

    cities and overthrow their kingdoms.

56. Bestow rewards without regard to rule,

    issue orders without regard to previous arrangements;

    and you will be able to handle a whole army as though

    you had to do with but a single man.

57. Confront your soldiers with the deed itself;

    never let them know your design.  When the outlook is bright,

    bring it before their eyes; but tell them nothing when

    the situation is gloomy.

58. Place your army in deadly peril, and it will survive;

    plunge it into desperate straits, and it will come off

    in safety.

59. For it is precisely when a force has fallen into

    harm's way that is capable of striking a blow for victory.

60. Success in warfare is gained by carefully

    accommodating ourselves to the enemy's purpose.

61. By persistently hanging on the enemy's flank, we shall

    succeed in the long run in killing the commander-in-chief.

62. This is called ability to accomplish a thing

    by sheer cunning.

63. On the day that you take up your command,

    block the frontier passes, destroy the official tallies,

    and stop the passage of all emissaries.

64. Be stern in the council-chamber, so that you

    may control the situation.

65. If the enemy leaves a door open, you must rush in.

66. Forestall your opponent by seizing what he holds dear,

    and subtly contrive to time his arrival on the ground.

67. Walk in the path defined by rule, and accommodate

    yourself to the enemy until you can fight a decisive battle.

68. At first, then, exhibit the coyness of a maiden,

    until the enemy gives you an opening; afterwards emulate

    the rapidity of a running hare, and it will be too late

    for the enemy to oppose you.