SUN TZU“THE ART OF WAR”

"The purpose of war is peace“ By Anuradha Bandara

• Chinese military strategist.• Sun Tzu was lived in China (400

B.C-330 B.C.).• Written by Sun Tzu in the 6th

century BC.• Military strategies & tactics of its

time.• One of the oldest & most

successful book on military strategy.

• on 1772, his book were brought to Western world

• Influence on modern Eastern & Western military thinking and business tactics.

• Been applied to modern business & managerial strategies.

Sun Tzu served for “Qi “ state as Military Strategist.First use again Ch’u and WuMap of “Warring States” period in China before “Qi “ fully conquer all of states on 221 B.C.

Old system changed…• Before Sun Tzu came, the military train not conduct very

well and not systematic. The ages of recruit for military also introduced.

• More discipline and well-trained troops age around sixteen to sixty and also more loyalty

• Individual power and strength are not consider but the overall strength is considered.

Continue….• The concept of “general staff” such as These staffs from various

specialists such as weather forecasters, map makers, commissary officers and engineers to plan tunneling, mining operation, experts on river crossing and operation like amphibious operation, inundating and attack by fire and the use of smoke

• Technical improvements lead to revolution of Chinese warfare.

• the introduction of the crossbow and high-quality of cutting weapon

• Chinese possessed weapons and were master of attacking and defending tactics that become legacy and reference for future leader

Continue….• The light troop emerged during this era. Much more easy to carry.

• Many expertise are appeared such as weather forecasters, map makers, commissary officers and engineers to plan tunneling and mining operation (General staff).

• Doctrine of collective responsibility in battle. The punishment will officer whose did not listen the order.

• mounted men riding without saddles were used as scouts and messengers

• The formation were described by Sun Tzu also allowed flexibility in attacking formation

Chapter 01 Detail Assessment and Planning

• 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 matter of state.

Chapter 02 Waging of 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 men.”

• No country ever benefit with long run war.

Chapter 03 Plan of attack

• “start attack the enemy’s plans; next is to attack their alliances; next to attack their army; and the lowest to attack their fortified cities.”

• “The best policy is to take a state intact; to ruin it is inferior to this”

Chapter 04Tactical disposition and positioning

“Invincibility lies in defense; the possibility of victory in attack”“A victorious army wins its victories before seeking battle; an army destined to defeat, fights in the hope of winning”

“Tactical disposition of the army depends mainly upon the commander’s assessment of the situation”

Chapter 05Energy / Strategic military power

“To control many is the same as to control few through formations and signals”“influence and authority which is exercised in war by the commander. He talks about regiments, groups and brigades “

Chapter 06Weakness and strengths

“If enemy is at ease, be able to exhaust him”“If enemy is well fed, be able to starve him”“If enemy is settled, be able to move him”“An army is like water; just as flowing water avoids heights and hastens to the lowlands, so an army avoids the enemy strength and strikes the weakness”

Chapter 07Engaging the force

“He also talks of morale and suggests to attack when enemy morale is low.” “He also cautions not to attack when the enemy is organized and advancing.”“He mentions about the concept of signaling by flags and torches during day and night.” “Based on these principles Sun Tzu has stressed to assess the ground reality and to leave some space for a surrounded enemy to escape otherwise the enemy will get desperate and will fight well to reverse the situation”

Chapter 08Nine variations of tactics

“Nine variables of ground which have to be considered by a general before engaging his troops in battle”•Not to encamp in low lying ground.•On communicating ground unite with your allies.•On Isolated ground do not stay long.•On enclosed ground resourcefulness is required.•On death ground, Fight•Some roads are not to follow.•Some troops not to strike.•Some cities not to assault and•Some ground is not to be challenged.

Chapter 09Moving the force

“Since 2500 years ago there were no mechanized forces therefore the concept of long expeditious marches and selection of battle ground was essential”•encamp on high ground• Fight down hill•When attacking, let half the enemy forces cross the river and then cut him to size•After crossing a river move away quickly •prefer high ground to low and take position upstream•Keep height to your rear and right and battle in the front

Chapter 10Situational positioning

“Six types of lands”

•Accessible Land – Enemy can traverse with equal ease•Entrapping Land – Easy to get out but difficult to return•Indecisive Land – Ground equally disadvantageous to both sides•Constricted Land – Block the passes and await the enemy•Precipitous Land– Take position on the sunny heights and await the enemy•Distant Land – When at a distance from the enemy of equal strength, it is difficult to provoke battle and unprofitable to engage him in his chosen position

Chapter 11Nine battle grounds

• Dispersive Ground – When a feudal lord fights in his own territory

• Frontier Ground – When a shallow penetration has been made into enemy territory

• Key Ground – Equally advantageous for both sides• Communicating Ground – Equally accessible for both sides • Focal Ground – When a state is enclosed by three other states• Serious Ground – When penetrated deep into hostile territory• Difficult Ground – Hard places like swamps, marshlands,

mountains, forests etc • Encircled Ground – Where access is constricted and even

small enemy force can strike • Death Ground – Where army fights with the courage of

desperation

Chapter 12Attack by fire

• Acts of fire or the guerilla warfare than the direct battle. Some of his principles of act by fire are • Hide in inaccessible places where regular

troops can not follow. • Travel lightly and pay no attention to

weather conditions like rain, heat, dust • Exhaust the enemy while pursuing

Chapter 13Secret agents

“Foreknowledge cannot be obtained from spirits, nor from gods, nor by analogy with past events, nor from calculations. It must be obtained from men who know the enemy situation”

•Native Agents – Local inhabitants of the area•Inside Agents – Grieved or rejected enemy officials•Doubled Agents – Enemy agents used through heavy bribes•Expendable Agents – Own agents deliberately employed to leak fabricated information to deceive enemy•Living Agents – Own clever, talented, tough and loyal agents, who are trained to gain access to the enemy and bring back true useful information

Modern generals & wars• Sun Bin, Zhang Liang, Han Xin, Cao Cao , Mao Tse Tung – china• Napoleon , Marquice delafayet , Bob denard - France • King George III• Gen. George Armstrong Custer• Nazi Germany• Korean War• Vietnam Conflict• Anything the French have done… are doing… or going to do…

EVER

Cont…..• On December 7 1941, at 1 pm Japanese diplomats

were to arrive in USA for peace in the Pacific.

• At approximately the same hour the Japanese started bombing on Pearl Harbor.

• The Japanese had used SunTzu tactics but simultaneously violated his basic strategy i.e.,

• “When you are ignorant of the enemy but you know yourself, the chances of winning or losing the battle are equal”.

• The Japanese overestimated themselves and knew far less about the American potential.

Cont…..

Cont…..• “To be certain to take what you attack, attack

the place where enemy does not protect”

• To break the deadlock in the battle at Pusan, General MacArthur along with his Chief of Staff Major General Edward drew plans to attack the North Korean Army from the rear.

• They conceived an audacious plan - a surprise thrust operation from the west coast to be launched by an amphibious landing at Inchon.

• Thus, MacArthur achieved surprise by landing his forces on a difficult landing site and that too when the timing for landing was critical due to high tide and rough sea.

Cont…..• Sun Tzu sees war as being the matter of deception and the attainment of psychological dominance.

• In Vietnam it was hot, dark and wet, • the language was strange and • the foe was not easily distinguishable from friend. • General Giap, the leader of North Vietnamese forces,

together with Ho Chi Minh were main architects of victory over the Americans. During the Tet Offensive they learnt that

• American public was unwilling to tolerate large number of dead whereas the Vietnamese were ready to take the losses.

• This was a psychological turning point and led to the American evacuation from Vietnam.

Sun Tzu in business warfare……• ON MANAGEMENT: Care about your team, but also be tough

There are five dangerous faults which may affect a general:  • recklessness, which leads to destruction;• cowardice, which leads to capture;• a hasty temper, which can be provoked by insults;• a delicacy of honor, which is sensitive to shame;• over-solicitude for his men, which exposes him to worry and

trouble.  

Cont…..• Develop your character as a leader to maximize the potential of your

employees. • Avoid your competitor’s strength, and attack their weakness• Capture your market without destroying it• Know your enemy (Other competitors)• Use alliances and strategic control points in the industry to “shape”

your opponents and make them conform to your will.• Exploit your enemy's weaknesses, avoid his strengths.(What are the

weakness and strengths of other competitors)• Use speed and preparation to swiftly overcome the competition.• Use foreknowledge & deception to maximize the power of business

intelligence.

Thank You (謝謝 )

Any Question?