Chapter 1 — Initial Assessments

Sunzi said: Warfare is a great affair of state, the ground of life and death, the way to survival or destruction. It must be examined. Therefore, assess it by the five fundamentals, compare it by the seven calculations, and thereby seek out its true condition. The first is the Way; the second, Heaven; the third, ground; the fourth, the commander; the fifth, method.

The Way causes the people to share the will of their ruler, so that they may die with him, may live with him, and fear no danger. Heaven comprises darkness and light, cold and heat, and the ordering of the seasons. Ground comprises high and low, far and near, difficult and easy, broad and narrow, and places of death and life. The commander comprises wisdom, trustworthiness, benevolence, courage, and sternness. Method comprises the organization of units, the regulation of officers, and the control of supplies. Every commander has heard of these five, but he who understands them is victorious, and he who does not is not victorious. Therefore, compare them by the seven calculations and seek out their true condition, asking: Which ruler possesses the Way? Which commander has ability? Who has gained the advantages of Heaven and ground? On which side are laws and orders carried out? Whose forces are stronger? Whose officers and soldiers are better trained? Whose rewards and punishments are clearer? From these I know victory and defeat.

If a commander will heed my calculations, employ him, and he will surely be victorious; retain him. If a commander will not heed my calculations, employ him, and he will surely be defeated; dismiss him. Once the advantageous calculations have been heeded, create strategic power to assist them from without. Strategic power is the control of circumstances in accordance with advantage. Warfare is the Way of deception. Therefore, when capable, show yourself incapable; when employing your forces, show yourself inactive; when near, show yourself far away; when far away, show yourself near. Lure the enemy with profit; take him when he is in disorder. When he is substantial, prepare against him; when he is strong, avoid him. When he is angry, provoke him; when he is humble, make him arrogant. When he is rested, weary him; when his forces are united, divide them. Attack where he is unprepared; emerge where he does not expect you. These are the military strategist’s means of victory; they cannot be transmitted in advance.

Before battle, he whose calculations in the ancestral temple foretell victory has made many calculations; before battle, he whose calculations in the ancestral temple do not foretell victory has made few calculations. Many calculations bring victory; few calculations do not bring victory. How much less can there be victory without calculation at all? By observing the matter in this way, victory and defeat become apparent.

Sunzi said: Warfare is a nation’s great undertaking, the ground of life and death, the way to survival or destruction. It must be carefully examined. Therefore, assess it by means of five factors, compare it by means of seven calculations, and thereby determine the true situation. The first is the Way, the second Heaven, the third Earth, the fourth the commander, and the fifth organization.

The Way causes the people to share the same purpose as their ruler, so that they may die with him, live with him, and fear no danger. Heaven means darkness and light, cold and heat, and the constraints of the seasons. Earth means high and low ground, far and near, difficult and easy terrain, broad and narrow ground, and places of death and life. The commander means wisdom, trustworthiness, benevolence, courage, and strictness. Organization means the division and regulation of forces, the chain of command, and the control of expenditures. Every commander has heard of these five factors. Those who understand them will win; those who do not will not win. Therefore, compare the sides by means of seven calculations and thereby determine the true situation: Which ruler possesses the Way? Which commander is more capable? Which side has the advantages of Heaven and Earth? Which side carries out its laws and orders? Which army is stronger? Which officers and soldiers are better trained? Which side’s rewards and punishments are clearer? From these, I know victory and defeat.

If a commander listens to my calculations, employing him will certainly bring victory, so retain him. If a commander does not listen to my calculations, employing him will certainly bring defeat, so dismiss him. Once the advantages of my calculations have been heard, create a strategic advantage to support them from outside. Strategic advantage means controlling the balance of circumstances in accordance with what is advantageous. Warfare is the way of deception. Therefore, when capable, appear incapable; when employing forces, appear inactive; when near, appear far away; when far away, appear near. Lure the enemy with profit; take him when he is in disorder; prepare against him when he is substantial; avoid him when he is strong. If he is irritable, provoke him; if he is humble, make him arrogant; if he is rested, wear him down; if his forces are united, divide them. Attack where he is unprepared; emerge where he does not expect you. These are the military strategist’s means of victory, and they cannot be disclosed in advance.

Those who, before battle, calculate victory in the ancestral temple have obtained many favorable calculations. Those who, before battle, calculate that they will not win have obtained few favorable calculations. Many calculations bring victory; few calculations do not bring victory. How much less can one win with no calculations at all? By observing the matter in this way, victory and defeat become apparent.