Chapter 10 — Terrain

Sunzi said: In general, configurations of ground include accessible ground, entangling ground, temporizing ground, constricted ground, precipitous ground, and distant ground. Ground across which we can go and the enemy can come is called accessible. On accessible ground, first occupy high, sunny positions and secure your supply routes; then battle will be advantageous. Ground across which one can go but from which it is difficult to return is called entangling. On entangling ground, if the enemy is unprepared, go forth and defeat him. If the enemy is prepared and you go forth without defeating him, it will be difficult to return, and this is disadvantageous. Ground upon which it is disadvantageous for us to go forth and disadvantageous for the enemy to go forth is called temporizing. On temporizing ground, though the enemy offers us an advantage, we must not go forth. Draw away and depart, causing the enemy to come halfway out, then strike him; this is advantageous. On constricted ground, if we occupy it first, we must fill it completely and await the enemy. If the enemy occupies it first and has filled it completely, do not follow him; if he has not filled it completely, follow him. On precipitous ground, if we occupy it first, we must occupy high, sunny positions and await the enemy. If the enemy occupies it first, draw away and depart; do not follow him. On distant ground, if forces are evenly matched, it is difficult to provoke battle, and fighting is disadvantageous. These six are the Ways of ground. They are the commander’s highest responsibility and must be examined.

Thus, an army may flee, become insubordinate, collapse, crumble, fall into disorder, or be routed. These six are not calamities from Heaven but faults of the commander. When forces are evenly matched and one attacks ten, the result is flight. When soldiers are strong and officers weak, the result is insubordination. When officers are strong and soldiers weak, the result is collapse. When senior officers are angry and insubordinate, and on meeting the enemy act from resentment and fight on their own because the commander does not know their abilities, the result is crumbling. When the commander is weak and not stern, his instruction and direction are unclear, officers and soldiers lack fixed duties, and the battle lines are drawn up every which way, the result is disorder. When the commander cannot assess the enemy, pits a small force against a large one, attacks strength with weakness, and has no picked vanguard among his troops, the result is rout. These six are Ways to defeat. They are the commander’s highest responsibility and must be examined.

The configuration of the ground is an aid to the army. Assessing the enemy to control victory, and calculating dangers, constrictions, distances, and proximities, constitute the Way of a superior commander. He who knows these things and employs them in battle will surely be victorious; he who does not know them and employs troops in battle will surely be defeated. Therefore, if the Way of battle ensures victory, it is permissible to fight even if the ruler says not to fight. If the Way of battle does not ensure victory, it is permissible not to fight even if the ruler says that battle is imperative. Thus, a commander who advances without seeking fame and retreats without avoiding blame, whose sole concern is to protect the people and whose actions accord with the ruler’s advantage, is the treasure of the state.

Regard your soldiers as infants, and you can lead them into the deepest ravines. Regard your soldiers as beloved sons, and they can die with you. But if you treat them generously and cannot employ them, love them and cannot command them, or let them fall into disorder and cannot govern them, they are like spoiled children and cannot be used.

To know that our soldiers can attack, but not to know that the enemy cannot be attacked, is only half the knowledge needed for victory. To know that the enemy can be attacked, but not to know that our soldiers cannot attack, is only half the knowledge needed for victory. To know that the enemy can be attacked and that our soldiers can attack, but not to know that the configuration of the ground makes battle impossible, is only half the knowledge needed for victory. Therefore, one who understands warfare moves without confusion and acts without exhaustion. Thus it is said: Know the enemy and know yourself, and your victory will never be imperiled. Know Heaven and know ground, and your victory can be complete.

Sunzi said: In general, terrain may be accessible, entangling, temporizing, constricted, precipitous, or distant. Ground over which we can go and the enemy can come is called accessible. On accessible terrain, first occupy high ground on the sunny side and keep your supply routes open; then it is advantageous to fight. Ground over which one can go but from which it is difficult to return is called entangling. On entangling terrain, if the enemy is unprepared, go out and defeat him. If the enemy is prepared and you go out but do not defeat him, it will be difficult to return, and this is disadvantageous. Ground on which it is disadvantageous for us to go out and disadvantageous for the enemy to come out is called temporizing. On temporizing terrain, even if the enemy offers us an advantage, we should not go out. Draw back and leave; when half the enemy’s army has emerged, attack it, and this will be advantageous. On constricted terrain, if we occupy it first, we must fill it with troops and await the enemy. If the enemy occupies it first and has filled it with troops, do not follow him in; if he has not filled it, follow him in. On precipitous terrain, if we occupy it first, we must hold high ground on the sunny side and await the enemy. If the enemy occupies it first, draw back and leave; do not follow him. On distant terrain, when strategic conditions are equal, it is difficult to provoke battle, and fighting brings no advantage. These six are the principles of terrain. Examining them is the commander’s highest responsibility and cannot be neglected.

Thus, an army may flee, become insubordinate, collapse, crumble, fall into disorder, or be routed. These six are not disasters from Heaven but faults of the commander. When strategic conditions are equal and one is sent against ten, the result is flight. When the soldiers are strong and the officers weak, the result is insubordination. When the officers are strong and the soldiers weak, the result is collapse. When senior officers are angry and disobedient, encounter the enemy, and resentfully fight on their own because the commander does not understand their capabilities, the result is crumbling. When the commander is weak and not strict, his instructions are unclear, officers and soldiers have no fixed duties, and formations are deployed haphazardly, the result is disorder. When the commander cannot assess the enemy, pits a small force against a large one, attacks strength with weakness, and has no selected vanguard, the result is rout. These six are ways to defeat. Examining them is the commander’s highest responsibility and cannot be neglected.

Terrain is an army’s aid. Assessing the enemy to control victory and calculating dangers, narrow passes, and distances are the way of a superior commander. One who knows these things and uses them in battle will certainly win; one who does not know them and uses battle will certainly lose. Therefore, if the principles of battle indicate certain victory, it is permissible to fight even if the ruler says not to fight. If the principles of battle indicate that victory is impossible, it is permissible not to fight even if the ruler says to fight. Thus, a commander who advances without seeking fame and retreats without avoiding blame, whose only concern is protecting the people and whose actions accord with the ruler’s interests, is the treasure of the state.

Regard your soldiers as infants, and you can lead them into the deepest ravines. Regard your soldiers as beloved sons, and you can die together with them. But if you treat them generously and cannot employ them, love them and cannot command them, or let them become disorderly and cannot govern them, they are like spoiled children and cannot be used.

Knowing that our soldiers can attack but not knowing that the enemy cannot be attacked gives only half the assurance of victory. Knowing that the enemy can be attacked but not knowing that our soldiers cannot attack gives only half the assurance of victory. Knowing that the enemy can be attacked and that our soldiers can attack, but not knowing that the terrain does not permit battle, gives only half the assurance of victory. Therefore, one who understands warfare moves without confusion and acts without exhausting his resources. Thus it is said: Know the enemy and know yourself, and your victory will not be imperiled. Know Heaven and know Earth, and your victory can be complete.