Chapter 4 — Military Form

Sunzi said: Those of old who were skilled in battle first made themselves invincible, then awaited the moment when the enemy could be defeated. Invincibility lies with oneself; vulnerability to defeat lies with the enemy. Therefore, one skilled in battle can make himself invincible, but cannot make the enemy necessarily vulnerable to defeat. Thus it is said: Victory can be known, but it cannot be forced.

Invincibility lies in defense; vulnerability to defeat lies in attack. One defends when strength is insufficient and attacks when strength is abundant. One skilled in defense hides beneath the deepest layers of the earth; one skilled in attack moves above the highest reaches of Heaven. Thus he can preserve himself and gain complete victory.

To foresee a victory no better than the common multitude can foresee it is not the highest excellence. To win in battle and have all under Heaven acclaim your skill is not the highest excellence. Thus, lifting an autumn hair does not signify great strength; seeing the sun and moon does not signify keen sight; hearing thunder does not signify acute hearing.

Those whom the ancients called skilled in battle gained victory over those who were easy to defeat. Thus, the victories of one skilled in battle bring neither a reputation for wisdom nor merit for courage. His victories in battle admit no error. They admit no error because whatever measures he takes are certain to prevail: he conquers an enemy already defeated. Therefore, one skilled in battle establishes himself on ground where he cannot be defeated and does not miss the enemy’s moment of defeat. Thus, a victorious army first secures victory and then seeks battle; a defeated army first fights and then seeks victory. One skilled in employing troops cultivates the Way and preserves method; therefore, he can govern victory and defeat.

According to the methods of war, the first factor is measurement; the second, estimation of capacity; the third, calculation; the fourth, comparison; the fifth, victory. Ground gives rise to measurement; measurement gives rise to estimation of capacity; estimation of capacity gives rise to calculation; calculation gives rise to comparison; comparison gives rise to victory. Thus, a victorious army is like weighing a hundredweight against a grain, while a defeated army is like weighing a grain against a hundredweight. When the victor sends his people into battle, it is like releasing pent-up waters into a ravine a thousand fathoms deep. This is disposition.

Sunzi said: Those skilled in warfare in ancient times first made themselves invincible and then waited for the enemy to become vulnerable. Invincibility lies with oneself; vulnerability lies with the enemy. Therefore, those skilled in warfare can make themselves invincible, but they cannot make the enemy certain to become vulnerable. Thus it is said: Victory can be known, but it cannot always be forced.

Invincibility lies in defense; vulnerability lies in attack. One defends when strength is insufficient and attacks when strength is more than sufficient. Those skilled in defense hide beneath the deepest layers of the earth; those skilled in attack move above the highest reaches of Heaven. Thus, they can preserve themselves and achieve complete victory.

Foreseeing a victory no better than the ordinary person can foresee is not the best of the best. Winning a battle so that all under Heaven praise your skill is not the best of the best. Lifting an autumn hair does not show great strength; seeing the sun and moon does not show keen eyesight; hearing thunder does not show sharp hearing.

Those whom ancient people called skilled in warfare won victories over enemies who were easy to defeat. Therefore, the victories of those skilled in warfare bring neither a reputation for wisdom nor credit for courage. Their victories in battle are never mistaken. They are never mistaken because whatever measures they take are certain to win: they conquer an enemy who is already defeated. Therefore, those skilled in warfare establish themselves on ground where they cannot be defeated and do not miss the moment when the enemy can be defeated. Thus, a victorious army first wins and then seeks battle; a defeated army first fights and then seeks victory. Those skilled in employing an army cultivate the Way and preserve organization, and therefore can control victory and defeat.

The method of warfare has five stages: first, measurement; second, estimation of capacity; third, calculation of numbers; fourth, weighing relative strength; and fifth, victory. Ground gives rise to measurement; measurement gives rise to estimation of capacity; estimation of capacity gives rise to calculation of numbers; calculation of numbers gives rise to weighing relative strength; weighing relative strength gives rise to victory. Thus, a victorious army is like weighing a heavy measure against a tiny grain, while a defeated army is like weighing a tiny grain against a heavy measure. When the victor sends his men into battle, it is like releasing pent-up water into a gorge a thousand fathoms deep. This is disposition.