THE ART OF WAR

A book report
SAGUN, Shannen Drazel M.

I.INTRODUCTION
How do you destroy a monster, without becoming one?
War, an integral part of the power politics of the age, had become `a matter of vital
importance to the state. (Griffith, 44) Thus, Sun Tzu a Chinese military strategist, Taoist
philosopher, and a general in the 6th century BCE is highly beloved by many because of his
writing The Art of War, a compilation of generations of Chinese theories and teachings on
military strategy and its profound influence on military campaigns is a very useful tool for
warfare. A very useful book indeed, a book that leads people to the monster making factory
called war and calls the end result a victory. When reading the book you are unconsciously
made to reflect about the happening in the new times and made to realize that no matter how
old, warfare is never different, no matter what generation it befalls. The art of war is a very
dangerous tool that is readily available to all.

II.BODY
To defeat what you despise, you must become what you despise
Chapter I: Laying plans
In the first part of Sun Tzus book, he provided five bases in deliberation for careful
consideration in laying plans for war. First, the Moral Law, which causes the people to follow
their leader, even to the most dangerous paths: Second, the Heaven, as night and day, as cold
and heat, and as times and seasons. The ability of the sovereign to use the natural phenomena
to their advantage, the way Russia used its harsh winter season as an advantage to war (World
war II reference). Earth, the distance of the capitals and camps of the soldiers from each other,
the dangers and security and the battle ground of the warfare. The Commander, a leader that
possesses the virtue of wisdom, the sincerity, the benevolence, the courage and the strictness
to command his men shall obtain victory: Lastly, the Method and Discipline, from the ranking of
the soldiers based on their qualifications. To the Maintenance of the soldiers, the way they are
trained, the way they are fed and kept healthy in the midst of warfare. These are the five bases
that a sovereign must consider in leading their men to victory.

Sun Tzu as well provided seven questions that can help in determining who created a
better plan and who holds the advantage to war. (a) Which sovereign act with the Moral law?
(b) Which general has the most ability? (c) Who holds the advantage from the heaven and
Earth? (d) Which side enforce rigorous discipline? (e) Which army is stronger? (f) Who has
trained men? And, (g) Who practices constant reward and punishment? This questions when
answered can tell who has the greater chance in winning the war.
All warfare is based on deception
When able, you must seem unable.
When using force, you must seem inactive.
When you are near, you must make them think you are far.
When far away, make them believe you are near.
You must make the enemy think that you are who you are not, feed their egos and use it
against them. Make them think you are weak and destroy them. Trick them, so you may crush
them. To win in warfare you must use the enemys weakness to your advantage: Attack, when
you are unexpected. When the enemy holds an advantage, you must do so, that he loss it,
when they are united, separate them. A separated army is a weak army, on opposition unity
brings strength.
Chapter II: Waging war
Make heist and seize the enemy, prolonging the war may only cause one to be weaker,
thus long delays is something that is done unintelligently. For a skilful leader do not raise war
twice, forwhy they can attain victory in their first try.
Chapter III: Attack by Strateger
To destroy is foolish; rather, materials of war must be used to your advantage. Capture
it, and use it as your own. One will not only bring disadvantage to the enemy, further it will
enable one to gain additional weaponry. Supreme excellence is breaking the enemys resistance
without fighting, rather by outsmarting. For a skilful general foils the enemys plans. A general
that prevents the enemys forces from joining and one that does not attack an enclosed city for
a desperate cling to an advantage, but only do so in field appropriate for war. For a skilful
leader does not make heist of victory that is far from true, rather uses his smarts to make clear
of victory. If he does not, he shall bring his men to deaths door, inasmuch as even a skilful
leader fails if he commands an army of ignorance. As well as an ignorant leader that commands
skilful soldiers, leads an army to anarchy.
Know when to fight and when not to
A full spirited leader bring a full spirited army

Timing is everything; one does not need to rush things when they are unsure. One must
first know of their enemy as much as they know themselves.
Chapter IV: Tactical Disposition
Good fighters of old, first put themselves beyond the possibility of defeat and then wait
for an opportunity to defeat the enemy
Security against defeat lies on ones hand, however opportunity for victory is provided
by the enemy themselves. Forwhy a skilful leader secures himself from defeat, before even
thinking about victory.
Chapter V: Energy
There are not more than five musical notes, yet the combinations of these five give rise
to more melodies than can ever be heard
It does not matter how many hundreds of men you possess, what matters is, if the
choices you made are the right ones. Numbers make no difference, what makes a difference is
how it is used. Similarly, there are only two ways to fight a war, but once mastered can give way
to more than anyone can ever imagine.
Chapter VI: Weak points and Strong
Whoever is first in the field and awaits the coming of the enemy, will be fresh for the
fight: Whoever is second and has hasten to battle will arrive exhausted
Make yourself so that you hold the advantage; never let the enemy hold what you
should have had. Everything is crucial no matter how small it is, a single second can be an
advantage and can be used to victory.
In war, the way is to avoid the strong and attack the weak
It does not bring disgrace to run from a fight you clearly have a disadvantage in,
remember that what is important is the smarts and not the fighting itself. One needs to ready
himself to fight, and not just attack without thinking.
Chapter VII: Manoeuvring
The difficulty of tactical manoeuvring in turning devious into direct: misfortune into
gain
We are not fit to lead an army on the march unless we are familiar with the face of the
country
Let your plans be dark and impenetrable and when you move, fall like a thunderbolt

One cannot ally himself with another if he is unaware of his neighbours nature. One
must make a mystery of oneself, do not tell anyone of your plans, do show what powers you
hold. Keep it secret and use it as a weapon for impeccable victory.
Chapter VIII: Variations in tactics
There are roads which must not be followed, armies which must not be attacked, towns
which must be besieged, positions which must not be contested and commands which should
not be obeyed
Recklessness leads to destruction: Cowardice leads to capture: Hasty Temper can easily
be provoked by insults: Delicacy of Honour results to sensitivity to shame: Over-solicitude
exposes one to worry and trouble. As much as Aristotle is concerned, one must follow the
golden mean, everything is supposed to be in moderation. Thus one must always stay in the
mean, do not go overboard and do not go below the mean.
One does not just rely on the likelihood of an attack, but to their readiness to take the
attack and still rise victorious.
Chapter IX: Army on the march
When on march to the enemys territory, know your way. And make of it that you have
an advantage. Always check your surroundings for a possibility of a surprise attack. Never let
your guard down and always position yourself where you can escape an ambush.
Chapter X: Terrain
If you know the enemy and know yourself, your victory will not stand in doubt; If you
know heaven and know Earth, you may make your victory complete
Knowing yourself, your strengths and weaknesses is not enough. One must know of his
enemies, his strengths and weaknesses as much as you know of the heaven and earth. But
simply knowing never enough, one must be an expert in using them to your advantage.
Chapter XI: Nine situations
Dispersive is ones own territory; Facile is hostile land: Contentious is of great advantage
for both participants, one that must not be attacked: Open, one that provides liberty, it mustnt
be blocked: Intersecting highways for joining alliances: Serious, is the heart of the hostile land,
one where you must unite: difficult, one that is hard to travel: Hemmed-in, a narrow path, that
must be avoided: Desperate ground, where one must fight.
Chapter XII: Attack by fire
1st: Burn soldiers in enemy camp

3rd: Burn baggage trains

5th: Hurl fire

2nd: Burn stores

4th: Burn arsenals and magazines

The usage of what is available makes an army strong; one does not need to spend so
much. They just need to use what is readily available to its outmost capabilities
Chapter XIII: Use of spies
(a) Local spies are inhabitants of the place: (b) inward, officials of the enemy army: (c)
Converted, enemy spies used as ones own: (d) Doomed spies, way of deception: (e) Surviving
spies, those that were captured.
The use of spies is not something most dignified, nonetheless It is a must for victory.
One mustnt think of anything but victory in war, thus anything that is readily available and can
secure your complete victory must be used to its outmost capabilities. Even if it is not one that
you can be proud of.
III. CONCLUSION
The art of war is of vital importance to the state. It is a matter of life and death, a road
either to safety or to ruin. Hence it is a subject of inquiry which can on no account be neglected.
In war, the methods of acquiring victory do not matter. As long as it is achieved.
No matter how sorrowful, no matter how much anguish it brings, it is a way of life, it is
the way of securing oneself. One that we cannot dispose off.
It cannot be avoided; therefore once one enters the gates of hell, he must come out as
the victor. And that requires one to outsmart the devil. Master the hearts of hell, use the devils
tools, so you can rule it. Be one to defeat one.

WAR IS A NECESSITY

References;
Mark,
J.J.(010413). Sun Tzu. Ancient
http://www.ancient.eu/Sun-Tzu/_1016
http://www.history.com/topics/the-art-of-war

History

encyclopedia.

retrieved

from