The Art of War
by Sun Tzu
ENERGY
- Sun Tzu said: The control of a large force is the same principle as
the control of a few men: it is merely a question of dividing up their numbers.
- Fighting with a large army under your command is nowise different from
fighting with a small one: it is merely a question of instituting signs and
signals.
- To ensure that your whole host may withstand the brunt of the enemy's
attack and remain unshaken-- this is effected by maneuvers direct and indirect.
- That the impact of your army may be like a grindstone dashed against
an egg--this is effected by the science of weak points and strong.
- In all fighting, the direct method may be used for joining battle, but
indirect methods will be needed in order to secure victory.
- Indirect tactics, efficiently applied, are inexhaustible as Heaven and
Earth, unending as the flow of rivers and streams; like the sun and moon,
they end but to begin anew; like the four seasons, they pass away to return
once more.
- There are not more than five musical notes, yet the combinations of
these five give rise to more melodies than can ever be heard.
- There are not more than five primary colors (blue, yellow, red, white,
and black), yet in combination they produce more hues than can ever been seen.
- There are not more than five cardinal tastes (sour, acrid, salt, sweet,
bitter), yet combinations of them yield more flavors than can ever be tasted.
- In battle, there are not more than two methods of attack--the direct
and the indirect; yet these two in combination give rise to an endless series
of maneuvers.
- The direct and the indirect lead on to each other in turn. It is like
moving in a circle--you never come to an end. Who can exhaust the possibilities
of their combination?
- The onset of troops is like the rush of a torrent which will even roll
stones along in its course.
- The quality of decision is like the well-timed swoop of a falcon which
enables it to strike and destroy its victim.
- Therefore the good fighter will be terrible in his onset, and prompt
in his decision.
- Energy may be likened to the bending of a crossbow; decision, to the
releasing of a trigger.
- Amid the turmoil and tumult of battle, there may be seeming disorder
and yet no real disorder at all; amid confusion and chaos, your array may
be without head or tail, yet it will be proof against defeat.
- Simulated disorder postulates perfect discipline, simulated fear postulates
courage; simulated weakness postulates strength.
- Hiding order beneath the cloak of disorder is simply a question of subdivision;
concealing courage under a show of timidity presupposes a fund of latent energy;
masking strength with weakness is to be effected by tactical dispositions.
- Thus one who is skillful at keeping the enemy on the move maintains
deceitful appearances, according to which the enemy will act. He sacrifices
something, that the enemy may snatch at it.
- By holding out baits, he keeps him on the march; then with a body of
picked men he lies in wait for him.
- The clever combatant looks to the effect of combined energy, and does
not require too much from individuals. Hence his ability to pick out the right
men and utilize combined energy.
- When he utilizes combined energy, his fighting men become as it were
like unto rolling logs or stones. For it is the nature of a log or stone to
remain motionless on level ground, and to move when on a slope; if four-cornered,
to come to a standstill, but if round-shaped, to go rolling down.
- Thus the energy developed by good fighting men is as the momentum of
a round stone rolled down a mountain thousands of feet in height. So much
on the subject of energy.
Translated from the Chinese By LIONEL GILES, M.A. (1910)
Return to Main Page