┞
1.
he good ighters
of old irst put
themselves beyond
the possibility of
defeat, and then
waited for an
opportunity of
defeating
the enemy.◝
2.
To secure ourselves
against defeat lies
in our own hands,
but the opportunity
of defeating the
enemy is provided
by the enemy
himself.This ancient Chinese military treatise dates from the 5th century BC.
Attributed to the Chinese general Sun Tzu (545 BC–470 BC), each of the
13 chapters in the work are dedicated to a distinct aspect of warfare and
how it applies to military strategy and tactics. Part of the anthology Seven
Military Classics canonised by Emperor Shenzong in 11 AD, The Art of War
has profoundly influenced not only military thinking – both Eastern and
Western – but also modern business and legal strategies. In 1910, it was
irst translated into English by the British writer Lionel Giles (1875–1958)
he Art of War (ྑжഈ֛)
MILITARY STRATEGM⪮
6.
Standing on the
defensive indicates
insuicient strength;
atacking, a
superabundance
of strength.┢
7.
he general who is
skilled in defence
hides in the most
secret recesses of
the earth; he who
is skilled in atack
lashes forth from
the topmost heights
of heaven. hus on
the one hand we
have ability
to protect
ourselves; on the
other, a victory that
is complete.erature
┩
3.
hus the good
ighter is able to
secure himself
against defeat,
but cannot make
certain of defeating
the enemy.
㎃
4.
Hence the saying:
One may know how
to conquer without
being able to do it.
◩
5.^
Security against
defeat implies
defensive tactics;
ability to defeat the
enemy means taking
the ofensive.
⪨
8.^
To see victory only
when it is within the
ken of the common
herd is not the acme
of excellence.
▟
9.^
Neither is it the
acme of excellence
if you ight and
conquer and the
whole Empire says,
“Well done!”
ⶥ
10.
To lit an autumn
hair is no sign of
great strength; to see
the sun and moon
is no sign of sharp
sight; to hear the
noise of thunder is
no sign of a
quick ear.ⶥ┞
11.
What the ancients
called a clever ighter
is one who not only
wins, but excels in
winning with ease.
ⶥ◝12.
Hence his victories
bring him neither
reputation for
wisdom nor credit
for courage.