"The Art of War" is a literary classic, written in the 6th century BC by the brilliant Chinese tactician and general, Sun Tzu. Since its inception this military treatise has been used by armies throughout history to govern the art of waging war against other nations. In modern times the text has been adapted to influence business tactics and strategies. The argument of this book is written in point form over 13 little chapters and cover such topics from (#1) Laying Plans to (#7) Maneuvering to (#10) Terrain to (#13) The Use of Spies. In the introduction of this book, the editors write, "Sun Tzu was the first to recognize the importance of positioning in strategy and that position is affected both by objective conditions in the physical environment and the subjective opinions of competitive actors in the environment. He taught that strategy was not planning in the sense of working through a to-do list, but rather that it requires quick and appropriate responses to changing conditions."Strangely enough, I found this short little book rather fascinating. As a reader of fantasy novels, I was riveted by making mental comparisons how the principles in this book have influenced authors writing about war, particularly the author I am reading right now, Robert Jordan. On a deeper level however, the observations that Sun Tzu makes are incredibly practical, earthy and wise. They involve recommendations that a leader must be connected to his troops on a emotional level, but at the same time he must not let that level of attachment interfere with the enforcement of discipline. He espouses the importance of planning and the need of secrecy to keep these important plans, and while at the same time emphasizing that plans must be flexible, and their execution quick and sure. Such is his emphasis on preplanning that he declares that one should not start a war until he is certain that battle has already been won, and that preparing for defense rests not on the liklihood that the enemy will come but that rather their position is "unassailable." Above all Sun Tzu stresses the importance of leadership, and most if not all of his arguments place the glory of victory or the blame of defeat squarely on the general's shoulders. Character, in particular, is particularly important in a general, and there are five dangerous faults that a general may show that are "ruinous to the conduct of war:" recklessness (which leads to destruction), cowardice (which leads to capture), a hasty temper (which can be provoked by insults), a delicacy of honour (which is sensitive to shame), and an over-solicitude for his men (which exposes him to worry and trouble). Sun Tzu summarizes his entire arguement in one timeless maxim that I think is still valid today in almost every action of life. "If you know the enemy and know yourself, your victory will not stand in doubt," he writes, "If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yoursef, you will succumb in every battle."
Who ever expected an anciety military leader to say that self-reflection and self-knowledge were what the most important things one needed to wage a war? These two things are so lost in today's society, but I would also say that these two traits are also paramount to living successfully to one's full capacity.
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Here is a response I gave for an assignment on this book in my World Civilizations class, sharing with the professor what I found most interesting about this book:
One thing that I find most interesting about Sun Tzu is how he summarizes all of his principles in one timeless maxim; “know the enemy and know yourself,” he writes, “ [and] your victory will not stand in doubt” (91). It is unexpected that an ancient military leader would emphasize that self-reflection and self-knowledge are the most important things to winning a war. Some people in the past have likened life to battle, and I find myself reflecting on how true this maxim can be to all of life, and yet the irony that self-reflection has become a lost art in today’s society. Self- analysis still remains; people are constantly getting diagnosed for some malady or another, but the deeper digging, the asking and pondering of “why?” (beyond a technical analysis) has been lost with our obsession in getting quick and easy results. War may be about results, but one thing I have observed in Sun Tzu’s writing is that results should be pursued in the right way. For example, he advises that if the enemy is fleeing you should not pursue; rather you should leave him an outlet to escape. How many in our society have become obsessed with crushing the opponent? Sun Tzu also claims that battle should not be fought at the expense of the welfare of the nation’s general populous. Many businesses these days, however, do not care about the people they exploit in third world countries as long as the profit margin continues to grow. There is a sense of honour present in the way that Sun Tzu presents the art of war, and yet modern western society has abandoned ancient notions of honour for modern ideals about being rich and famous. What victory are we really trying to achieve? Jesus asks, “what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul?” On this matter, I feel like Sun Tzu would agree with Christ. One must know himself in order to win the battle and the only way to protect that sense of self-knowledge is to set boundaries of honour and character. Without those boundaries a battle might be won, but something much more important is lost.
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