Chapter III: Part 3

Fens, advance in wide, 112

Fighting races, consequences of victories by, 80

Fire, five modes of assault by, 67-68;
attack on enemy in overgrown marsh land by, 106

Flag, use of, in war, 31;
in day fighting, 43;
change of, 51;
Wutzu on use of, 104

Flanking (or reserve) force, 12

Flat country, disposal of troops in, 48

Flutes, Wutzu on use of, 108

Fodder, charge of, given to the feeble, 98

Food, taken from enemy, 22;
obtained by skilful general, 23;
killing of horses for, 51;
attack on enemy without, 90;
charge of, given to the feeble, 98

Force, one of four important influences in war, 102, 103

Foreign lands, war in, 60

Formation-battle, 97

Frontal attack, 11

G

General, interference with, ill-advised, 10;
ability of, one of seven important matters, 18;
skilful, is steadfast in "Way" and "Law," 30;
as "God of War" changes tactics, 39;
must know the Nine Changes, 45;
five faults dangerous for, 46;
what implied by exceeding graciousness of, 52;
blustering and obsequious, 52;
strange to troops, 52;
weak and amiable, 55;
calamities due to defects in, 55;
unable to estimate enemy, 56;
anxious for people's welfare, 56;
must be calm, inscrutable, just, and prudent, 63;
conceals plans, 63;
must have topographical knowledge and use guides, 65;
bestows rewards discreetly, 66;
is not actuated by anger, 69;
should be in accord with soldiers, 93;
must not procrastinate, 97;
Wutzu on qualities of, 101-107;
five matters important for, 101;
of the enemy to be appraised, 104;
action in accordance with judgment of enemy's, 105;
how to judge enemy's, 106-107

Gongs, use of, in war, 108

Government of a country, 77-84;
object of, 79;
good, foundation of victory, 95

Ground, influence of, in war, 12;
marshy, to be avoided for camp, 44;
action in mountainous and wooded, 45;
disposal of troops on high, marshy, flat, sunny, steep, boggy,
and tangled, 47-49;
object of enemy encamped on open, 49;
Suntzu on, 53-67;
open, 53-54;
broken, 54;
suspended, 54;
defiles in, 54;
precipitous, 54;
the handmaid of victory, 56;
results from good use of, 63;
one of four important influences in war, 102, 103;
inundation of enemy on marshy, 106

Grounds, the Nine, 58-67;
action with regard to, 64;
knowledge of, necessary to general, 65

Guests, entertainment of, costly in war, 21

Guides, employment of, necessary, 42, 65

H

Halberd, one of the five arms, 88, _note_

Halberds, great length of, 75-76

Harness, must be strong in all details, 100

Health of troops, consideration for, 48

Heat, attack on enemy who has endured, 89

Heaven, one of five indispensable matters in war, 17, 18

Heaven, the Ninth, 29, _note_

Highways, when not to interrupt, 59

Horses, killed for food, 51;
care for, 94;
treatment of, 99-100

Hsia, 73

Hsihe, defence of, 77

Huangti, cause of victory by, 48

Humane treatment ensures obedience, 53

Hunger, how shown, by use of weapons, 51;
how to meet, in case of enemy, 97

I

Ichih, 73

Ignorance, three ways of, embarrassing to armies, 26;
of enemy causes defeat, 27

Impartiality, Wutzu on, 116

Impetuosity, blind, dangerous fault in general, 46

Indispensable matters, five, Suntzu on, 17

Indulgence, ill effects of, 57

Influences, four important, in war, 102

Initiative, disadvantage of, on suspended ground, 54

Inner spies, 71

Internal disorder, a cause of war, 80

Intersecting ground, 58;
action on, 64

Inundation of enemy, on marshy ground, 106

Invincible, how ancient masters made armies, 28

Involved ground, 58, 59;
action regarding, 59, 64

J

Japan, Sun and Wu revered in, 14

Japanese tactics, unlike Chinese, 10;
commentators on Chinese literature, 14

Javelin, one of the five arms, 88, _note_

Justice, importance of, in rewards and punishment, 18;
Wutzu on, 116

K

Kingdom, the Middle, 87-88

Kuei, courage of, 62

L

Lateness in field, cause of exhaustion, 34

Law, the, one of five indispensable matters in war, 17;
includes partition and ordering of troops, 18;
for defeating a country, or taking it, without strife, 24;
touching the rule, measure, tables, and scales, and the foretelling
of victory, 30

Leader, one of five indispensable matters in war, 17.
(_See_ General)

Letters, general should be master of, 101

Light esteem of enemy, result of, 52

Lightness, importance of, in operations, 93;
four natures of, 93-94

Literature, Chinese, place of Suntzu and Wutzu in, 7;
Japanese commentators on, 14;
thought compressed in, 14

Living spies, 71, 72

Lu, number of men in, 24, _note_

Luya, 74

M

Manoeuvre, battle avoided by, 11;
normal and abnormal, 31, 32;
master in art of, 40

March, forced, 41;
should be calm, like forest, 42

Marshes, unsuitable for camp, 44;
disposal of troops regarding, 48;
attack by fire of enemy encamped in, 106;
inundation of enemy in, 106

Measure, the second law of war, 30

Meres, ambush to be expected in, 49

Merit, recognition of, by enemy, 91;
to be sought, advanced, and rewarded, 116;
Lord Wen discriminates between guests with and without, 117

Messengers, enemy's movements revealed by, 51

Midday, time for spirits of troops to flag, 43

Middle Kingdom, the, 87-88

Might, war of, 81

Modification of military plans, 19

Moon, in quarters suitable for attack by fire, 67-68

Moral of troops, 8;
use of banners to maintain, 9

Motion of troops, dignified, 95

Mountain warfare, disposal of troops in, 47

Mountains, advance among, 112

Movement of troops, 47-53

Mu, Prince of Chin, example of, 82

Mysterious Thread, the, 71

Mystery, supposed to surround art of war, 14

N

Night, fighting in, 43;
voices calling in, 51

Nine Changes, the, 44-46

Nine Grounds, the, 58-67;
action with regard to, 64;
knowledge of, necessary to general, 65

Normal manoeuvres, 31, 32

Numbers, proportionate, needed to attack and to divide, 26;
subdivision of, 31;
superiority of, an economy of strength, 37;
no certain mark of strength, 52;
Prince Yuhu's trust in, 76;
tactics regarding differences in, 109;
of no avail in war in valleys, 112

O

Obedience ensured by humane conduct, 53;
early training in, 53

Obsequiousness in general, 52

Officers, when angered by soldiers, 51;
weak with strong soldiers, and _vice versa_, 55

Officials, who have care for people, 91

Omens, discussion of, to be forbidden, 61

Open ground, movement on, 53-54

Opportunity, one of four important influences in war, 102, 103

Oracles, cases for attack, when needless to consult, 89

Order of Battle, the, 28-30

Order, importance of, 95

Outlet, for retiring enemy, 44;
from enclosed ground, 59

Ovens, natural (mouths of valleys), 99

P

Pass, when to meet enemy in, 109

Passages, narrow, avoidance of, 49

Path-ridden ground, 58-59

Patriotism, not a factor in Chinese wars, 8

Penalties, Wutzu on, 104

Pennons, Wutzu on use of, 108

Pestilence, attack on enemy who endures, 90

Pike, one of five arms, 88, _note_

Pillage by enemy, Wutzu on, 115

Plan of campaign, modifications in, 19

Pole star (standard), 99

Population, told by tables of laws of war, 30;
division of, into military groups, 70, _note_;
cases of enemy's large, 90

Precipitous ground, occupation of, 54

Preparation, one of five important matters for general, 101-102

Pretence, war a thing of, 19

Procedure, military, 40

Procrastination, evil of, in war, 97

Profit, a cause of war, 80

Punishment, frequent, what betokened by, 52;
when ordered by strange general, 52

Q

Qualities, of the general, 101-107

R

Rank, for those skilful in five arms, 88

Reason, one of five important matters for general, 101

Regard-over, for troops, dangerous fault, 46

Relaxation of troops, 55

Repulse, resulting from general's incapacity, 55

Requirements of war, 20-21

Reserve (or flanking) force, 12

Rest, propriety in, 95

Rewards, justice in according, 18;
for those who take advantage of enemy, 23;
frequent, show lack of discipline, 52;
general's freedom in bestowing, 66;
for families of skilful in five arms, 88;
consequence of enemy's wise bestowal of, 91;
in advance, 94;
to be given to merit, 116

Revenge, war of, 81

Riches, why denied to soldiers, 61

Right-hand men, 73, and _note_

Righteous war, 81

Righteousness, overcome by propriety, 81;
at root of achievement and merit, 79

Rivers of China affect operations, 12;
encampment on, inundation, and poisoning of, 12;
not to be crossed when turbulent, 49;
observation of drawers from, 51

Roads to avoid, 45

Rule, as to survey of land, 30;
general above, in bestowing rewards, 66;
modified by circumstances, 67

S

Sanctuary, reckoning in, before fighting, 20

Scales, in laws of war, 30

Secret of war, Wutzu on, 104

Secret, ground of approaching attack to be kept, 37

Shen, Duke, 84

Shield, one of five arms, 88, _note_

Siege, not to be undertaken, if avoidable, 25;
misfortunes entailed by, 25

Simplicity, one of five important matters for leader, 101, 102

Simulation, use of, 33

Situation, important matter in war, 17

Snakes (banners), 99

Soldiers, training of, 18;
strength of, 18

Sparrows, red (banners), 99

Spears, weapons for short men, 98

Spies, estimation of, in China, 13;
Suntzu on power of, 13-14;
on titles and salaries to, 70;
five kinds of, 71;
of enemy, 73;
skillfully sown, 103

Spirit of troops, 31-34;
compared to torrent, 33;
good fighter seeks victory from, 34;
keen in morning, 43;
sustained by speed, 60;
influence of, 102

Stables, care of, 99

Standard of Takeda Shingen, 42, _note_

Standards to be entrusted to strong men, 98;
Wutzu on use of, 104

Strata, Chinese division of earth and sky into nine, 29, _note_

Stratagem, the attack by, 24-27;
use of, on enclosed ground, 60;
importance of, in war, 17

Strategy, secrets of, 20;
how to outwit enemy by, 24;
assault by, 25;
in offering apparent advantage, 35;
not to be repeated, if victorious, 39

Steep place, advantage of, 109

Store burning, 67

Strength, first in field husbands, 34;
economy of, 37;
ways of husbanding, 43

Strong, place of, with cowardly, 43

Sun. (_See_ Suntzu.)

Sunny ground, 9

Suntzu, place of, in Chinese literature, 7;
on march of army, 9;
on offensive action, 10;
tactics of, unlike Japanese, 10;
disinterested comments on war by, 12-13;
revered in Japan, 14;
influence of, in late Japanese war, 15;
not patriot, but strategist, 15;
story told of, 15-16;
Articles of, 17-74;
on five indispensable matters, 17;
on operations of war, 20-23;
on attack by stratagem, 24-27;
on Order of Battle, 28-30;
on spirit of troops, 31-34;
on emptiness and strength, 34-39;
on battle tactics, 40-44;
on the Nine Changes, 44-46;
on movement of troops, 47-53;
on ground, 53-57;
on the Nine Grounds, 58-67;
on assault by fire, 67-69;
on the employment of spies, 70-74

Surprise, case of enemy taken by, 106

Survey of land, 30

Suspended ground, 54

Swamps, movements regarding, 49

Sympathy, between general and soldiers, 53;
consequences of, 56-57

T

Tables of population, 30

Tactics, skill in change of, 39;
difficulty of military, 40;
battle, 40-44

Takeda Shingen, words on standard of, 42, _note_

Tang, Lord, of Cheng, 79

Temper, quick, dangerous fault in general, 46

Tigers, white (banners), 99

Tortoises (banners), 99

Training, one of seven important military matters, 18;
Wutzu esteems first requirement in war, 97

Transport, loss of, through bad tactics, 41

Trees, movement among, 49-50

Truce, apologies betray anxiety for, 52

Tsu, number of men in, 24, _note_

Turtle, enquiry by, 78, and _note_

Tyranny, war of, 81

U

Umbrella, part of Chinese soldier's equipment, 9

Uniformity, brought about by authority, 53

Unity results from position of troops in enemy's land, 61

Unrighteous war, 81

V

Valleys, movement of troops regarding steep, 49;
advance in, 112;
war in, 112

Victory, how to foretell, 18;
instruments of, 21;
the object of war, 23, 69;
five heralds of, 27;
skillful soldiers ensure, 28;
not always real success, 29;
how to calculate, 30;
spirit, great factor in, 34;
ground handmaid of, 56;
good government foundation of, 95

Vigilance, when especially necessary, 52;
one of five important matters for general, 101, 102

Village spies, 71

Virtue of the prince, one of seven important matters, 18;
essential for general, 103

Virtues, the five, comprised in "The Way," 17, _note_

Voices in night, signification of, in war, 51

W

Waggons, cost of upkeep of, 21

War, evils in train of, 12-13;
a thing of pretence, 19;
requirements of, 20-21;
quick accomplishment of, desirable, 21, 22;
evils of, should be realised, 22;
victory--not long operations--object of, 23;
supreme art of, 24;
no fixity in spirit of, 39;
action on declaration of, 66;
five causes of, 80;
five natures of, 81;
ways of overcoming five natures of, 81

Water, army likened to, 39;
troops in relation to, 47;
observation of drawers of, 51;
isolation or division of enemy by, 68-69;
attack on enemy who lacks, 89;
striking of enemy when half across, 93, 114

Way, the, an indispensable matter in war, 17;
skillful leader steadfast in, 30;
Wutzu on, 78-79

Weapons, the five, 88, _note_;
condition of enemy's important, 91;
distribution of, to tall, short, strong, bold, feeble, and wise, 98

Wei, Wen, Lord of, 75;
army of, opposes that of Chin, 117-118;
victory by, 119

Wen, Prince of Chin, example of, 82

Wen, Lord of Wei, questions Wutzu, 75;
result of questioning by, 77;
addresses further questions, 81, 83, 85, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 98, 99,
106, 108, 109, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116;
treatment by, of guests with great, medium, and deficient merit, 117;
proposal by Wutzu to, 118

Whistles, Wutzu on use of, 108

Wind, question of, in assault by fire, 68;
attack on enemy who has encountered, 89;
direction of, to be studied, 99

Woods, advance among, 112

Words, big or smooth, meaning of, 50

Wu, number of men in, 24, _note_

Wu, soldiers of, 38;
hatred between men of, and those of Yueh, 62

Wutzu, place of, in Chinese literature, 7;
offensive-defensive tactics of, 10;
comments disinterestedly on war, 12-13;
revered in Japan, 14;
influence of, in late Japanese war, 15;
not patriot, but strategist, 15;
instance of low moral character of, 16;
sayings of, 75-119;
a scholar, but skilled in war, 75;
made general before altar, 77;
on controlling army, selecting men, and strengthening country, 81-82;
on distribution of men, 82;
on battle array, 83;
gives instance of Lord Chuang of Chu, 84;
sayings on estimation of the enemy, 85-93;
on eight cases of attack, 89;
on six enemies to avoid, 90-91;
on judgment of enemy's condition, 92;
on best time for attack, 92-93;
on control of army, 93-100;
on maintenance of order, 96;
on expectation of life or death, 96;
on training, 97;
on treatment of horses, 99;
on qualities of general, 101-107;
on four important influences of war, 102;
on use of bells, drums, flags, standards, banners, laws, and
penalties, 104;
on secret of war, 104;
advice for case of troops in confusion, 108;
on numerical differences, 109;
on division of troops into five armies, 110-111;
on differences of position, 112;
on war in valleys, 112;
on water fighting, 114;
on fighting after long rain, 114;
on pillage by enemy, 115;
on investing a castle, 115;
on impartiality, 116;
success of counsels of, 119

Y

Yang, principle in Chinese philosophy, 18, _note_

Yen, estimation of soldiers of, 85-86;
nature of, 87

Yin, principle in Chinese philosophy, 18, _note_

Yin, province of, 73

Yin, even number, 76, _note_

Yueh, continually at war with Wu, 38, _note_

Yuhu, Prince, 76

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FOOTNOTES:

[1] The five virtues of humanity, righteousness, propriety, wisdom and faith are known as The Way.

[2] The Yin and Yang are the two principles into which natural phenomena are divided in Chinese philosophy. Yin is the masculine, active, or light principle, and Yang is the feminine, passive, or dark principle. In this connection, day and night, rain, mist and wind are designated.

[3] The Chinese army consisted of 12,500, the "lu" of 500, "tsu" of 50, and the "wu" of 5 men.

[4] The "Chuyin" was a large tower or work constructed to give command over the interior of the enemy's fortress.

High poles were also erected, from the top of which archers, each encased in an arrow-proof box and raised by a rope and pulley, shot at the besieged.

[5] Literally 9th heaven, and 9th earth. The Chinese divided the earth and sky each into 9 strata.

[6] An animal's coat is thinnest in autumn.

[7] The drum was used to beat the assembly and in the advance, the bell as a signal to halt. Flags were of two kinds, signalling flags and distinguishing banners.

[8] The normal and the abnormal refer to what in modern phrase are termed the frontal or holding force and the flanking or surprise force.

[9] The five cardinal tastes are, acridity, bitterness, sourness, sweetness and saline taste.

[10] Sun, as has been said, was a man of Wu. Wu and Yueh were continually at war.

[11] Wood, fire, earth, metal and water.

[12] This passage was written on the standard of Takeda Shingen, one of Japan's most famous generals.

[13] This and the following are so called because the men are continually thinking of, and slipping back to their homes.

[14] The population was divided, for military purposes, into groups of eight families. In time of war, each group sent one man into the field, furnished his wants, and provided for his family. Therefore if 100,000 men are taken, 700,000 homes are affected.

[15] So called because they are put to death when the enemy finds out that he has been tricked.

[16] Messengers and others, who do not disguise their identity, are included under this heading.

[17] Literally, right and left men, _i.e._ they who sat on either side.

[18] All numbers connected with weapons were Yin, that is to say--even, or belonging to the negative principle of Chinese philosophy from their connection with death.

[19] The back of a turtle was burnt, and the answer was ascertained by the manner in which the shell split.

[20] Halberd, shield, javelin, pike, and short pike.

[21] Silently.

* * * * * *

Transcriber's note:

Every effort has been made to replicate this text as faithfully as
possible.

OE ligatures have been expanded.

The following is a list of changes made to the original.
The first line is the original line, the second the corrected one.

Page 40:

reap advantage; the wrangles of a multitude are frought with peril.
reap advantage; the wrangles of a multitude are fraught with peril.

Page 92:

Chi answered and said:--
Wu answered and said:--

Page 95:

"By what means can the army gain the victory?
"By what means can the army gain the victory?"

Page 109:

And Lord Wu asked and said:--
And Lord Wen asked and said:--