11 The Nine Situations (The Art of War)

01THE ART OF WAR by Sun Tzu.

02Translated by Lionel Giles.

03Part 11.

04The Nine Situations.

05Sun Tzu said, The Art of War recognizes nine varieties of ground.

061.

07Dispersive ground.

082.

09Facile ground.

103.

11Contentious ground.

124.

13Open ground.

145.

15Ground of intersecting highways.

166.

17Serious ground.

187.

19Difficult ground.

208.

21Hemmed-in ground.

229.

23Desperate ground.

2410.

25When a chieftain is fighting in his own territory, it is dispersive ground.

2610.

27When he is penetrated into hostile territory, but to no great distance, it is facile ground.

2810.

29Ground the possession of which imports great advantage to either side is contentious ground.

3010.

31Ground on which each side has liberty of movement is open ground.

3211.

33Ground which forms the key to three contiguous states, so that he who occupies it first has most of the empire at his command, is a ground of intersecting highways.

3411.

35When an army has penetrated into the heart of a hostile country, leaving a number of fortified cities in its rear, it is serious ground.

3612.

37Ground which is difficult ground.

3813.

39Ground which is reached through narrow gorges, and from which we can only retire by tortuous paths, so that a small number of the enemy would suffice to crush a large body of our men.

4014.

41This is hemmed-in ground.

4215.

43Ground on which we can only be saved from destruction by fighting without delay, is desperate ground.

4416.

45On dispersive ground, therefore, fight not.

4617.

47On facile ground, halt not.

4818.

49On contentious ground, attack not.

5018.

51On open ground, do not try to block the enemy's way.

5219.

53On the ground of intersecting highways, join hands with your allies.

5419.

55On serious ground, gather and plunder.

5620.

57In difficult ground, keep steadily on the march.

5821.

59On hemmed-in ground, resort to stratagem.

6022.

61On desperate ground, fight.

6222.

63On combat, fight.

6422.

65On combat, fight.

6622.

67On combat, fight.

6822.

69On combat, fight.

7022.

71On combat, fight.

7222.

73On combat, fight.

7422.

75On combat, fight.

7622.

77On combat, fight.

7822.

79On combat, fight.

8022.

81On combat, fight.

8222.

83On combat, fight.

8422.

85On combat, fight.

8622.

87On combat, fight.

8822.

89On combat, fight.

9022.

91On combat, fight.

9222.

93On combat, fight.

9422.

95On combat, fight.

9623.

97On combat, fight.

9823.

99On combat, fight.

10023.

101On combat, fight.

10226.

103On combat, fight.

10426.

105On combat, fight.

10627.

107On combat, fight.

10827.

109On combat, fight.

11027.

111On combat, fight.

11227.

113On combat, fight.

11428.

115On combat, fight.

11628.

117On combat, fight.

11829.

119On combat, fight.

12031.

121On combat, fight.

12231.

123On combat, fight.

12431.

125On combat, fight.

12632.

127On combat, fight.

12832.

129On combat, fight.

13032.

131On combat, fight.

13233.

133On combat, fight.

13433.

135On combat, fight.

13633.

137On combat, fight.

13833.

139On combat, fight.

14033.

141On combat, fight.

14233.

143On combat, fight.

14433.

145On combat, fight.

14633.

147On combat, fight.

14833.

149On combat, fight.

15034.

151On combat, fight.

15234.

153On combat, fight.

15434.

155On combat, fight.

15634.

157If there is no help for it, they will fight hard.

15835.

159Thus, without waiting to be marshalled, the soldiers will be constantly on the qui vive.

16035.

161Without waiting to be asked, they will do your will.

16236.

163Without restrictions, they will be faithful.

16436.

165Without giving orders, they can be trusted.

16637.

167Prohibit the taking of omens, and do away with superstitious doubts.

16838.

169Then, until death itself comes, no calamity need be feared.

17039.

171If our soldiers are not overburdened with money, it is not because they have a distaste for riches.

17239.

173If their lives are not unduly long, it is not because they are disinclined to longevity.

17440.

175On the day they are ordered out to battle, your soldiers may weep, those sitting up bedewing their garments, and those lying down, letting the tears run down their cheeks.

176But let them once be brought to bay, and they will display the courage of a chu or a quay.

17740.

178The skillful tactician may be likened to the Shuai-jan.

17941.

180Now, the Shuai-jan is a snake that is found in the Chi-ung Mountains.

18142.

182Strike at its head, and you will be attacked by its tail.

18343.

184Strike at its tail, and you will be attacked by its head.

18544.

186Strike at the middle, and you will be attacked by head and tail both.

18744.

188Asked if an army can be made to imitate the Shuai-jan, I should answer, yes.

18945.

190For the men of Wu and the men of Yue are enemies.

191Yet if they are crossing a river in the same boat, and are caught by a storm, they will come to each other's assistance, just as the left hand helps the right.

19245.

193Hence it is not enough to put one's trust in the tethering of horses and the burying of chariot-wheels in the ground.

19446.

195The principle on which to manage an army is to set up one standard of courage, which all must reach.

19647.

197How to make the best of both strong and weak?

198That is a question involving the proper use of ground.

19948.

200Thus the skillful general conducts his army just as though he were leading a single man, willy-nilly, by the hand.

20149.

202It is the business of a general to be quiet, and thus ensure secrecy.

20349.

204Upright and just, and thus maintain order.

20550.

206He must be able to mystify his officers and men by false reports and appearances, and thus keep them in total ignorance.

20750.

208By altering his arrangements and changing his plans, he keeps the enemy without definite knowledge.

20951.

210By shifting his camp and taking circuitous routes, he prevents the enemy from anticipating his purpose.

21152.

212At the critical moment, the leader of an army acts like one who has climbed up a height, and then kicks away the ladder behind him.

21352.

214He carries his men deep into hostile territory before he shows his hand.

21553.

216He burns his boats and breaks his cooking pots.

217Like a shepherd driving a flock of sheep, he drives his men this way and that, 54.

218And nothing knows whither he is going.

21954.

220To muster his host and bring it into danger, this may be termed the business of the general.

22155.

222The different measures suited to the nine varieties of ground, the expediency of aggressive or defensive tactics, and the fundamental laws of human nature, 55.

223These are things that must most certainly be studied.

22455.

225When invading hostile territory, the general principle is that penetrating deeply brings cohesion, 56.

226Penetrating but a short way means dispersion.

22756.

228When you leave your own country behind and take your army across neighborhood territory, you find yourself on critical ground.

22957.

230When there are means of communication on all four sides, the ground is one of intersecting highways.

23157.

232When you penetrate deeply into a country, it is serious ground.

23358.

234When you penetrate but a little way, it is facile ground.

23558.

236When you have the enemy's strongholds on your rear and narrow passes in front, it is hemmed in ground.

23759.

238When there is no place of refuge at all, it is desperate ground.

23959.

240Therefore, on dispersive ground, I would inspire my men with unity of purpose.

24160.

242On facile ground, I would see that there is close connection between all parts of my army.

24361.

244On contentious ground, I would hurry up my rear.

24561.

246On open ground, I would keep a vigilant eye on my defenses.

24762.

248On ground of intersecting highways, I would consolidate my alliances.

24962.

250On serious ground, I would try to ensure a continuous stream of supplies.

25163.

252On difficult ground, I would keep pushing on along the road.

25363.

254On hemmed-in ground, I would block any way of retreat.

25564.

256On desperate ground, I would proclaim to my soldiers the hopelessness of saving their lives.

25764.

258For it is the soldier's disposition to offer an obstinate resistance when surrounded, 64.

259to fight hard when he cannot help himself, and to obey promptly when he has fallen into danger.

26064.

261We cannot enter into alliance with neighboring princes until we are acquainted with their designs.

26265.

263We are not fit to lead an army on the march unless we are familiar with the face of the country, 65.

264Its mountains and forests, its pitfalls and precipices, its marshes and swamps.

26565.

266We shall be unable to turn natural advantages to account unless we make use of local guides.

26766.

268To be ignored of any one of the following four or five principles does not befit a warlike prince.

26966.

270When a warlike prince attacks a powerful state, his generalship shows itself in preventing the concentration of the enemy's forces.

27167.

272He over-awes his opponents, and their allies are prevented from joining against him.

27367.

274Hence, he does not strive to ally himself with all and sundry, nor does he foster the power of other states.

27567.

276He carries out his own secret designs, keeping his antagonists in awe.

27768.

278Thus, he is able to capture their cities and overthrow their kingdoms.

27969.

280Bestow rewards without regard to rule.

28169.

282Issue orders without regard to previous arrangements, and you will be able to handle a whole army as though you had to do with but a single man.

28369.

284Confront your soldiers with the deed itself.

285Never let them know your design.

28669.

287When the outlook is bright, bring it before their eyes, but tell them nothing when the situation is gloomy.

28870.

289Place your army in deadly peril, and it will survive.

29070.

291Plunge it into desperate straits, and it will come off in safety.

29271.

293For it is precisely when a force has fallen into harm's way that it is capable of striking a blow for victory.

29471.

295Success in warfare is gained by carefully accommodating ourselves to the enemy's purpose.

29671.

297By persistently hanging on the enemy's flank, we shall succeed in the long run in killing the commander-in-chief.

29872.

299This is called ability to accomplish a thing by sheer cunning.

30073.

301On the day that you take up your command, block the frontier passes, destroy the official tallies, and stop the passage of all emissaries.

30273.

303Be stern in the council chamber, so that you may control the situation.

30474.

305If the enemy leaves a door open, you must rush in.

30674.

307Forstall your opponent by seizing what he holds dear, and subtly contrive to time his arrival on the ground.

30875.

309Walk in the path defined by rule, and accommodate yourself to the enemy until you can fight a decisive battle.

31075.

311At first, then, exhibit the coyness of a maiden, until the enemy gives you an opening.

31276.

313Afterwards, emulate the rapidity of a running hare, and it will be too late for the enemy to oppose you.

31477.

315End of Part 11.

316Recorded in Toronto, Ontario, by Moira Fogarty, October 2006.