Art of WarArt of WarSun TzuSun Tzu

SSG Richard J SandsSSG Richard J Sands

““Leadership is not a position, it is Leadership is not a position, it is an action”an action”

TLOTLO

To have a basic understanding of To have a basic understanding of ““The Art of War” so you can apply The Art of War” so you can apply basic ancient military concepts into basic ancient military concepts into today’s modern battlefield.today’s modern battlefield.

Military HistoryMilitary History

NapoleonNapoleon British Military under King George IIIBritish Military under King George III Gen. George Armstrong CusterGen. George Armstrong Custer Nazi GermanyNazi Germany Korean WarKorean War Vietnam ConflictVietnam Conflict Anything the French have done… are Anything the French have done… are

doing… or going to do…EVERdoing… or going to do…EVER

History of The Art of WarHistory of The Art of War

Studied and used by United States Military, Studied and used by United States Military, Napoleon, Nazi Germany, China, Japan, Korea Napoleon, Nazi Germany, China, Japan, Korea and remains one of the most important and remains one of the most important military documents in the Asian continentmilitary documents in the Asian continent

Believed to have been written around 512 Believed to have been written around 512 B.C.B.C.

Sun Tzu developed these teachings in solitary Sun Tzu developed these teachings in solitary at his home in the mountains and first at his home in the mountains and first deployed them in the war between rival deployed them in the war between rival states of China Ch’u and Wustates of China Ch’u and Wu

Last known photo of Sun TzuLast known photo of Sun Tzu

Chapter 1Chapter 1Initial EstimationsInitial Estimations

““Warfare is the greatest affair of Warfare is the greatest affair of state, the basis of life and death, the state, the basis of life and death, the way to survival or extinction. It must way to survival or extinction. It must be thoroughly pondered and be thoroughly pondered and analyzed.”analyzed.”

Chapter 2Chapter 2Waging WarWaging War

““Those who do not thoroughly Those who do not thoroughly comprehend the dangers inherent in comprehend the dangers inherent in employing the army are incapable of employing the army are incapable of truly knowing the potential truly knowing the potential advantages of military actions.”advantages of military actions.”

Chapter 3Chapter 3Planning OffensivesPlanning Offensives

“…“…thus the highest realization of thus the highest realization of warfare is to attack the enemy’s warfare is to attack the enemy’s plans; next is to attack their plans; next is to attack their alliances; next to attack their army; alliances; next to attack their army; and the lowest to attack their and the lowest to attack their fortified cities.”fortified cities.”

Chapter 4Chapter 4Military DispositionMilitary Disposition

““One who cannot be victorious One who cannot be victorious assumes a defensive posture; one assumes a defensive posture; one who can be victorious attacks”who can be victorious attacks”

Chapter 5Chapter 5Strategic Military PowerStrategic Military Power

““In general, commanding a large In general, commanding a large number is like commanding a few. It number is like commanding a few. It is a question of dividing up the is a question of dividing up the numbers.”numbers.”

Chapter 6Chapter 6Vacuity and SubstanceVacuity and Substance

““In general, whoever occupies the In general, whoever occupies the battleground first and awaits the battleground first and awaits the enemy will be at ease; whoever enemy will be at ease; whoever occupies the battle ground occupies the battle ground afterwards and must race to the afterwards and must race to the conflict will be fatigued.”conflict will be fatigued.”

Chapter 7Chapter 7Military CombatMilitary Combat

““Thus the strategy for employing the Thus the strategy for employing the military: Do not approach high military: Do not approach high mountains; do not confront those mountains; do not confront those who have hills behind them. Do not who have hills behind them. Do not pursue feigned retreats. Do not pursue feigned retreats. Do not attack animated troops. Do not attack animated troops. Do not swallow an army acting as bait. Do swallow an army acting as bait. Do not obstruct an army retreating not obstruct an army retreating homeward.”homeward.”

Chapter 8Chapter 8Nine ChangesNine Changes

Thus the general who has a Thus the general who has a penetrating understanding of the penetrating understanding of the advantages of the nine changes advantages of the nine changes knows how to employ the army…..if knows how to employ the army…..if he does not he does not understand he does not he does not understand the advantages of terrain”the advantages of terrain”

Chapter 9Chapter 9Maneuvering the ArmyManeuvering the Army

“ “ As for deploying the army and As for deploying the army and fathoming the enemy….”fathoming the enemy….”

Chapter 10Chapter 10Configurations of TerrainConfigurations of Terrain

“ “ The major configurations of terrain The major configurations of terrain are accessible, suspended, are accessible, suspended, stalemated, constricted, precipitous stalemated, constricted, precipitous and expansive”and expansive”

Chapter 11Chapter 11Nine TerrainsNine Terrains

Dispersive TerrainDispersive Terrain Light TerrainLight Terrain Contentious TerrainContentious Terrain Traversable TerrainTraversable Terrain Focal TerrainFocal Terrain Heavy TerrainHeavy Terrain Entrapping TerrainEntrapping Terrain Encircled TerrainEncircled Terrain Fatal TerrainFatal Terrain

Chapter 12Chapter 12Incendiary AttacksIncendiary Attacks

Five types of incendiary attack are….Five types of incendiary attack are…. MenMen ProvisionsProvisions Supply TrainsSupply Trains Incinerate armoriesIncinerate armories FormationsFormations

Chapter 13Chapter 13Employing SpiesEmploying Spies

““Thus there are five types of spies to Thus there are five types of spies to be employed: local, internal, turned be employed: local, internal, turned [double agent], dead and living [double agent], dead and living spies.”spies.”

SummarySummary 13 Chapters of Sun Tzu13 Chapters of Sun Tzu Initial EstimationsInitial Estimations Waging WarWaging War Planning OffensivesPlanning Offensives Military DispositionMilitary Disposition Strategic Military PowerStrategic Military Power Vacuity and SubstanceVacuity and Substance Military CombatMilitary Combat Nine ChangesNine Changes Maneuvering the ArmyManeuvering the Army Configurations of TerrainConfigurations of Terrain Nine TerrainsNine Terrains Incendiary AttacksIncendiary Attacks Employing SpiesEmploying Spies

Summary Cont.Summary Cont.

It is important to remember to continue to It is important to remember to continue to learn and evolve. The more you learn and evolve. The more you understand about the past the better you understand about the past the better you can plan for the future. Basic military can plan for the future. Basic military strategy has been evolving for hundreds of strategy has been evolving for hundreds of years and will continue to change. In years and will continue to change. In today’s modern battlefield we have to mold today’s modern battlefield we have to mold to a more dynamic way of fighting. The to a more dynamic way of fighting. The lessons we learn today help those of lessons we learn today help those of tomorrow; therefore we need to ensure our tomorrow; therefore we need to ensure our lessons are documented and studied.lessons are documented and studied.

TLOTLO

To have a basic understanding of To have a basic understanding of ““The Art of War” so you can apply The Art of War” so you can apply basic ancient military concepts into basic ancient military concepts into today’s modern battlefield.today’s modern battlefield.

CHECK ON LEARINGCHECK ON LEARING

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