Archive for September 2011
The Art of War – By Sun Tzu – A Concise Book Review
The Art of War is an ancient Chinese treatise on strategy and tactics in war, written over 2000 years ago by Sun Tzu, a military general at the time. Its discussions on strategy and tactics are so comprehensive and in-depth that it has been applied to all sorts of arenas; business, sport and relationships being examples of its diverse applicative power. Its message is that open war is not always the most effective means of destroying your enemy; covert guile, through economic disruption and intelligence gathering is often more effective.
“To fight and conquer in all your battles is not supreme excellence; supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy’s resistance without fighting.”
Its content consists of Sun Tzu’s advice and reflection upon how to conduct war, and the conditions that affect war; both ones you can influence, and some factors out of your control. Although the terminology is regarding war, it is quite interesting to apply terms such as ‘siege’ to business. A lot of the content is about learning about your opponent through intelligence, and using this intelligence to your advantage, showing you how to outsmart your opponent to prevent actual battles if this is advantageous to you. This emphasis on guile and intelligence has been used especially in the East, where The Art of War is revered by business executives.
“Though we have heard of stupid haste in war, cleverness has never been seen associated with long delays.”
The Art of War has been used not only by businessmen, but politicians when planning their campaigns too. It is probably the most famous book on all sorts of strategy, not least owing to its memorable title. Many military leaders have used it over the course of history, most recently being utilized by the General of the Vietcong forces, who inflicted a military defeat on America.
“Maneuvering with an army is advantageous; with an undisciplined multitude, most dangerous.”
The Art of War – Winning the War
Winning a war can mean a lot to some people but do you really win?
Most diplomats will tell you that it is better to learn how to win wars by listening and negotiating with your counterpart! Winning a war can be for a good cause but it will always have deep impact on present and future civilization. Winning a war may mean something today, but is it going to have the same meaning 10 and twenty years from now!
If you are fighting a war for injustice then we’ll help you fight. If you are fighting for the one who has nothing and is taking advantage of, then that would be a war for a noble cause. That is the kind of war on which we should all take a stand for. The art of war should today stand for fight for equality and justice.
If you are fighting a war to stay in power so that you may have the best house and the best food that one can have then you are within your rights to have a happy life and eat some good food. The question is, are you fighting and winning the war at the expense of the weaker ones? Are you embodying the art of war as it was designed by Tzu?
What is all that talks about wars anyway?
War have been fought before and will be fought long after we have leaved the earth. There are just wars and there are unjust and evil wars as well. In the end the truth will be revealed and good will triumph over evil. The art of war will stand strong and proud for all the braves.
Warrior Classics – The Art of War
Classical Chinese warrior philosopher Master Tsun’s–or Tsun Tzu’s–wisdom is collected into a work called “The Art of War”. Although a lot of this piece is about military strategy and focuses on the qualities of the commander and the most effective ways of manipulating battles, Master Tsun has some great philosophical nuggets that can be applied by anyone wanting to follow the warrior’s path.
For one thing, Master Tsun argues that actual battle represents a kind of defeat. In truth, a great military leader should be able to align the circumstances and manipulate the enemy into believing that battle is unnecessary: “to win a hundred victories in a hundred battles is not the highest excellence; the highest excellence is to subdue the enemy’s army without fighting at all.” This has to do with managing strategic advantage.
“All determinate situations can be turned to advantage. The able commander is able to create differentials and thus opportunities by manipulating his position and the position of the enemy. By developing a full understanding of the factors that define one’s relationship with the enemy, and by actively controlling and shaping the situation so that the weaknesses of the enemy are exposed to one’s acquireds strength, one is able to ride the force of circumstances to victory” (Roger Ames, introduction to Tsun Tzu).
One of the ideas central to Master Tsun’s philosophy is that of yin and yang, or light and dark (incidentally, this concept is central ot much Chinese philosophy). The idea here is that all things wax and wane, and are governed by a particular kind of harmony–the balance between light and dark. This flowing–of darkness into day, of victory into defeat–can be picked up on. So, as a result, “strategic advantage” can be found in all situations, but the particular way of attaining such an advantage will differ. Thus, “an army does not have fixed strategic advantage or invariable position… none occupies a constant position; the days are both short and long; the moon waxes and wanes.”
As a result: “The able commander does not resist the rhythm of change but, finding its pulse, translates defining conditions into correlative terms as a means of controlling the situation, anticipating the enemy’s movements, and making his victory inevitable” (Roger Ames, intro to Tsun Tzu). By tuning in to the basic harmony of reality, it becomes possible to exert minimum pressure at the right places to reap maximum results.
How does one do this? By cultivating awareness.
There are a good variety of ways of doing this. One would be meditation. Another might be simply paying attention to the ebb and flow of things, rather than lurching into action or reaction head-long.
By being aware of the “give and take” of any situation, all circumstances can be “parlayed into an opportunity.” A keen strategist is able to adapt to any situation, turning its particularity into an advantage.