This is a translation of the Chapter 1 of The Art of War by Sunzi. No English sources were used. The original text and many of the interpretations herein come from 古诗文网.
孙子曰：兵者，国之大事，死生之地，存亡之道，不可不察也。
War determines life and death of troops, existence and destruction of a country. It cannot be ignored.
故经之以五事，校之以计，而索其情：一曰道，二曰天，三曰地，四曰将、五曰法。
Five aspects are of paramount important:
Dao
Heaven
Earth
Generalship
Method
道者，令民与上同意也，故可以与之死，可以与之生，而不畏危。
“Dao” concerns alignment. Your side must be unified. By dying together, living together, you shall be unafraid.
天者，阴阳，寒暑、时制也。
“Heaven” concerns timing, yin and yang, winter and summer.
地者，远近、险易、广狭、死生也。
“Earth” concerns the near and far, impassable and passable, open fields and choke points, death and life.
将者，智、信、仁、勇、严也。
“Generalship” is a matter of wisdom, fidelity, benevolence, bravery and severity.
法者，曲制、官道、主用也。
“Method” concerns tactics, doctrine and organization.
凡此五者，将莫不闻，知之者胜，不知者不胜。
A commander must not ignore these five aspects. Understanding them brings victory. Lack of understanding does not bring victory.
故校之以计，而索其情，曰：主孰有道？将孰有能？天地孰得？法令孰行？兵众孰强？士卒孰练？赏罚孰明？
Ask yourself: Are ruler and subjects aligned? Is the general capable? Heaven (climate) and Earth (geography) in your favor? Methods effective? Troops strong? Trained? Enlightenedly punished?
Sunzi’s《Methods of War》- Introduction
This is a translation of the Chapter 1 of The Art of War by Sunzi. No English sources were used. The original text and many of the interpretations herein come from 古诗文网.
War determines life and death of troops, existence and destruction of a country. It cannot be ignored.
Five aspects are of paramount important:
Dao
Heaven
Earth
Generalship
Method
“Dao” concerns alignment. Your side must be unified. By dying together, living together, you shall be unafraid.
“Heaven” concerns timing, yin and yang, winter and summer.
“Earth” concerns the near and far, impassable and passable, open fields and choke points, death and life.
“Generalship” is a matter of wisdom, fidelity, benevolence, bravery and severity.
“Method” concerns tactics, doctrine and organization.
A commander must not ignore these five aspects. Understanding them brings victory. Lack of understanding does not bring victory.
Ask yourself: Are ruler and subjects aligned? Is the general capable? Heaven (climate) and Earth (geography) in your favor? Methods effective? Troops strong? Trained? Enlightenedly punished?
These things determine victory and defeat.
The art of war depends on local conditions. The near informs you about the far. The far informs you about the near.
If the enemy is clever then tempt.
If the enemy is disordered then raid.
If the enemy is capable then prepare.
If the enemy is mighty then run.
If the enemy is angry then provoke.
If the enemy is inferior then threaten.
If the enemy is dissolute then persevere.
Attack where the enemy is unprepared. Do what is least expected. But do not forget the five aspects. They are of primary importance.
A war cannot be won without lots of equipment. This facet of war too must be examined.