TACTICS (DISPOSITIONS)

From Griffith's translation:

"The character hsing means 'shape', 'form', or 'appearance' or in a more restricted sense, 'disposition' or 'formation'. The Martial Classics edition apparently followed Ts'ao Ts'as and titled the chapter Chun Hsing 'Shape [or 'Dispositions'] of the Army'. As will appear, the character connotes more than mere physical dispositions."

Opportunistic Flexibility In Adapting Strategies And Tactics To Situation

"The good fighters of old first put themselves beyond the possibility of defeat, and then waited for an opportunity of defeating the enemy."

"To secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands, but the opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself."

"Security against defeat implies defensive tactics; ability to defeat the enemy means taking the offensive."

"Hence the skillful fighter puts himself into a position that makes defeat impossible and does not miss the moment for defeating the enemy."

Intelligent Questioning Of All Situations

"To see victory only when it is within the ken of the common herd is not the acme of excellence."

Sustainable Success

"Nor is it the acme of excellence if you fight and conquer and the whole empire says, 'Well done!' True excellence is to plan secretly, to move surreptitiously, to foil the enemy's intentions and balk his schemes, so that at last the day may be won without shedding a drop of blood."

"What the ancients called a clever fighter is one who not only wins, but excels in winning with ease. But his victories bring him neither reputation for wisdom nor credit for courage. For inasmuch as they are gained over circumstances that have not come to light, the world at large knows nothing of them, and he therefore wins no reputation for wisdom; and inasmuch as the hostile state submits before there has been any bloodshed, he receives no credit for courage."

Avoidance Of Catastrophic Loss

"He (the clever fighter) wins his battles by making no mistakes. Making no mistakes is what establishes the certainty of victory, for it means conquering an enemy that is already defeated."

Ethical Conduct

"The consummate leader cultivates the Moral Law and strictly adheres to method and discipline; thus it is in his power to control success."

From Griffith's translation:

"Those skilled in war cultivate the Tao and preserve the laws and are therefore able to formulate victorious policies.

Tu Mu: The Tao is the way of humanity and justice; 'laws' are regulations and institutions. Those who excel in war first cultivate their own humanity and justice and maintain their laws and institutions. By these means they make their governments invincible."

Go to Chapter 5.

Please visit myPostings Page (Thesis-Antithesis-Synthesis) and sign it!!!

Please feel free to send all comments and SUGGESTIONS (really appreciate) to me at the below email address.

© 1996 00225399@bigred.unl.edu

This site looks best with these browsers:

This page hosted by Get your own Free Home Page