"The Art of War" provides not only military strategies but also insightful guidance into human psychology. It enhances strategic thinking and leadership, offering valuable principles applicable to various aspects of life. Through this book, we gain crucial lessons on how to achieve success through strategic thinking and actions.
Intro
We live our lives in a constant state of war. War is not just about wielding weapons; it encompasses all forms of survival competition. To navigate this war wisely, one must ask: How can one win without fighting? The "Art of War," condensed into 13 chapters and 6,000 characters, encapsulates the essence of warfare based on real experiences. It stands as a timeless masterpiece that has influenced countless leaders throughout history, despite being written over 2,500 years ago.
Sun Tzu viewed war as an inevitable societal phenomenon. While avoiding war altogether may be unrealistic, it is crucial to minimize its occurrence, and when it is unavoidable, victory should be the ultimate goal. Sun Tzu's strategy focused on economic gains post-war, such as acquiring the enemy's resources or converting captives into allies.
What has garnered widespread admiration for the Art of War is not just its strategies for warfare but also its profound insights into human psychology. It is widely known that revolutionary leaders like Mao Zedong and military leaders like Napoleon kept this book by their side. Moreover, titans of industry like Bill Gates of Microsoft and Masayoshi Son of Softbank have adopted it as a corporate manual, alongside numerous leaders in South Korea who have consistently turned to its teachings.
Summary
The book "The Art of War" is divided into 13 chapters. Let's briefly examine the key concepts of each chapter: In Chapter 1, "Laying Plans," Sun Tzu emphasizes the importance of thoroughly understanding the nature of war, as it relates to the survival and prosperity of nations and their people. He advises that war should only be waged when absolutely necessary and should be concluded swiftly if unavoidable.
Chapter 1 further elaborates on the five factors (Moral Law, Heaven, Earth, Commander, Method) and the seven elements (Tao, Heaven, Earth, Commander, Regulations, Troops, Doctrine) that must be carefully considered to assess the feasibility of victory in war.
One of the most famous quotes from "The Art of War" is undoubtedly "If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles." This quote, found in Chapter 3, "Attack by Stratagem," emphasizes the importance of understanding both oneself and the enemy to ensure victory.
While the phrase "a hundred victories in a hundred battles" is not explicitly mentioned in "The Art of War," Chapter 10, "Terrain," highlights the significance of understanding both the enemy and oneself, as well as the terrain, to increase the likelihood of success.
In addition to these profound insights, "The Art of War" is replete with timeless wisdom and practical advice. Written over 2,500 years ago, its principles still hold true today, offering invaluable guidance on assessing the necessity of war, weighing its costs and benefits, analyzing the conditions of both sides, and leveraging strategic advantages to ensure victory.
Impressive pharses
Sun Tzu regarded war as a means for the survival of nations, armies, and the people. Therefore, military commanders should not view war as a game but approach it with solemnity and seriousness.
He identified five essential factors: "道 (Way)," "天 (Heaven)," "地 (Ground)," "将 (Commander)," and "法 (Method)." "Way" refers to the harmony between the ruler and his subjects, where people willingly follow their leader, even if it means risking their lives. "Heaven" represents the seasonal changes and weather conditions. "Ground" encompasses distance, terrain, and environmental factors. "Commander" embodies wisdom, trustworthiness, benevolence, courage, and strictness. "Method" covers military organization, bureaucratic systems, logistics, and supply chains. Understanding these five factors is crucial for achieving victory in warfare.
According to Sun Tzu, winning in war is highly esteemed. Prolonging the conflict dulls weapons, dampens morale, and depletes resources. Therefore, swift and decisive action is essential to prevent unnecessary expenditure and ensure victory.
Sun Tzu's strategy is fundamentally psychological, recognizing that war is inherently political and emotional. Knowing oneself and the enemy enables one to fight numerous battles without peril.
If we consider "Ground" in a relatively narrow sense, it complements "Way." Without cavalry, infantry is powerless, and without the ingenuity of infantry, cavalry efforts are in vain. They are interdependent.
Warfare relies on morale. When attacking the north, morale rises; when attacking the second time, morale slightly diminishes; when attacking the third time, morale is lost. By striking the north three times, the enemy's morale is depleted, and victory is achievable.
Rreview
The fame of The Art of War by Sun Tzu is well-known, and many commonly used phrases in our daily lives originate from this work. Despite being familiar with it, I had never read the book. I had seen comic book versions of The Art of War when I was younger, but I never read the formal text because I thought it might not be entertaining. However, one day I found myself drawn to the book sitting on the shelf, and within its pages, I found wisdom for life.
The Art of War is frequently mentioned as a favorite of historical figures such as Cao Cao from the Three Kingdoms era. There are even editions with annotations like "Wu Mu Zhu Sun Zi," and rumors suggest that Napoleon enjoyed reading this work. Wilhelm I, who led Germany during the First World War, reportedly said that if he hadn't read The Art of War beforehand, he might not have been defeated in the war. There are valid reasons why so many prominent figures have praised this book. It offers insights into all aspects of war strategy and, when applied to modern warfare, proves remarkably accurate.
Written over two thousand years ago, The Art of War was once a rare and valuable treatise on military strategy. However, each phrase in The Art of War, now widely known, can be seen not only as a strategy for victory but also as wisdom and strategy that can be effectively employed when the opponent does not perceive me as an enemy. This work transcends war strategy; it becomes a guide for politics, economics, management, culture, sports, and even sets standards for one's life. The Art of War can also be a valuable resource for analyzing successful individuals or those who have achieved victory.
Indeed, Sun Tzu acknowledges that war is inevitable for a nation's strength, and he emphasizes the importance of doing one's best to win. He also explains the need to maintain the morale of one's own forces and constantly consider the state of the nation's finances. While war may be unavoidable, diplomacy should be sought whenever possible because war inevitably brings suffering to both allies and enemies. The emphasis on swift and decisive action in war, considering logistics and supply lines, reflects the need to secure a favorable position and establish a justifiable reason for victory.
The principles of The Art of War can also be applied to one's own life. Throughout life, we experience numerous battles, failures, and mistakes. Sometimes, we expend time and effort seeking revenge, and other times, we bring about change in our lives. If we follow the principles of The Art of War, we can sufficiently change our lives, and living by its principles can eliminate resentment toward the world.
One of the most prominent emotions I felt while reading this book was compassion and concern for the people. Ultimately, discussing how to win in war is also about alleviating the burdens of the people. It is evident that war significantly impacts the lives of the people. Although it is unclear whether Sun Tzu's intentions were truly for the people or whether he emphasized the importance of public opinion because a country would perish without it, I felt a strong sense of caring for the people throughout the book. In the end, rather than being a call to war or a strategy manual, this book's core message is "War is dangerous if mishandled, so when preparing for war, learn as much as possible, understand how to avoid defeat, and know how to gain the support of the people."
Therefore, I believe this book can be applied to leaders in various fields in modern times. The issue of a leader's morality particularly struck me, especially considering the realities of today. It made me think about what qualities a leader should possess and how a leader should motivate people. In this regard, The Art of War was not just a simple treatise on war.
Final thoughts
Throughout life, we often hear stories about The Art of War by Sun Tzu. We frequently use phrases from the book without even realizing they originated from Sun Tzu's teachings. Stories about The Art of War abound in both Eastern and Western media. Whenever various strategies from The Art of War are quoted, I have always thought that I should read the book myself. However, due to its age and perceived complexity, I never found the motivation to pick it up. It remained on a shelf, occupying space in a corner.
However, this book turned out to be less intimidating than expected. It was easy to read and not overly thick, making it enjoyable. The military treatises of the Chunqiu Period are books that encapsulate the experiences and developed strategies of that era. Among them, Sun Tzu's The Art of War stands as the ultimate classic military text that continues to be read today. During the Chunqiu Period, the small state of Wu, under the command of Sun Tzu, built a formidable military force and quickly rose to power. Perhaps it would be beneficial to carefully read and interpret this book multiple times, making it one's own and deriving personal strategies and tactics from its teachings.
