BOOK REPORT
BOOK INFORMATION
1. Title of book: Sun Tzu: The Art of Warfare
2. Author: Sun Tzu (Translation with an introduction and commentary by Roger T. Ames)
3. Genre: Non-fiction, Military Strategy
4. Publisher: United Stares by Ballancine Books
5. Copy right year: 1993
6. Number of page: 249
PART I
1.1 Introduction
The Art of Warfare is the longest existing and most widely studied military classic in human history. Made by Sun-Tzu who is a Chinese general, military strategist, writer and philosopher who lived in the Eastern Zhou period of ancient China. Now Roger T Ames, one of the leading contemporary interpretes of Chinese philosopy and culture, offers the first english translation of Sun Tzu’s classic military stategy with the newly discovered materials. Moreover, this book contains more than fifty percent new material. Sun Tzu: The Art of Warfare is a non-fiction book that contains the most influential strategy text in East Asian warfare.
1.2 Summary
In 1972 a new text of the Sun-Tzu was uncovered in an archeological find in Shatung province, containing not only large sections of the thirteen chapters work that has come down to the present day, but also portions of five lost capters of the Sun-Tzu. All these materials, previously unavailable to the sudent of the Sun-Tzu text, were entombed as burial items sometime between 140 and 118 B.C.
In the first part, this book tells about The Thirteen Chapter Of Sun Tzu Text.
Chapter 1 is ‘On Assesmet’. In this chapter, Sun-Tzu explained how about give an estimation toward a battle because according to him war is a vital matter of state. It is the field on which life or death is determined. So, Sun-Tzu explained and compared the two sides by assessing their relative strengths about five criteria of war situation.
Chapter 2 is ‘On Wagging Battle’. Sun-Tzu explained how to prepare the war and seek the quick victory wisely.
Chapter 3 is ‘Planing The Attack’. Sun-Tzu uncovered the detail of strategy for attacking the enemy with many consideration, Sun-Tzu said that 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. So basically the tactics that Sun-Tzu use as musch as possible reduce the battle direcly.
Chapter 4 is ‘Strategic Positions (Hsing)’. Of old the expert in battle would first make himself invincible and then wait for the enemy to expose his vulnerability. Invincibility depends
on oneself; vulnerability lies with the enemy. Therefore the expert in battle can make himself invincible, but cannot guarantee for certain the vulnerability of the enemy. Hence it is said: Victory can be anticipated, But it cannot be forced.
Chapter 5 is ‘Strategic Advantage (Shih)’. Sun-Tzu said about "surprise" and "straightforward" operations. in battle use the "straightforward" to engage the enemy and the "surprise" to win the victory.
Chapter 6 is ‘Weak Points and Strong Points’. In this chapter Sun-Tzu explained about many points that might beneficial or detrimental.
Chapter 7 is ‘Armed Contest’. In this chapter Sun-Tzu said that Armed Contest can be both a source of advantage and of danger, but mostly explained about the art of employing large numbers of troops.
Chapter 8 is ‘Adapting to the Nine Contingencies (Pien)’. This chapter explained about the art of using troops for commander and nine things the commander needs to pay attention to.
Chapter 9 is ‘Deploying The Army’. Tell us about how to idealized the troops position when assecing the enemy and attack the enemy.
Chapter 10 is ‘The Terrain’. This chapter tell us about how to move in many kinds of terrain, in this chapter I found my favourite quotes from sun tzu:
"Know the other, know yourself,
And the victory will not be at risk;
Know the ground, know the natural conditions,
And the victory can be total."
Chapter 11is ‘Nine Kinds Of Terrain’. Tell more details about nine kinds of terrain.
Chapter 12 is ‘Icendiary Attack’. This chapter tell us about how powerful when use the fire to aid the attack.
Chapter 13 is ‘Using Spies’. In a battle using the spies is important, because the troops will achieve sucsecess far beyond the reach of the common crowd with foreknowledge which is obtained from spies.
The sedond part contains The Text Recovered From The Yin-Ch’ueh-Shan Han Dynasty strips:
Chapter 1 is ‘The Questions Of Wu’. Sun Tzu tells the six commanders who divided up the territory of the state of Chin.
Chapter 2 is ‘The Four Contingencies’. In a battle There are roadways not to be traveled, armies not to be attacked, walled cities not to be assaulted, territory not to be contested, and commands from the ruler.
Chapter 3 is ‘The Yellow Emperor Attacks The Red Emperor’. Sun Tzu advancing with the yin conditions on his right, following the roadway, and keeping his back to strategic grou ndm he exterminated the enemy and annexed his territory.
Chapter 4 is ‘The Disposition (Of The Terrain) II’. This chapter is abou terrain disposition, the measures needed to cope with the nine kinds of terrain, and the basic patterns of the human character must all be thoroughly investigated.
Chapter 5 is ‘An Interview With The King of Wu’. This passage is similar in content to the story recorded in the Historical Records biography of Sun Wu, where he has an interview
with King Ho-lu of Wu and where he applies his military artS to discipline
the court beauties. The surface difference between Sun Wu and Mencius is that Sun Wu espouses a positive position on "advantage" where Mencius condemns it. Sun Wu makes a distinction
between pursuing "advantage" in warfare that redounds to the national good, and treating the brutality of warfare as a kind of royal blood sport. Mencius, on the other hand, rejects "advantage" as an unWorthy consideration for a ruler when morality should be his first and
major concern.
The third part are Text Recovered From Later Works. This part contains stories which is found from several works and the comments of the previous encyclopedia.
Chapter 1 is ‘Conversation between The King of Wu and Sun Wu’.
This story tells about Master Sun's explicit warning about the war rules:
1. Don't fight on scattering terrain.
2. Don't stay on marginal terrain.
3. Don't attack the enemy on contested terrain.
4. Don't get cut off on intermediate terrain.
5. Form alliances with neighboring states at strategically vital intersection.
6. Plunder the enemy's resources on critical terrain.
7. Press ahead on difficult terrain.
8. Devise contingensy plans on terrain vulnerable to ambush.
9. On terrain from which there is no way out, take the battle to the enemy.
Chapter 2 is ‘Sun Wu Discusses The Commander’. In this chapter Master Sun talked a lot about the commander. The traits of the true commander are: wisdom, humanity, respect, integrity, courage, and dignity. With his wisdom he humbles the enemy, with his humanity he draws the people near to him, with his respect he recruits men of talent and character, with his integrity he makes good on his rewards, with his courage he raises the morale of his men, and with his dignity he unifies his command.
Chapter 3 is ‘Sun Wu Discusses Deploying The Army’. Master Sun said: "On marching through terrain with natural defiles, grave, mounds, and ruins of old walls, the army can't tarry".
Chapter 4 ‘is The Prognotications of Sun-Tzu’. This chapter tells about every Sun-Tzu's prediction in war, involving the nature sign.
Chapter 5 is ‘Sun Wu Discusses The "Eight-Division Formation". In deploying in this formation, make the rear the front line and the front line the rear. It has four heads and eight tails, so wherever the enemy stikes is its head and when the enemy bursts through the lines, the head and tail can both come to the rescue.
Chapter 6 is ‘The Classic of The Thirty Two Ramparts’. This chapter tells about strategy.
Chapter 7 is ‘Han Dynasty Bamboo Strips From Ta-t'ung County’. Contains text that are incomplete (missing).
Chapter 8 is ‘Miscellaneous’. In this Chapter Master Sun said: "Weak and strong, short and long, are mixed together in their use.” At a distance, use the crossbow; at close quarters, use the hand weapons. Hand weapons and crossbow arc of mutual aid. Use a ratio of ten infantry to each mounted soldier in attacking.
PART II
2.1 Evaluation/Analysis
Sun Tzu: The Art of Warfare is an important work that should be read. This book explain a good example of lesson about conflict, strategy, and leadership which is more than just a military things if we can apply it to other aspects of our life. Sun Tzu wa a Chinese military strategist who traditionally credited as the author of The Art of War, but Roger T Ames tranlated and revised it in accordance with newly discovered materials of unprecedented historical significance.
The whole chapters is very interesting with some illustration that related into some chapter, although there is many sentence is new and kinda hard to understand but all chapters implicitly explains that war is a necessary thing but wasteful, evil, and one to be avoided whenever possible. Sun Tzu made a lot of brilliant point in every chapters, but i found my favourite quotes from sun tzu in chapter 10:
"Know the other, know yourself,
And the victory will not be at risk;
Know the ground, know the natural conditions,
And the victory can be total."
2.2 Conclution
This book is quiet interesting, everybody and anybody can read it especially for someone who interested to military and historical book. I recommended This book because this book will clue you into what’s out there waiting for you, every point and every idea that Sun Tzu’s described is usefull for every aspect in your life such as for your study, your job, your business, and many more.
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