The Art of War by: Sun Tzu Review Part 11b: The Nine Situations
Hello everyone, this is the next part in my Art of War review. As I said last post, part 11 has a lot of segments (68) so it will be split into three separate parts. This is Part 11b: The Nine Situations. (Please Note that I typed everything myself, and did NOT copy any online sources, however this is based on the Giles 1910 translation which is in the Public Domain).
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Art of War original text
cmp2020 commentary
The Nine Situations
24. Soldiers when in desperate straits lose the sense of fear. If there is no place of refuge, they will stand firm. If they are in the heart of a hostile country, they will show a stubborn front. If there is no help for it, they will fight hard.
When worse comes to worst, a sense of fear is lost. For nothing can possibly become worse than it already is, so your supporters will gain a sense of boldness and push forward towards your goal harder than ever before. (Real world example: When a sports team is losing at half time, fans cheer louder, and players play harder than the other team's players because they know the situation is at its worst, and they need a come back).
25. Thus, without waiting to be marshaled, the soldiers will be constantly on the qui vive; without waiting to be asked, they will do your will; without restrictions, they will be faithful; without giving orders, they can be trusted.
Therefore without any orders your supporters will be on the look out for any opportunities at all. They will do without being told, as hard and as faithfully as possible. In this situation, they should be trusted. (Real world example: The rebels in star wars. They are already losing, and convicts. Therefore they are trusted to make the right decisions because anything less will cost them their life, or the lives of those they love).
26. Prohibit the taking of omens, and do away with superstitious doubts. Then, until death itself comes, no calamity need be feared.
Don't use statistics to fight, for if the odds seem to be against you, you will believe they are and subconsciously not work as hard. Until you have lost, do not fear losing. (Real world example: The poles predicted that Clinton would win by a landslide, but rather than give up Trump and his supporters continued to rally to try to change the tide, it seems they just ignored the poles).
27. If our soldiers are not overburdened with money, it is not because they have a distaste for riches; if their lives are not unduly long, it is not because they are disinclined to longevity.
Don't assume how people think based on their actions. (Real world example: Just because someone is a defensive lawyer doesn't mean they think it is okay to break the law. Their actions are based on the fact that they believe their client is innocent, not that the law should be broken).
28. On the day they are ordered out to battle, your soldiers may weep, those sitting up bedewing their garments, and those lying down letting the tears run down their cheeks. But let them once be brought to bay, and they will display the courage of a Chu or a Kuei.
It is okay to be sad about something as long as you become focused when you need to. (Real world example: Last year I had to get a root canal, the dentist's mother had died that week, but he returned quickly and worked for me and others the same. I said to him (rather high on laughing gas [that's a story in itself] "I'm sorry about your mother" and he said "Thanks, you saying that means a lot to me." then he continued to work).
29. The skillful tactician may be likened to the shuai-jan. Now the shuai-jan is a snake that is formed in the Ch'ang mountains. Strike at its head, and you will be attacked by its tail; strike at its tail, and you will be attacked by its head; strike at its middle, and you will be attacked by head and tail both.
30. Asked if an army can be made to imitate the shuai-jan, I should answer, Yes. For the men of Wu and the men of Yüeh are enemies; yet if they are crossing a river in the same boat and are caught by a storm, they will come to each other's assistance just as the left hand helps the right.
Stand together united, defend your supporters and they will defend you. I really like the example he gave with this snake. I think this is the key to being successful, having a defense that has no flaws leads to success.
31. Hence it is not enough to put one's trust in the tethering of horses, and the burying of chariot wheels in the ground.
Therefore, it is not enough to put trust that the situation will take care of itself. (Real world example: Not practicing a piano piece until the day before your lesson because you think you can wing it then you realize you can't).
32. The principle on which to manage an army is to set up one standard of courage which all must reach.
The best way to manage an organization is to set a precedent of boldness that all of your supporters must follow. (Real world example: A boss is on time to work, and he expects his employees to be as well).
33. How to make the best of both strong and weak-that is a question involving the proper use of ground.
Which assets to use is a question answered by the type of situation you're in. (Real world example: If you're in debt you use money to pay it off which is an asset).
34. Thus the skillful general conducts his army just as though he were leading a single man, willy-nilly, by the hand.
Therefore, a good leader treats all of his supporters the same, and leads them the same. (Real world example: If a manager is late to work, he suffers the same punishment as a common employee).
35. It is the business of a general to be quiet and thus ensure secrecy; upright and just, and thus maintain order.
A leader should be fair, and keep his viewpoints to himself, to lessen the amount of controversy in the group, and keep order. (Real world example: If a celebrity goes on a rant about politics they can expect to lose the business they have with half of their audience, so it is the celebrity's job to stay out of politics).
36. He must be able to mystify his officers and men by false reports and appearances, and thus keep them in total ignorance.
He should seem one way to even his supporters to keep them suspenseful of his ideas and view points.
37. By altering his arrangements and changing his plans, he keeps the enemy without knowledge. By shifting his camp and taking circuitous routes, he prevents the enemy from anticipating his purpose.
By keeping his supporters mystified, he keeps his competitors mystified too.
38. At the critical moment, the leader of an army acts like one who has climbed up a height and then kicks away the ladder behind him. He carries his men deep into hostile territory before he shows his hand.
39. He burns his boats sand breaks his cooking-pots; like a shepherd driving a flock of sheep, he drives his men this way and that, and nothing knows whither he is going.
If a plan works, the organization will appear unstoppable, like it can't be followed. (Real world example: Bitcoin compared to the other cryptocurrencies).
40. To muster his host and bring it into danger:-this may be termed the business of the general.
Sometimes it is the job of the leader to make his supporters do things that they might not want to do. (Real world example: The losing candidate in a presidential election concedes, even though their supporters are upset).
41. The different measures suited to the nine varieties of ground; the expediency of aggressive or defensive tactics; and the fundamental laws of human nature: these are things that must most certainly be studied.
It is important for a leader to know what kind of situations can befall them, what their strategy will be, as well as what they believe. (Real world example: A true debate is good because both sides know their position, the point they need to get across to persuade their audience, and the different questions they might be asked).
42. When invading hostile territory, the general principle is, that penetrating deeply brings cohesion; penetrating but a short way means dispersion.
Commit fully to your actions to maintain your followers. If you do not commit fully, people will begin to not trust you. (Real world example: When writing an Art of War review, it is best to finish it even though it is 10:23 at night and you want to watch Joe Kenda. By finishing the article, you will show that you are committed to posting this series despite the fact that it is hard).
43. When you leave your own country behind, and take your army across the neighborhood territory, you find yourself on critical ground. When there are means of communication on all four sides, the ground is one of intersecting highways.
When you leave a situation where you feel safe, you find yourself in a situation where winning is critical. When you can communicate with your supporters, you are in a situation where the side that gains the advantage first has control over the other.
44. When you penetrate deeply into a country, it is serious ground. When you penetrate but a little way, it is facile ground.
When you commit a lot to a situation you find that your situation is a situation in which you have control over your opponent, but their is a small amount of resistance that possess a threat.
45. When you have the enemy's strongholds on your rear, and narrow passes in front, it is hemmed-in ground. When there is no place of refuge at all, it is desperate ground.
When you have your opponent posing a threat that is sneaky, and situations which you must commit to, you are in a situations that must be seen committed to, for backing off will cause danger for you.
Part 6a: Weak Points and Strong
Part 6b: Weak Points and Strong
Part 7b: Maneuvering
Part 8: Variation in Tactics
Part 9a: The Army on the March
Part 9b: The Army on the March
Thanks for reading this! I am enjoying writing this series, but finally the end is in sight. I am trying to think of another topic to post a series about that is out of the range of topics I have already posted. I would appreciate suggestions, but I have a pretty good idea. Anyway, as always feedback is appreciated, and remember to check back later!
Also remember to check for: My weekly 7 post, and My Art of War Review