The Art of War by: Sun Tzu Review Part 6a: Weak Points and Strong

Hello everyone, part 6 of my Art of War review. This will most likely be the longest one I have ever produced, and I have a busy day today with church, so I've woken up at 7am to write it. I have decided to break this into two parts, considering I am busy today and tomorrow. Here is Part 6a: Weak Points and Strong. (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.)  

[Image Source: pixabay.com, License: CCO Public Domain] 

Art of War original text

cmp2020 commentary

Weak Points and Strong

1.Sun Tsu said: Whoever is first in the field and awaits the coming of the enemy, will be fresh for the fight; whoever is second in the field and has to hasten to battle will arrive exhausted.

To bring out a famous phrase "The early bird gets the worm." If you are the first to do something, you are acknowledged and recognized for it. However if you are the second, no one really pays attention. (Real world example: Everyone knows Neil Armstrong was the first man on the moon, but no one really acknowledges Buzz Aldrin as the second).

2. Therefore the clever combatant imposes his will on the enemy, but does not allow the enemy's will to be imposed on him.

Therefore the smart competitor sets the standards of competition to have the advantage, rather than have his competitor set them and be at a disadvantage. (Real world example: A stock investor choses whether or not to buy certain stocks; if he listens to his competitor, he's has higher chance of losing his money).

3. By holding out advantages to him, he can cause the enemy to approach of his own accord; or, by inflicting damage, he can make it impossible for the enemy to draw near.

If the right tactics are used as well as the right assets gained, your opponent may do something, but something expected. By using these assets effectively against his opponent, he eliminates him from the competition. (Real world example: A company buying another company. The company doing the buying uses its surplus of assets (money) to buy its competitor who has a shortage of assets (money) because of the other company's use of tactics to gain advantage).

4. If the enemy is taking his ease, he can harass him; if well supplied with food, he can starve him out; if quietly encamped, he can force him to move.

If you see a weakness in your opponent, exploit it. Use your strengths and assets, to exploit his weakness. (Real world example: The UFC fight between Ronda Rousey and Holly Holm. Holm knew Rousey would waste most of her energy in the first minute trying for a fast knockout, so she held her ground for a few minutes, and used an unexpected kick to the head to win).

5. Appear at points which the enemy must hasten to defend; march swiftly to places where you are not expected.

Do things your enemy does not expect to have to compete against. (Real world example: Apple releasing the Apple watch. No one really expected a touch screen watch, and though I don't have one, I think it probably gained Apple a lot of profit).

6. An army may march great distances without distress, if it marches through country where the enemy is not.

You will work more efficiently if you work outside of competition, so you do not feel pressure to perform suddenly. (Real world example: Sports teams practice on private fields where there are not many spectators, to focus on learning what they need to know).

7. You can be sure of succeeding in your attacks if you only attack places which are undefended. You can ensure  the safety of your defense if you only hold positions that cannot be attacked.

Again, do things your enemy does not expect to have to compete against.

8. Hence that general is skillful in attack whose opponent does not know what to defend; and he is skillful in defense whose opponent does not know what to attack.

You will be more successful when you do in competition what no one expects, and build assets no one believes you have.

9. O divine art of subtlety and secrecy! Through you we learn to be invisible, through you inaudible; and hence we can hold the enemy's fate in our hands.

Be subtle and secret, you will fly under the radar, unheard and unseen. You will control your enemy by doing this. (Real world example: The October surprise of every U.S presidential election. Each candidate digs up things that their opponent has done or said in the past that make them look ignorant. They release it the month before the election out of nowhere, to make sure their opponent has a hard time recovering).

10. You may advance and be absolutely irresistible, if you make for the enemy's weak points; you may retire and be safe from pursuit if your movements are more rapid than those of the enemy.

If you use your opponents disadvantages against them, they will not be able to stop you, if you gain assets faster than your enemy, it is unlikely they will surprise you. (Real world example: If you study, and do your homework without procrastination, you will focus better, and maintain a better GPA .)

11. If we wish to fight, the enemy can be forced to an engagement even though he be sheltered behind a high rampart and a deep ditch. All we need do is attack some other place that he will be obliged to relieve.

Force your opponent to do what they don't want to. (Real world example: Chess, making someone fall into checkmate without realizing they are).

12. If we do not wish to fight, we can prevent the enemy from engaging even though the lines of our encampment be merely traced out on the ground. All we nee do is throw something odd and unaccountable in his way.

Prevent your opponent from beating you by providing obstacles that are difficult to overcome. (Real world example: In hide and seek, hide somewhere hard to reach so once you are found you will have time to figure out an escape route).

13. By discovering the enemy's dispositions and remaining invisible ourselves, we can keep our forces concentrated, while the enemy's must be divided. 

14. We can form a single united body, while the enemy must split up into fractions . Hence there will be a whole pitted against separate parts of a whole, which means that we shall be many to the enemy's few.

By using your opponent's disadvantages, you weaken them whilst strengthening yourself. (Real world example: Any football play where the offense divides the defense to open a gap for a short period of time that the running back can push through).

15. And if we are able thus to attack an inferior force with a superior one, our opponents will be in dire straits.

 Remaining United against a divided competitor.  

16. The spot where we intend to fight must not be made known; for then the enemy will have to prepare against a possible attack at several different points; and his forces being thus distributed in many directions the numbers we shall have to face at any given point will be proportionately few.

17. For should the enemy strengthen his van, he will weaken his rear; should he strengthen his rear, he will weaken his van; should he strengthen his left, he will weaken his right; should he strengthen his right, he will weaken his left. If he sends reinforcements everywhere, he will everywhere be weak. 

Do not let your opponent pick the circumstances of your competition. They will be prepared if you do. Remember that when you strengthen one field of competition, you weaken another. (Real world example: When you invest money you have earned, you could gain more profit, but also lose it, so though you strengthen in the amount you have invested, you take a risk with the profit gained).

Thanks for reading this! Sorry it is so short, but I am busy today with church and homework. Check back later for Oh Holy Night (Cantique De Noel) Piano Performance.  Also, check back tomorrow (hopefully) for Part 6b: Weak Points and Strong cont. See you later!

Also remember to check for: My weekly 7 post, and my weekly piano performance of Christmas pieces.