The Art of War

Ch’u’s character is weak, its lands broad, its government troubling [to the people], and its people weary. Thus while they are well-ordered, they do not long maintain their positions. The way to attack them is to suddenly strike and cause chaos in the encampments. First snatch away their ch’i—lightly advancing and then quickly retreating, tiring an

“If the instructions are not clear, if the explanations and orders are not trusted, it is the general’s offense. When they have already been instructed three times, and the orders explained five times, if the troops still do not perform, it is the fault of the officers.

Three famous individuals have historically been identified with the Chou’s ascent and conquest of the Shang: King Wen, King Wu, and the T’ai Kung.

King Wen, who ruled for decades, nurtured the state’s power, implemented strong economic policies to foster the people’s welfare, and fashioned a strong reputation for Virtue.

Subjugating the enemy’s army without fighting is the true pinnacle of excellence.33 The strategy for employing the army is not to rely on their not coming, but to depend upon us having the means to await them. Do not rely on them not attacking, but depend upon us having an unassailable position.34 When someone excels at defense the enemy does not k

The Chou’s overall campaign and tactics (particularly if the Book of Documents and the Six Secret Teachings preserve any reliable material) approached the conflict from a new perspective—abandoning ritualistic, formal combat for effective revolutionary activity.37 Attaining the objective of dynastic revolution required perfecting themselves in the