“ IN THE NAME OF ALLAH, THE MOST

BENEVOLENT AND MERCIFUL ’’

INTRODUCTION

SUN TZU
 AIM

To briefly discuss about The Art of War of the

famous military strategist, Sun Tzu
 SEQ
 Brief introduction about Sun Tzu and
disclosure of his military theories

 Understanding basic ideas of the Art of

War with relevant examples from
military history

 Miscellaneous
BRIEF INTRODUCTION ABOUT SUN TZU AND
DISCLOSURE OF HIS MILITARY THEORIES
SUN TZU AND HIS PLACE OF ORIGIN
DISCLOSURE OF HIS MILITARY WORKS

“ If the rules are not clear

and the soldiers do not
know the orders well, it is
the general who is to be
blamed; now that the
orders are made clear but
still are not carried out,
then it is the commanding
officers that are to be
blamed.”
- Sun Tzu
BACKGROUND OF SUN TZU’S MILITARY WRITING
BACKGROUND OF SUN TZU’S MILITARY WRITING

Socio-Cultural Aspects
BACKGROUND OF SUN TZU’S MILITARY WRITING

TRANSITIONAL PERIODS
WARING CONDITIONS

 Made active defense

measures by erecting wall
around the habitation

 Attack only when being

attacked by the enemy- was the
ethics of Peace loving people

 Depend on yourself rather

than any other state
 UNDERSTANDING THE BASIC IDEAS OF
THE ART OF WAR
 Laying plans
 Waging war
 Attack by stratagem
 Tactical disposition
 Energy
 Weak point and strong
 Maneuvering
 Variation of tactics
 The army on the march
 Terrain
 The nine variations
 Attack by fire
 Use of spies
 LAYING PLANS

Field Marshal Rommel –in North African Campaign

 LAYING PLANS

 War is a matter of vital importance in a state; a

matter of life and death, the road either to
survival or to ruin. Hence, it is imperative that it
be thoroughly studied

 The Art of War is governed by five constant

factors: the first is moral influence; the second,
the weather the third the terrain, the forth, the
commander, and the fifth, discipline
 LAYING PLANS
EN - ON THE BASIS OF COMPARISON

 Which sovereign posses greater moral influence

 Which commander is more capable

 Which side holds more advantages on ground and

weather

 On which side discipline is rigorously enforced

 Which side is stronger

 On which side officers and men are highly trained

 Which side is stricter and more impartial in

meeting out reward and punishment
Field Marshal Slim – Commander 14th Army in Burma Campaign
MEANS OF CREATING FAVOURABLE SIATUATION
IN THE BATTLE FIELD
 If enemy
enemy isispowerful
powerfulinin
action
action
– evade
– evade
himhim

 If enemy
enemy isisangry
angry– seek
– seek
to discourage
to discourage
him him

 If enemy
enemy appears
appearshumble
humble
– make
– make
him arrogant
him arrogant

 If enemy
enemyforces
forces
havehave
taken good
takenrestgood
– wear
rest
them– down
wear them
down

 If enemy
enemy isisunited
united– divide
– divide
themthem

 Launch attack
Launch attack– where
– where
he ishe
unprepared
is unprepared

 Take action – when it is unexpected

WAGING WAR
 WAGING WAR
 When you engage in actual fighting and the victory
is too long, your weapons will be dull, ardour will
be dampened. If you seize a town your strength will
be exhausted
 Now when your weapons are dulled, ardours
dampened, strength exhausted other rulers will
spring up to take advantage of your extremity

 We have heard of stupid haste in war, cleverness

has never been seen associated with long delays

 There is no instance of a country having benefited

from prolonged war
EXPENDITURE OF US FORCES IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN

InInAfghanistan
Iraq approx- 17
100million
millionUSD
USD
ATTACK BY STRATAGEM
ATTACK BY STRATAGEM

To subdue the enemy without

fighting is the supreme excellence
ATTACK BY STRATAGEM

 The best policy to attack

enemy Strategy

 The second best is to disrupt

enemy's allies

The next best is to attack him

in the field
 BATTLE OF KHANDAK

 Quraish were not familiar with newly introduced

trench system

 Alliance between Quraish and Gaftans were

broken by Prophet Mohammad(SM)

 Quraish led force had reduction of 2000

fighting force
ATTACK BY STRATAGEM

The worst policy is to attack

walled cities
 BATTLE OF STALINGARD

Total Casualty – 1.7 Million (approximately)

ATTACK BY STRATAGEM

It is the rule in war, if our

forces are ten to the
enemy’s one, surround him.
If five to one, attack him. If
twice, divide the army into
two. If equally match, we
can offer battle. If slightly
inferior, we can avoid him. If
much inferior, we can flee
from him
WAYS TO BRING MISFORTUNE

 By ordering advance or retreat

without realizing the fact that army
cannot do it

 By interfering with the army

administration without knowledge

 By interfering with the direction of

fighting, while ignoring the military
principle of adaptation to
circumstance
BRING MISFORTUNE TO ARMY

BATTLE OF STALINGARD
ATTACK BY STRATAGEM

Therefore, I say Know the enemy and

know yourself, and you can fight a
hundred battles with no danger of
defeat. When you are ignorant of the
enemy but know yourself, your
chances of winning and losing are
equal. If ignorant both of your enemy
and of yourself, you are sure to be
defeated in every battle
 TACTICAL
DISPOSITIONS
 TACTICAL DISPOSITION

 Security against defeat implies

defensive tactics, ability to defeat the
enemy means taking the offensive

 Standing on the defensive indicates

insufficient strength, attacking is a
superabundance of strength
 TACTICAL DISPOSITION

What the ancient called a

clever fighter is one who
not only wins, but excels in
winning with ease

F M ROMMEL
ENERGY
 ENERGY

A clever combatant
looks to effect the
combined energy,
and does not require
too much from an
individual

F M MOTEGOMERY
ENERGY

The onset of troops is like the rush

of a torrent, which will even roll
stones along in its course
ENERGY

The quality of decision is like

a well timed swoop of a falcon
which enables it to strike and
destroy its victim
ENERGY

Energy may be linked to the

bending of a cross bow ;
decision to the releasing of
the trigger
 ENERGY

Therefore a good fighter will

be terrible in his onset and
prompt in his decision

Gen Norman Schwarzkopf

ENERGY

Thus the energy developed

by the good fighting men is as
the momentum of a round
stone rolled down a mountain
thousands of feet in height
WEAK POINTS AND STRONG
WEAK POINTS AND STRONG

You can be sure of

succeeding in attacks if you
only attack places which are
undefended. You can ensure
the safety of your defense if
you only hold position that
cannot be attacked
WEAK POINTS AND STRONG

You may advance and be

absolutely irresistible, if you
make to the enemy’s weak
point. You may retire and be
safe from pursuit, if your
movements are more rapid
than enemy
WEAK POINTS AND STRONG

INCHON LANDING
MANEUVERING
MANEUVERING
 We are not fit to lead an army on
march, until we are familiar with the
face of the country- its mountains,
forests, swamps, pitfalls and
marshes
 In war, move only if there is a
real advantage to be gained

 Whether to concentrate or to
divide your troops must be decided
by the circumstances
MANEUVERING

Therefore, a clever General

avoids an army when it is keen,
but attacks when it is sluggish
and inclined to return. This is
the art of studying mood
 MANEUVERING

It is a military axiom not

to advance uphill against
the enemy, nor to
oppose him when he
comes downhill
 MANEUVERING

 Do not interfere with

an enemy that is
returning home
 MANEUVERING

When you surround an

army, leave an outlet free
VARIATION IN TACTICS
 VARIATION IN TACTICS

In difficult country, do not

establish your camp
 VARIATION IN TACTICS

Do not linger in dangerously

isolated position
 VARIATION IN TACTICS

The art of war teaches us to rely

not on the likelihood that enemy
is not coming, but on our own
readiness to receive him, not on
the chance of enemy is not
attacking, but rather on the fact
that we have made our position
unassailable
ARMY ON MARCH
 ARMY ON MARCH

When an invading force

crosses a river in its
onward march, do not
advance to meet it in mid
stream. It will be best to
let half the army to get
across, and then deliver
your attack
 ARMY ON MARCH

If you are careful of your

men, and camp on high
ground, the army will be
free from disease of
every kind, and this will
spell victory
 ARMY ON MARCH

If in the neighborhood of
your camp there should be
any hilly country, ponds
surrounded by aquatic
grasses, hollow basins filled
with reeds, woods with thick
undergrowth, they must be
carefully routed out or
searched. These are the
places where men in ambush
or insidious spies may be
lurking
TERRAIN
 TERRAIN

If you know yourself and know the enemy, your victory will
not stand in doubt. If you know ground and weather, you
may make your victory complete
 TERRAIN

Bangladeshi Force at the Outskirt of Rajshahi

THE NINE VARIATIONS
 THE NINE VARIATIONS
 Dispersive Ground

 Facile Ground

 Contentious Ground

 Open Ground

 Ground Intersecting Highways

 Serious Ground

 Difficult Ground

 Hemmed-in-Ground

 Desperate Ground
 DESPRSIVE GROUND

On dispersive ground, I would

inspire my men with unity of
purpose

When a chieftain is fighting in his own territory, is

dispersive ground. Do not fight in dispersive ground
 FACILE GROUND

On facile ground, I would see

that there is close connection
between all parts of my army

When he has penetrated into hostile territory, but not much

distance, is facile ground. Do not halt in facile ground
 CONTENTIOUS GROUND

On contentious ground, I
would hurry up my rear

Ground offering advantage to either side, is contentious

ground. Do not attack on contentious ground
 OPEN GROUND

On open ground, I will keep a

vigilant eye on my defense

Ground offering easy movement of either side, is open

ground. Do not block the enemy’s way on open ground
 GROUND OF INTERSECTING HIGHWAY

On the ground of intersecting

highway, I would consolidate
my alliances

Ground which form key to three states, called ground of

intersecting highway. Join hands with your allies on the
ground of intersecting highway
 SERIOUS GROUND

On serious ground, I
would ensure continuous
stream of supplies

When hostile force penetrated in the heart of his opponent,

leaving fortified cities at rear, is serious ground. Gather in
plunder on serious ground
 DIFFICULT GROUND

On difficult ground, I would

keep pushed on along the road

Mountains, forests, rugged steeps, marshes are difficult

ground. keep steadily on march on difficult ground
 HEMMED IN GROUND

On hemmed in ground, I would

block any way of retreat, to
make it seem that I mean to
defend the position

Ground where a small number of enemy will suffice to crush

large opponents, hemmed in ground. Resort to stratagem on
hemmed in ground
 DESPERATE GROUND

On desperate ground, I would

proclaim to my soldiers the
hopelessness of saving their lives

Ground on which we can only be saved from destruction by

fighting without delay, is desperate ground. Fight on
desperate ground
ATTACK BY FIRE
ATTACK BY FIRE

 First , burn the enemy

soldiers in the camp
 Second, burn the stores
 Burn the baggage trains
 Burn the arsenals and
magazines
 Hurl dropping fire
amongst the enemy
 ATTACK BY FIRE

AIR CAMPAIGN DURING GULF WAR

USE OF SPIES

 Local spies- employing the

services of local inhabitants
 Inward spies- making use of
the enemy officials
 Converted spies- converting
enemy spies for our purpose
 Doomed spies- Doing certain
things openly
 Surviving Spies – Bring back
information from enemy’s camp
USE OF SPIES

If a secret piece of news is

divulged by a spy before the
time is ripe, he must be put to
death together with the man to
whom the secret was told
 USE OF SPIES

 Whether the object be to crush an army, to storm a city or to assassinate

an individual, it is always necessary to begin by finding out the names of the
attendants, the aides-de-camp, the door keepers and the sentries of the
general in command. Our spies must be commissioned to ascertain this
JAPNESE ATTACK ON PEARL HARBOUR
MUSOLINNI – PAID SPY OF ENGLAND IN WORLD WAR-1
MISCELLANEOUS
 MISCELLANEOUS
ARMY ON MARCH

 The rising of birds in their

flight is the sign of an
ambuscade. Startled beasts
indicate that a sudden attack
is coming. If birds gather on
any spot- it is unoccupied
 MISCELLANEOUS
ARMY ON MARCH

 Humble words and

increased preparations
are signs of advance
 MISCELLANEOUS
ARMY ON MARCH

 Violent words, driving

forward as if to the attack
are signs of retreat
 MISCELLANEOUS
ARMY ON MARCH

 If those who are sent to

draw water begin by
drinking themselves, the
army is suffering from thirst
 When an army feeds his horses with grains and kills
its cattle for food and when men do not hang their
cooking pots over the camp fires, showing that they will
not return to their tents, you may know that they are
determined to fight till death
 ARMY ON MARCH
MISCELLANEOUS

If our troops are no more in number than the enemy,

concentrate all available strength, wait for the reinforcement
 MISCELLANEOUS
ARMY ON MARCH

Soldiers must be treated first with humanity but kept

under control by means of iron discipline. This is a
certain road to victory
 If in training the soldiers commands are habitually
enforced, the army will be well disciplined, if not the
discipline will be bad
MISCELLANEOUS

Do not repeat the tactics which

have gained you one victory.
But let your methods to be
regulated by the infinite variety
of circumstances
MISCELLANEOUS

 Military tactics are like

unto water; it shapes its
course according to the
nature of the ground over
which it flows, the soldiers
works out his victory in
relation to the foe whom he
is facing
 MISCELLANEOUS

 Let your rapidity be that

of the wind, your
compactness that of the
forests. Your raiding and
plundering be like a fire,
your immovability be like a
mountain. Your plans be
dark and impenetrable as
night and when you move,
fall like a thunderbolt
 MISCELLANEOUS

 Recklessness which may

lead to destruction
 Cowardice, which may lead
to be captured
 Hasty temper, which can be
proved by insults
 A delicacy of honour, which
is sensitive to shame
 Over solicitude for his men,
which exposes him for worry
and trouble
 MISCELLANEOUS

If fighting is sure to result in victory, then you must fight

even though the ruler forbids it, if fighting will not result in
victory, you must not fight even at the ruler’s bidding
 MISCELLANEOUS

The general who advances without coveting fame and

retreats without fearing disgrace, whose only thought is to
protect his country and do good service for his sovereign,
is the jewel of the kingdom
 MISCELLANEOUS

MUSSOLINI

No ruler should put troops into the field merely to gratify

his own spleen. No General should fight a battle simply out
of pique
CONCLUSION
IN PEACE PREPARE FOR WAR AND
IN WAR PREPARE FOR PEACE
DISCUSSION