Transcript Sun Tzu’s Art of War

Sun Tzu’s Art of War
Project by,
Alex Xu
Who was Sun Tzu?
•
•
According to ancient Chinese historian Sima Qian, Sun Tzu (birth name Sun
Wu) was born in the state of Qi in what is now the Shandong province of
China
Was a general for the kingdom of Wu near the end of the Spring and Autumn
period that led the State of Wu in victorious battles against the rival kingdoms
of Yue and Qu. (Sunzi)
What Is the Art of War?
•
•
A military treatise written by Sun Tzu consisting of 13 chapters (Sun,
Tzu and Bin, Sun)
Unlike many other military treatises, it encompasses an understanding
that tactics and strategies that are dependent on various types of
environments to which they are applied. This treatise argues that a plan
of engagement is subject to change over time, since a majority of
situations and environments a military commander will face are neither
constant nor controlled. Thus every military action should be quick and
decisive. Based on these aspects, it has been known as the most
significant military treatise ever written. (Chaple, Alan Glen)
Why was the Art of War Written?
•
During the Spring and Autumn Period, many new innovations
regarding war equipments emerged due to the massive market for
weapons. Hence, in order to adapt to these changes, officers needed
to know the new rules of warfare that no longer limited to basic
barbaric charges which was provided by Sun Tzu’s work (Chaple, Alan
Glen).
• Such Innovations included: -Increased thickness of city walls
- Increased area that Cities took up
- Introduction of iron weapons
- Experienced commanders
- Increase of man power
(Chaple, Alan Glen)
Can Its Contents Still Apply to
Modern Warfare?
•
In U.S military schools such West Point, Sun Tzu's work is being studied
extensively by students to make their ability to wage war wars effectively.
(ZeEthiopia)
•
During the Vietnam war, Giap used many tactics that followed Sun Tzu's axioms directly; to
strike where you show the least interest. This axiom was used during the Tet Offensive by
launching attacks on major U.S. bases as well as large cities whereas he previously
avoided. This also followed another one of Sun Tzu’s Axioms of targeting the enemy’s
center of gravity (pillar of reliance). In this case, Giap’s true intent was to utilize U.S. media
in order to reduce public support back home. With the Tet Offensive being a decisive
victory, he was able to do just that. Therefore drastically reducing the will power and
morale of U.S troops. (ZeEthiopia)
•
During WWII, the Allies managed to fool the Nazi high command by disguising their true
intent on landing on Normandy on D-Day. They managed to do this by using ploys such as
cardboard cutouts of tanks and cars in order to make it seem as if they’re positioning
themselves to launch a landing elsewhere. More ever they allowed Germans close enough
to see this bluff. This directly follows Sun Tzu's axiom of deceiving you're enemy of you're
true objective. (ZeEthiopia)
How is the Art of War used in the
Business World?
Many concepts of Sun Tzu is used in the modern Business world (Chaple, Alan Glen)
Quote:
"Do not pursue an enemy who simulates flight;
Do not attack soldiers whose temper is keen.
Do not swallow bait offered by the enemy.
Do not interfere with an army that is returning home.
When you surround an army, leave an outlet free.
Do not press a desperate foe too hard.“
-Sun Tzu
• Interpretation: Don't over push your luck on the enemy.
• Don't make the enemy feel hopeless, or they'll have a rise in morale with nothing to
lose
Example:
On the commercial front, the less able goods buyer would want to dominate a supplier
that has already met its demand. Such negotiations should be held upon acceptable
marketing, when pressure goes beyond that of being reasonable, the supplier may
walk or away or even turn the tables on you.
(Hawkins, David E)
Bibliography
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Alexander, Bevin. Sun Tzu at Gettysburg. New York: W.W. Norton and Company Inc., 2012. Print.
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Chaple, Alan Glen. “The Art of War.” World History: Ancient and Medieval Eras. ABC-CLIO, 2013. Web. 12 Apr. 2013.
•
Fawcett, Bill, ed. How to Lose WWII. New York: Harper Collins, 2010. Print.
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Gabriel, Richard A. “Spring and Autumn Period.” World History: Ancient and Medieval Eras. ABC-CLIO, 2013. Web. 16 Apr.
2013.
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Gagliardi, Gary. “Before and After: The Effect of Sun Tzu’s Strategy on Chinese History.” Science of Strategy. Science of
Strategy Institute (SOSI), 2013. Web. 20 Apr. 2013. <http://scienceofstrategy.org/main/content/effect-strategy-chinese-history>.
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Hawkins, David E., and Shan Rajagopal. Sun Tzu and the Project Battleground: Creating Project Strategy from “The Art of War.”
Great Britain: Palgrave Macmillan, 2005. Print.
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History, Channel. “The Art of War.” History. History Channel, 2012. Web. 21 Apr. 2013. <http://www.history.com/topics/the-artof-war>.
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- - -. “The Art of War Today.” History. History.com, 2012. Web. 21 Apr. 2013. <http://www.history.com/topics/the-art-of-war>.
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McNeilly, Mark. Sun Tzu and the Art of Modern Warfare. New York: Oxford University, 2001. Print.
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Niou, Emerson M. S., and Peter C. Ordeshook. “A Game- Theoretic Interpretation of Sun Tzu’s Art of War.” JSTOR. JSTOR, May
1994. Web. 12 Apr. 2013. <http://sites.duke.edu/niou/files/2011/06/08-Sun-Tzu-English-version.pdf>.
Sun, Tzu, and Bin Sun. Sun Tzu: The Art of War, Sun Bin: The Art of War. Trans. Rusong Wu, Xianlin Wu, and Wusun Lin.
Beijing: Foreign Language Press, 1999. Print.
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“Sunzi.” World History: Ancient and Medieval Eras. ABC-CLIO, 2013. Web. 12 Apr. 2013.
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Waldron, Arthur. “Sun Tzu.” History. History Channel, 2012. Web. 19 Apr. 2013. <http://www.history.com/topics/sun-tzu>.
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ZeEthiopia. Sun Tsu - The Art of War. Prod. History Channel. Youtube. Youtube.com, 7 Aug. 2011. Web. 22 Apr. 2013.
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMNaULHLH9c>.
Producer: Alex Xu production crew (Me)
Director: Alex Xu
Special Thanks: Jackie Chan
Dedicated to: Jackie Chan
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