Sun Tzu's Art of War: Profound or Ordinary?

China has a long and complex history originating in the Neolithic Period (5500-3000 BCE). Since Chinese culture was far from static, a good understanding of Sun Tzu can be achieved only when an effort is made to learn something about Chinese warfare and politics. Historical accounts can act as pillars of strength and as guideposts for building military theories. But statesmen or generals can rarely rely on Sun Tzu's advice as a prescription for success by randomly picking statements from his book. To understand Sun Tzu within the proper context, the Art of War (or Master Sun's Military Methods) should be viewed in reference to the time of its writing. While much of the advice is sound, a recurring problem is that Sun Tzu is vague about how to achieve specific aims. Simply knowing that victory without physical battle is the apex of excellence, for example, does little to explain the steps required to reach the objective. Sun Tzu advocated a comprehensive strategy that was not limited to combat, but also included diplomatic relations with allies. Since the historian's job is not merely to list what happened and when, but to interpret the motives behind the events, it is prudent to question whether other forces than the wellbeing of the people were Sun Tzu's primary motivators when arguing in favor of benevolence and a quick end to conflict. 

Military methods are largely composed of common sense ideas that span all geographical regions and cultures. Sun Tzu therefore does not introduce anything new. What makes his book unique is how he presents the material. Brevity coupled with good organization is attractive to readers who object to deeper thought and analysis. But gaining a fleeting theoretical understanding of Sun Tzu is not enough. Although he speaks many truths and guides us toward the common principles that exist in all wars, to be of value in military endeavors, each statement requires analysis and individual judgment. 

When studying Sun Tzu's Art of War in relation to the political and cultural forces of the time, it also helps to understand something about the construction of other ancient Chinese texts. The military classics of ancient China, of which Sun Tzu's Art of War is but one, were written in different eras, dating from the Warring States period in the fifth to third centuries BCE to the Tang Dynasty in the seventh to tenth centuries CE. These were times when China underwent several geopolitical changes, including changes in strategic thought. While many of the early texts include specific solutions to battlefield problems, the later texts focus on government and military administration, and complement and expand on the early texts rather than add new tactical details. Although the texts leave themselves open to a broad range of interpretations, it is questionable whether this was the intent. Worthy of note is that modern leaders, such as Mao Zedong, have relied on the lessons of the ancient Chinese treatises as they saw fit, and with varied success, in their struggles for victory. 

Despite the widespread popularity of the Art of War, most of Sun Tzu's statements are thus neither new nor original, as evidenced by the fact that many Western military leaders came to the same conclusions, even as they had never read Sun Tzu. The appearance of originality relates to the fact that Sun Tzu expressed his ideas in precise terms in a text that may be considered the oldest military treatise in existence. To the Westerner who is unfamiliar with Asian thought and culture, the text also adds an element of mysticism, which has little objective reality. Sun Tzu can thus be read metaphorically or literally. When read metaphorically, it transcends time and place and proves practical for guiding military and civilian leaders in the East and West. The fact that the Art of War has been translated into several languages, and been read by millions of people two thousand five hundred years after its writing, is an indication of its timeless nature. But when read literally, it is about strategies that win wars and have little application to the civilian world of business. 

Since book authors cannot eliminate all personal bias, when reading historical accounts, one should ask about the author's intent and what biases might have worked their way into the text. What was Sun Tzu's intent when he wrote the Art of War? What caused him to write it, and why did he consider it important? Did he have any personal reasons for expressing his views as he did? One suggestion is that Sun Tzu wrote in rebellion to the glorification of war through aristocratic values and personal valor, which had dominated the period, and that he wrote to critique the "morality" of the Confucian philosophers. 

Although the teachings of Confucius were adhered to, one might question their wisdom; for example, the suggestion that one should "let the ruler be a ruler, the subject a subject, the father a father, and the son a son." Although this philosophy puts people in their "proper" places, it rarely promotes a society built on fairness and respect. Some people will be subject to mistreatment, including forced labor contracts or military service, with little opportunity to improve their lot in life. Although Confucian tradition promoted the idea that the "government ought to care for the people," the foregoing statement seems diametrically opposed to the welfare of the people. Naturally, rebellions proved common. In a country that strove toward greater order as a matter of philosophical thought, it bears to remember that order was created by force, through conflict and war. 

Contrary to many modern interpretations of Sun Tzu currently on the market, which frequently take a motivational tack intended to inspire businessmen and civilian leaders, this book offers a new perspective on the Art of War by comparing and contrasting Asian and Western military thought. It explores how Chinese history and culture influenced Sun Tzu's writings, and how his writings later influenced future military leaders. It also brings to light how military leaders often ignored Sun Tzu's lessons, and how changing times and battlefield requirements occasionally made Sun Tzu's advice impractical or impossible to implement. 

The book is divided into five chapters. Chapter 1 gives an overview of Chinese military history from its beginnings to modern day. It discusses warfare in ancient China and the unification of the empire; political and military developments in the Tang and Song Dynasties; the Chinese tributary system and its effects on East Asian security; the development of military technology; social class and its influence on the status of soldiering; the effect of the imperialist threat against China versus Japan; and Mao Zedong's views of guerilla warfare. Although China has a very long and complex history that cannot be covered comprehensively in a book this size, chapter 1 should give the reader a good start and prepare the mind for in-depth analysis. 

Chapter 2 discusses the military and civilian relationship to state and society. By understanding how philosophical thought influenced Chinese leaders, one will further understand how military objectives served political objectives and helped preserve social order. 

Chapter 3 explores some of the ancient Chinese military treatises and how they relate to Chinese cultural traditions and values, including how classic literary tales portray warfare; how strategic thought changed over time; and how Asian and Western military texts differ. 

Chapter 4 consists of the thirteen original chapters of the Art of War from the public domain Lionel Giles translation first published in 1910. Divided into their component parts, each subpart includes brief commentary related to a specific period in China's history, and illustrates how Sun Tzu and future Asian (and at times Western) leaders reached their conclusions. 

Chapter 5 critiques common theories that advocate a long trend of Western superiority in warfare, sheds light on whether there are distinct Asian and European ways of war, and discusses how the study of Asian history provides the Westerner with a clearer understanding of Western history. 

The summary recaps a number of important factors of Asian military thought and warfare, and gives the reader additional food for thought on the subject.

The book also contains a brief appendix that looks at the way the Art of War has been used and misused by military and civilian personnel, and answers the question of whether Sun Tzu's work is profound or ordinary. 

 

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