Strategic thinking of the author of The Art of War Sun Tzu Relevant today

Few ancient writers enjoy the same level of recognition as Sun Tzu, the famous philosopher and general of ancient China. Quotes from his timeless treatise “The Art of War” appear in popular culture and the entire book is frequently studied by business and military students from around the world. Sun Tzu’s “The Art of War” features thirteen chapters that describe how to take into account all the important variables when trying to win a conflict. The principles can be applied to military problems, as well as market challenges or even personal struggles.

The precise dates of Sun Tzu’s birth and death are unknown, but history has verified his existence around 500 BC. C. in China. Born to Sun Ping, a senior military officer in Qi State, Sun Tzu grew up with an education focused on military affairs. At the time, it was common for Chinese generals to write about their war philosophies, but it has been the work of Sun Tzu that has survived the centuries. What made your “Art of War” so compelling that it is literally still in print 2,500 years after it was first inked on bamboo strips?

Part of the resilience of Sun Tzu’s ideas comes from his success as a general. Ancient China was a complex chessboard of highly civilized but warring states, and Sun Tzu enjoyed a respectable career within this challenging environment. Sun Tzu was employed by He Lu, the ruler of the state of Wu, who appointed him general of the kingdom. In this role, Sun Tzu participated in numerous campaigns. His successes included the destruction of the Yue state, the territorial expansion of Wu, and the occupation of the city of Ying.

The successful application of your strategic thinking will surely slow down the strength of your literary work. His “Art of War” is not limited to narrow military concepts, such as placing soldiers in the field. Sun Tzu took into account all the forces that act on a state. War is a tool of the state and, as Sun Tzu wrote, “War is a matter of vital importance to the state; a matter of life and death, the path to survival or to ruin.” But this crucial element of state power could not operate independently of diplomacy, politics, economics, geography, and philosophy. Each chapter of the “Art of War” explores these and other factors in detail and teaches that the application of military force should be used in a multidisciplinary approach. Certainly great emphasis is placed on geography because the actual land being fought for underpins military strategy, but it is not the only consideration for a general.

Among the many sage advice that can be gleaned from the “Art of War” is Sun Tzu’s insistence that war should not be started in haste, with optimistic assumptions, or without good intelligence. The stakes in war are too high for the state to lose, so you should only use your military tools when you can achieve victory. Sun Tzu repeatedly emphasizes the economics of war because of the high cost of maintaining an army on the battlefield for his society. War should not be the first tool a state uses to obtain the desired results because it is so expensive.

In the last chapter of his book, Sun Tzu, he begins with a statement that rings very true today, as my own country, the United States, is financing a protracted war. From Chapter 13 “Using Spies”, Sun Tzu wrote:

“Now, when an army of one hundred thousand is assembled and dispatched on a distant campaign, the expenses borne by the people together with the disbursements of the treasury will amount to a thousand pieces of gold daily. Furthermore, there will be a continuous commotion both at home and at abroad, people will be exhausted by the rush of transportation, and the agricultural work of 700,000 households will be interrupted. “

Reading this, I am amazed at how little some things can change even after thousands of years. War is expensive and its cost extends to the entire population that supports the army. This truth dramatically reveals the wisdom that Sun Tzu offered in his writings. From the “Art of War” the reader will get a clear method for evaluating almost any given situation and then planning a route to success. In his discussion of the war, Sun Tzu teaches his readers to think about where they are, what they are doing, if they can support what they are doing, if they know what they are up against, what is the easiest method to achieve their goals, etc. . Sun Tzu continually reminds the reader (and throughout his life no doubt himself) that the state should not think only about what it wants without paying close attention to external influences. For people, this holistic way of thinking helps them overcome the blinders that emotions often place on their actions. Obstacles to victory cannot be ignored. They must be treated with care.

The ancient Chinese world that Sun Tzu lived in might have been simpler in the sense of less technology, but what was at stake in the war was no less important than it is today, and the path to finding victory. or success was not easier.

As a very short work, “The Art of War” can be read in an hour or two, but will give readers something to think about for years. His advice is engraved in the head. It may not be easy to follow, but Sun Tzu’s famous statement that “every battle is won or lost before it is fought” serves as the ultimate reminder that victory comes to those who plan.