Use your closeness to the battlefield to await the far-off enemy; use your well-rested troops to await the fatigued; use your well-fed troops to await his hungry. This is the way to manage strength.
JCL
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Managing Strength...
The Master Said....
Use your closeness to the battlefield to await the far-off enemy; use your well-rested troops to await the fatigued; use your well-fed troops to await his hungry. This is the way to manage strength.
Use your closeness to the battlefield to await the far-off enemy; use your well-rested troops to await the fatigued; use your well-fed troops to await his hungry. This is the way to manage strength.
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Managing heart and mind...
The Master said...
Use your proper order to await the enemy's disorder; use your calmness to await his clamor. This is the way to manage the heart - and - mind.
Use your proper order to await the enemy's disorder; use your calmness to await his clamor. This is the way to manage the heart - and - mind.
JCL
Monday, November 26, 2007
The able Commander does not resist change...
Sorry I've been away....
The Master has said....
Thus, the expert at warfare can infer the enemy's weakness from observing his strengths, and can infer his surpluses from observing hias deficiencies. He can see the victory as clearly as the sun or moon and can grasp it as certainly as water douses fire.
The Master has said....
Thus, the expert at warfare can infer the enemy's weakness from observing his strengths, and can infer his surpluses from observing hias deficiencies. He can see the victory as clearly as the sun or moon and can grasp it as certainly as water douses fire.
JCL
Thursday, November 22, 2007
active rather than reactive....
The Master said....
Don not depend on the enemy not coming; depend rather on being ready for him. Do not depend on the enemy not attacking; depend rather on having a position that cannot be attacked.
Don not depend on the enemy not coming; depend rather on being ready for him. Do not depend on the enemy not attacking; depend rather on having a position that cannot be attacked.
JCL
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Security by revising and redefining ones own strength
The Master said...
Thus an army does not have fixed strategic advantages (shih) or an invariable position (hsing). To be able to take the victory by varying one's posistion according to the enemy's is called being inscrutable (shen). Thus of the five phases (wu hsing), none is the constant victor; of the four seasons, none occupies a constant position; the days are both short and long; the moon waxes and wanes.
Thus an army does not have fixed strategic advantages (shih) or an invariable position (hsing). To be able to take the victory by varying one's posistion according to the enemy's is called being inscrutable (shen). Thus of the five phases (wu hsing), none is the constant victor; of the four seasons, none occupies a constant position; the days are both short and long; the moon waxes and wanes.
JCL
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
On Harmony
The Master has said...
Disorder is born from order; cowardice from courage; weakness from strength. The line between disorder and order lies in logistics (shu); between cowardice and courage, in strategic advantage (shih); and between weakness and strength, in strategic positioning (hsing).
Disorder is born from order; cowardice from courage; weakness from strength. The line between disorder and order lies in logistics (shu); between cowardice and courage, in strategic advantage (shih); and between weakness and strength, in strategic positioning (hsing).
Monday, November 19, 2007
A distaste of war....
The Master has said...
If one is not fully cognizant of the evils of waging war, he cannot be fully cognizant either of how to turn it to best account.
If one is not fully cognizant of the evils of waging war, he cannot be fully cognizant either of how to turn it to best account.
JCL
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Taking up a strategic posistion (hsing)
The Master said.....
The ultimate skill in taking up a strategic position (hsing) is too have no form (hsing). If your position is formless (hsing) , the most carefully concealed spies will not be able to get a look at it, and the wisest counselors will not be able to lay plans against it. I present the rank and file with victories gained through (yin) strategic positioning (hsing), yet they are not able to understand them. Everyone knows the position (hsing) that has won me victory, yet none fathom how I came to settle on this winning position (hsing). Thus one's victories in battle cannot be repeated - they take their from (hsing) in response to inexhaustibly changing circumstances.
The ultimate skill in taking up a strategic position (hsing) is too have no form (hsing). If your position is formless (hsing) , the most carefully concealed spies will not be able to get a look at it, and the wisest counselors will not be able to lay plans against it. I present the rank and file with victories gained through (yin) strategic positioning (hsing), yet they are not able to understand them. Everyone knows the position (hsing) that has won me victory, yet none fathom how I came to settle on this winning position (hsing). Thus one's victories in battle cannot be repeated - they take their from (hsing) in response to inexhaustibly changing circumstances.
JCL
Saturday, November 17, 2007
On Terrain; and the Psychology of the soldier
The Master said...
Therefore, on terrain where the troops are easily scattered. I would keep the troops together; on contested terrain I would pick up the pace of our rear divisions, on intermediate terrain, I would pay particular attention to defense; at a strategically vital intersection, I would make sure of my alliances; on critical terrain, I would maintain a continuous line of provisions; on difficult terrain, I would continue the advance along the road; on terrain vulnerable to ambush, I would block off the paths of access and retreat; on terrain from which there is no way out, I would show our troops my resolve to fight to the death.
Thus the psychology of the soldier is;
Resist when surrounded,
Fight when you have to,
And obey orders explicitly when in danger.
Therefore, on terrain where the troops are easily scattered. I would keep the troops together; on contested terrain I would pick up the pace of our rear divisions, on intermediate terrain, I would pay particular attention to defense; at a strategically vital intersection, I would make sure of my alliances; on critical terrain, I would maintain a continuous line of provisions; on difficult terrain, I would continue the advance along the road; on terrain vulnerable to ambush, I would block off the paths of access and retreat; on terrain from which there is no way out, I would show our troops my resolve to fight to the death.
Thus the psychology of the soldier is;
Resist when surrounded,
Fight when you have to,
And obey orders explicitly when in danger.
JCL
Friday, November 16, 2007
On deceit...
The Master said...
Warfare is the art of (tao) of deceit. Therefore, when able, seem to be unable; when ready seem unready; when nearby; seem far away; and when far away seem near.
Warfare is the art of (tao) of deceit. Therefore, when able, seem to be unable; when ready seem unready; when nearby; seem far away; and when far away seem near.
JCL
Thursday, November 15, 2007
The three basic strategies....
Master Sun said....
The expert in using the military has three basic strategies that he applies;
The best strategy is to attack the enemy at the level of wisdom and experience;
the second is to expose the injustice of the enemy's claims;
and the last is to attack the enemy's battle position (shih)
The expert in using the military has three basic strategies that he applies;
The best strategy is to attack the enemy at the level of wisdom and experience;
the second is to expose the injustice of the enemy's claims;
and the last is to attack the enemy's battle position (shih)
JCL
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
When surronded by a hostile force...
To fail to think fast when surrounded by the enemy is to have your back pressed to the wall;
And to fail to take the battle to the enemy when your back is to the wall is to perish.
Comments?
And to fail to take the battle to the enemy when your back is to the wall is to perish.
Comments?
JCL
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
On Contested Terrain
Master Sun has said....
The principle governing contested terrain is that if you let the enemy have it, you can get it, but if you try to get it you will lose it. If the enemy has occupied the contested terrain, move carefully and do not attack him. Feign retreat and withdraw. Set up flags and sound the drums, hasten to the enemy's most vital points. Drag brush behind the troops raise the dust to confuse the ears and eyes of the enemy. Separate off our best troops and lay them secretly in ambush. The enemy must come out to the rescue What he wants we give him. and what he abandons we take. This is the way of contested terrain.
The principle governing contested terrain is that if you let the enemy have it, you can get it, but if you try to get it you will lose it. If the enemy has occupied the contested terrain, move carefully and do not attack him. Feign retreat and withdraw. Set up flags and sound the drums, hasten to the enemy's most vital points. Drag brush behind the troops raise the dust to confuse the ears and eyes of the enemy. Separate off our best troops and lay them secretly in ambush. The enemy must come out to the rescue What he wants we give him. and what he abandons we take. This is the way of contested terrain.
JCL
Monday, November 12, 2007
Know thyself...
Master Sun Said...
Know the other, know thyself
And the victory will not be at risk;
Know thy ground, know the natural Conditions,
And the victory can be total.
Know the other, know thyself
And the victory will not be at risk;
Know thy ground, know the natural Conditions,
And the victory can be total.
JCL
Sunday, November 11, 2007
On Movement and deception....
The Master said....
Therefore, in warfare rely on deceptive maneuvers to establish your ground, calculate advantages in deciding your movements, and divide up and consolidate your forces to make strategic advantages.
Thus advancing at a pace, such an army is like the wind; slow and majestic, it is like a forest; invading and unpredictable, it is like a shadow; moving, it is like lightning and thunder.
Therefore, in warfare rely on deceptive maneuvers to establish your ground, calculate advantages in deciding your movements, and divide up and consolidate your forces to make strategic advantages.
Thus advancing at a pace, such an army is like the wind; slow and majestic, it is like a forest; invading and unpredictable, it is like a shadow; moving, it is like lightning and thunder.
JCL
Saturday, November 10, 2007
The Five Factors or way of anticipating victory (tao)
The master has said....
He who knows the enemy and himself
Will never in a hundred battles be at risk;
He who does not know the enemy but knows himself
will sometimes win and sometimes lose;
He who knows neither the enemy nor himself will be at risk in ever battle
He who knows the enemy and himself
Will never in a hundred battles be at risk;
He who does not know the enemy but knows himself
will sometimes win and sometimes lose;
He who knows neither the enemy nor himself will be at risk in ever battle
The exemplary commander (Person chun tzu)
Master Sun has said....
A commander who advances without any thought of winning personal fame and withdraws in spite of certain punishment, whose only concern is to protect his people and promote the interests of his ruler, is the nations' treasure.
A commander who advances without any thought of winning personal fame and withdraws in spite of certain punishment, whose only concern is to protect his people and promote the interests of his ruler, is the nations' treasure.
JCL
Thursday, November 8, 2007
The way (Tao)
Master Sun Said...
Thus, if the way (tao) of battle guarantees you victory, it is right for you to insist on fighting even if the ruler has said not to;
Where the way (tao) of battle does not allow victory, it is right for you to refuse to fight even if the ruler has said you must.
Where the way (tao) of battle does not allow victory, it is right for you to refuse to fight even if the ruler has said you must.
JCL
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Where at all possible....
Master Sun Said...
Where at all possible the commander attempts to defeat the enemy with this careful planning rather than military might;
Where at all possible the commander attempts to defeat the enemy with this careful planning rather than military might;
.....the best military policy is to attack strategies: the next to attack alliances; the next to attack soldiers; and the worst to assault walled cities.
JCL
11/08/07
11/08/07
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
The art of warfare is this....
Master Sun Said....
It is best to keep one's own state intact; to crush the enemy's state is only second best. It is best to keep one's own army, battalion, company, or five man squad intact; to crush the enemy's army, battalion, company, or five man squad intact is only a second best. So to win a hundred victories in a hundred battles is not the highest excellence; the highest excellence is to subdue the enemy's army without fighting at all.
JCL
It is best to keep one's own state intact; to crush the enemy's state is only second best. It is best to keep one's own army, battalion, company, or five man squad intact; to crush the enemy's army, battalion, company, or five man squad intact is only a second best. So to win a hundred victories in a hundred battles is not the highest excellence; the highest excellence is to subdue the enemy's army without fighting at all.
JCL
Who and Why
Who was Sun Tzu??
A man shaped by his lifes' experiences as well as the time he lived in cira ~ 500 B.C. Author of... "The Art of Warfare"
Why?
I have found much help and guidance from the wise humans of old, Aristotle, Plato, Nietzche, etc. Most have very generous representation on the web today But Master Tzu seem to have been forgotten or never known.
Life is a constant state of siege certainly our modern life, as such Master Tzus' advice is timeless.
I started out emailing a quote of the day to a hand full of friends but now will blog an up date for them as well as anybody else.
"Do what is right to do... Draw from your past but let the past not draw from you! "
John C. Luf 11/06/07
A man shaped by his lifes' experiences as well as the time he lived in cira ~ 500 B.C. Author of... "The Art of Warfare"
Why?
I have found much help and guidance from the wise humans of old, Aristotle, Plato, Nietzche, etc. Most have very generous representation on the web today But Master Tzu seem to have been forgotten or never known.
Life is a constant state of siege certainly our modern life, as such Master Tzus' advice is timeless.
I started out emailing a quote of the day to a hand full of friends but now will blog an up date for them as well as anybody else.
"Do what is right to do... Draw from your past but let the past not draw from you! "
John C. Luf 11/06/07
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