Sun-Tzu (300s BCE)

Chinese general who lived in the fourth century BCE and authored the military treatise The Art of War, which contains strategic principles still employed today. Sun-Tzu lived in the Chinese state of Wu, located in modern Shandong Province, during the fourth century BCE. This period in Chinese history is known as the Warring States Period. At that time, a cluster of [Page 695]states in southern China battled frequently for control of the region's plentiful natural resources. The price for defeat was steep; the population of a losing state was commonly slaughtered or enslaved.

When Sun-Tzu became commander of Wu's military, he was well aware of the perils of military defeat. But he also recognized that Wu was positioned to dominate the region. The state of Chou, which had long controlled the surrounding states, was in a period of steep decline. Wu and another state, Yüeh, both possessed the strength to succeed Chou as the region's power. Sun-Tzu thus crafted a strategy designed to elevate Wu's standing in the region while avoiding a potentially devastating confrontation with Yüeh. Sun-Tzu charted this strategy in his famous book The Art of War.

The Art of War outlined several key principles. First, Sun-Tzu contended that the decision to initiate a war is the gravest choice a nation can make. Therefore, war must be pursued only when a nation is threatened. Once a nation has decided to engage in a war, it must carefully plan its overall strategy. This planning includes a meticulous observation and assessment of the enemy. Sun-Tzu demanded that his military commanders evaluate the enemy's numbers, the ability of the enemy's forces, its level of discipline, the reputations of its leaders, its supplies, and even whether the enemy preferred to fight in good or bad weather.

Sun-Tzu next listed the rules for confrontation once war became imminent. A direct battle must never occur, Sun-Tzu cautioned, unless the enemy has definitely fielded the weaker force. Otherwise, an army must maneuver itself into a position to attain victory. First, the enemy must be deceived so that it underestimates its opponent's strength. Next, it must be craftily led into terrain that will hamper its movements. Subsequently, guerrilla attacks can be used to weaken the enemy once it has been placed in a defenseless position. Once the enemy has been significantly weakened, it can be exploited by striking at its most vulnerable points. Overall, Sun-Tzu advised that fighting should occur only when victory is assured.

The Art of War has gained adherents through successive centuries. The text gained new pertinence in the 20th century when Chinese revolutionary Mao Zedong followed its principles to lead the communist takeover of China. Aware of Mao's success, the Vietcong adopted Sun-Tzu's guerilla tactics in its battles against the United States during the Vietnam War.

The Art of War has even influenced recent U.S. military strategy. While serving as head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Colin Powell devised a policy known as the Powell Doctrine. The doctrine stated several firm principles: The United States should engage in military action only when the mission's purpose is clearly stated and the mission is of vital importance to national security; the United States must enter the battle with the clearly superior force; and a clear end to the mission must be declared. Echoes of Sun-Tzu's advice about the gravity of war and the need to ensure victory resound throughout the Powell Doctrine and explain the U.S. desire to maintain a military that is far superior to any other in the world.

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