2. Sun Tzu’s Art of War
A bamboo edition of the Art of War,
commissioned in the eighteenth
century
Various Translated Versions made
by Different Authors
3.
4. Who Is Sun Tzu
• He is also known as
Sun Wu and Sun Zi
• Sun Tzu means
“Master Sun”
• Born in 5th Century BC
in Northern State of
Chi’s of ancient China.
• Died before the year
473 BC.
6. Sun Tzu On War
• The moral strength and intellectual faculty of man were
decisive in war, and that if these were properly applied
war could be waged with certain success.
• He was aware of implications of war. (inflated prices,
rates of wastage, difficulties of supply, etc.)
• His principles on war:
• shortest possible time
• at the least possible cost in lives and effort;
• with infliction on the enemy of the fewest possible
• All warfare is based on deception
7. Art of War
• Is a series of military treatise written by
Sun Tzu in the 6th Century.
• Composed of thirteen (13) chapters
• Teach us to know ourself, to know our
strengths, our weaknesses, and what
are we capable of doing.
9. Beginning
King Of Wu Challenges His Teachings
“If instructions are not clear and commands
not explicit, it is the commanderʼs fault.”
10. Beginning
King Of Wu Challenges His Teachings
“If instructions are not clear and commands
not explicit, it is the commanderʼs fault.”
So… if the orders are unclear then it is the fault of
the general that the troops did not obey. But if the
orders are clear, and his orders have been clear, it is
the fault of the subordinate officers that the orders
are not obeyed.
11. 3 Key Principles that
unify his teachings
• “Know your enemy and know yourself
and in 100 battles you will never be in
peril.”
• “To win 100 battles is not the height of
skill – To subdue the enemy without
fighting is.”
• “Avoid what is strong. Attack what is
weak.”
14. Great Quotes From Sun
Tzu
“In war, numbers alone confer no advantage - Do not advance relaying on sheer military
power.”
“Know your enemy and know yourself and in 100 battles you will never be in peril.”
There are five fundamental factors for success in war - Weather, terrain, leadership,
military doctrine, and most importantly - moral influence.”
“Put the army in the face of death where there is no escape and they will not flee or be
afraid - there is nothing they cannot achieve.”
“It is essential for victory that generals are contrained by their leaders.”
“The winning arm realizes the conditions for victory first, then fights - The losing army
fight first then seeks victory.”
“When troops flee, are insubordinates, collapse or are routed in battle, it is the fault of the
general.”
