The Nine Situations

1. Sun Tzŭ said: The art of war recognises nine varieties of ground: (1) Dispersive ground; (2) facile ground; (3) contentious ground; (4) open ground; (5) ground of intersecting highways; (6) serious ground; (7) difficult ground; (8) hemmed-in ground; (9) desperate ground.

1. Sun Tzu said: The art of war recognizes nine types of ground: (1) dispersive ground, (2) facile ground, (3) contentious ground, (4) open ground, (5) ground of intersecting highways, (6) serious ground, (7) difficult ground, (8) hemmed-in ground, (9) desperate ground.

2. When a chieftain is fighting in his own territory, it is dispersive ground.

2. When a leader fights in his own territory, the territory is dispersive ground.

3. When he has penetrated into hostile territory, but to no great distance, it is facile ground.

3. When he has entered enemy territory but has not gone far, the terrain is called facile ground.

4. Ground the possession of which imports great advantage to either side, is contentious ground.

4. Ground that gives either side a great advantage if held is called contentious ground.

5. Ground on which each side has liberty of movement is open ground.

5. Ground where both sides can move freely is open ground.

6. Ground which forms the key to three contiguous states, so that he who occupies it first has most of the Empire at his command, is ground of intersecting highways.

6. Land that is the strategic key to three neighboring states is called ground of intersecting highways. Whoever occupies this land first therefore commands most of the Empire.

7. When an army has penetrated into the heart of a hostile country, leaving a number of fortified cities in its rear, it is serious ground.

7. When an army moves deep into enemy territory, leaving several fortified cities behind, the army is on serious ground.

8. Mountain forests, rugged steeps, marshes and fens—all country that is hard to traverse: this is difficult ground.

8. Mountain forests, steep and rugged slopes, marshes, and wetlands are all hard to cross. All such terrain is difficult ground.

9. Ground which is reached through narrow gorges, and from which we can only retire by tortuous paths, so that a small number of the enemy would suffice to crush a large body of our men: this is hemmed in ground.

9. Some ground is reached through narrow gorges, and we can retreat from it only along winding paths. As a result, a small enemy force would be enough to crush a large force of our men. Such terrain is called hemmed-in ground.

10. Ground on which we can only be saved from destruction by fighting without delay, is desperate ground.

10. Ground where we can escape destruction only by fighting immediately is desperate ground.

11. On dispersive ground, therefore, fight not. On facile ground, halt not. On contentious ground, attack not.

11. So do not fight on dispersive ground. Do not stop on facile ground. Do not attack on contentious ground.

12. On open ground, do not try to block the enemy’s way. On ground of intersecting highways, join hands with your allies.

12. On open ground, do not try to block the enemy’s path. On ground of intersecting highways, work together with your allies.

13. On serious ground, gather in plunder. In difficult ground, keep steadily on the march.

13. On serious ground, collect plunder. On difficult ground, keep marching steadily.

14. On hemmed-in ground, resort to stratagem. On desperate ground, fight.

14. When hemmed in, use cunning. When your situation is desperate, fight.

15. Those who were called skilful leaders of old knew how to drive a wedge between the enemy’s front and rear; to prevent co-operation between his large and small divisions; to hinder the good troops from rescuing the bad, the officers from rallying their men.

15. Those known as skilled leaders in ancient times knew how to divide the enemy’s front from the rear. They knew how to stop the enemy’s large and small divisions from working together. They knew how to keep good troops from rescuing poor ones and officers from rallying their men.

16. When the enemy’s men were scattered, they prevented them from concentrating; even when their forces were united, they managed to keep them in disorder.

16. When the enemy’s troops were scattered, they kept them from regrouping. Even when the enemy’s forces came together, they kept those forces in disorder.

17. When it was to their advantage, they made a forward move; when otherwise, they stopped still.

17. When advancing was to their advantage, they moved forward. Otherwise, they stayed still.

18. If asked how to cope with a great host of the enemy in orderly array and on the point of marching to the attack, I should say: “Begin by seizing something which your opponent holds dear; then he will be amenable to your will.”

18. If asked how to face a large, well-organized enemy army about to attack, I would say: “First, seize something your opponent values deeply. Then your opponent will follow your will.”

19. Rapidity is the essence of war: take advantage of the enemy’s unreadiness, make your way by unexpected routes, and attack unguarded spots.

19. Speed is the essence of war. Take advantage of the enemy’s lack of preparation. Take unexpected routes and attack unguarded places.

20. The following are the principles to be observed by an invading force: The further you penetrate into a country, the greater will be the solidarity of your troops, and thus the defenders will not prevail against you.

20. An invading force should follow these principles: The deeper you advance into a country, the more united your troops will become. As a result, the defenders will not be able to defeat you.

21. Make forays in fertile country in order to supply your army with food.

21. Raid fertile areas to supply your army with food.

22. Carefully study the well-being of your men, and do not overtax them. Concentrate your energy and hoard your strength. Keep your army continually on the move, and devise unfathomable plans.

22. Pay close attention to your men's well-being, and do not push them too hard. Focus your energy and conserve your strength. Keep your army constantly on the move, and make plans no one can figure out.

23. Throw your soldiers into positions whence there is no escape, and they will prefer death to flight. If they will face death, there is nothing they may not achieve. Officers and men alike will put forth their uttermost strength.

23. Put your soldiers in positions with no escape, and they will choose death over retreat. If they are willing to face death, there is nothing they cannot achieve. Officers and soldiers alike will give all their strength.

24. Soldiers when in desperate straits lose the sense of fear. If there is no place of refuge, they will stand firm. If they are in the heart of a hostile country, they will show a stubborn front. If there is no help for it, they will fight hard.

24. Soldiers in desperate situations lose their fear. If they have nowhere to take shelter, they will stand firm. If they are deep in enemy territory, they will resist stubbornly. If they have no other choice, they will fight hard.

25. Thus, without waiting to be marshalled, the soldiers will be constantly on the qui vive; without waiting to be asked, they will do your will; without restrictions, they will be faithful; without giving orders, they can be trusted.

25. Thus, without waiting to be assembled, the soldiers will always be on alert. Without waiting to be asked, they will do what you want. Without restrictions, they will remain loyal. Without orders, they can be trusted.

26. Prohibit the taking of omens, and do away with superstitious doubts. Then, until death itself comes, no calamity need be feared.

26. Ban the reading of omens and put an end to doubts caused by superstition. Then, until death itself comes, no disaster needs to be feared.

27. If our soldiers are not overburdened with money, it is not because they have a distaste for riches; if their lives are not unduly long, it is not because they are disinclined to longevity.

27. If our soldiers are not weighed down by money, it is not because they dislike wealth. If their lives are not especially long, it is not because they dislike the idea of living longer.

28. On the day they are ordered out to battle, your soldiers may weep, those sitting up bedewing their garments, and those lying down letting the tears run down their cheeks. But let them once be brought to bay, and they will display the courage of a Chu or a Kuei.

28. On the day your soldiers are ordered into battle, they may weep. Those sitting up may soak their clothes with tears, while those lying down may let tears run down their cheeks. But once the soldiers are cornered, they will show the courage of a Chu or a Kuei.

29. The skilful tactician may be likened to the shuai-jan. Now the shuai-jan is a snake that is found in the Ch‘ang mountains. Strike at its head, and you will be attacked by its tail; strike at its tail, and you will be attacked by its head; strike at its middle, and you will be attacked by head and tail both.

29. A skilled tactician may be compared to the shuai-jan. The shuai-jan is a snake found in the Ch‘ang mountains. Strike its head, and its tail will attack you. Strike its tail, and its head will attack you. Strike its middle, and both its head and tail will attack you.

30. Asked if an army can be made to imitate the shuai-jan, I should answer, Yes. For the men of Wu and the men of Yüeh are enemies; yet if they are crossing a river in the same boat and are caught by a storm, they will come to each other’s assistance just as the left hand helps the right.

30. If asked whether an army can be made to act like the shuai-jan, I would answer yes. For the men of Wu and the men of Yüeh are enemies. Yet if these enemies are crossing a river in the same boat and get caught in a storm, they will help each other, just as the left hand helps the right.

31. Hence it is not enough to put one’s trust in the tethering of horses, and the burying of chariot wheels in the ground.

31. So tying up horses and burying chariot wheels in the ground are not enough to rely on.

32. The principle on which to manage an army is to set up one standard of courage which all must reach.

32. The principle of managing an army is to set one standard of courage that all must meet.

33. How to make the best of both strong and weak—that is a question involving the proper use of ground.

33. Making the most of both the strong and the weak is a matter of using the terrain properly.

34. Thus the skilful general conducts his army just as though he were leading a single man, willy-nilly, by the hand.

34. So a skilled general leads his army as if leading one man by the hand, willing or not.

35. It is the business of a general to be quiet and thus ensure secrecy; upright and just, and thus maintain order.

35. A general must be quiet to ensure secrecy. A general must also be honest and fair to maintain order.

36. He must be able to mystify his officers and men by false reports and appearances, and thus keep them in total ignorance.

36. He must be able to mislead his officers and soldiers with false reports and deceptive appearances. By doing so, he must keep them completely in the dark.

37. By altering his arrangements and changing his plans, he keeps the enemy without definite knowledge. By shifting his camp and taking circuitous routes, he prevents the enemy from anticipating his purpose.

37. By changing his arrangements and plans, he keeps the enemy from knowing anything for certain. By moving his camp and taking roundabout routes, he prevents the enemy from anticipating his purpose.

38. At the critical moment, the leader of an army acts like one who has climbed up a height and then kicks away the ladder behind him. He carries his men deep into hostile territory before he shows his hand.

38. At the critical moment, an army’s leader acts like someone who climbs to a high place, then kicks away the ladder. He leads his men deep into enemy territory before revealing his plans.

39. He burns his boats and breaks his cooking-pots; like a shepherd driving a flock of sheep, he drives his men this way and that, and none knows whither he is going.

39. He burns his boats and breaks his cooking pots. Like a shepherd driving a flock of sheep, he drives his men in one direction, then another. None of his men knows where he is going.

40. To muster his host and bring it into danger:—this may be termed the business of the general.

40. Gathering his army and leading it into danger may be called the general’s job.

41. The different measures suited to the nine varieties of ground; the expediency of aggressive or defensive tactics; and the fundamental laws of human nature: these are things that must most certainly be studied.

41. You must study the right measures for each of the nine types of ground. You must also study when to attack or defend, and the basic laws of human nature.

42. When invading hostile territory, the general principle is, that penetrating deeply brings cohesion; penetrating but a short way means dispersion.

42. When invading enemy territory, the general rule is that advancing deep into it brings unity. But advancing only a short distance leads to division.

43. When you leave your own country behind, and take your army across neighbourhood territory, you find yourself on critical ground. When there are means of communication on all four sides, the ground is one of intersecting highways.

43. When you leave your own country and lead your army through neighboring territory, you are on critical ground. When routes connect the ground on all four sides, it is ground of intersecting highways.

44. When you penetrate deeply into a country, it is serious ground. When you penetrate but a little way, it is facile ground.

44. When you advance deep into a country, you are on serious ground. When you advance only a short distance, you are on facile ground.

45. When you have the enemy’s strongholds on your rear, and narrow passes in front, it is hemmed-in ground. When there is no place of refuge at all, it is desperate ground.

45. When enemy strongholds are behind you and narrow passes are ahead, you are on hemmed-in ground. When there is no place to take refuge at all, you are on desperate ground.

46. Therefore, on dispersive ground, I would inspire my men with unity of purpose. On facile ground, I would see that there is close connection between all parts of my army.

46. So, on dispersive ground, I would inspire my men to share a common purpose. On facile ground, I would keep all parts of my army closely connected.

47. On contentious ground, I would hurry up my rear.

47. On contentious ground, I would hurry the troops at the rear forward.

48. On open ground, I would keep a vigilant eye on my defences. On ground of intersecting highways, I would consolidate my alliances.

48. On open ground, I would watch my defenses closely. On ground of intersecting highways, I would strengthen my alliances.

49. On serious ground, I would try to ensure a continuous stream of supplies. On difficult ground, I would keep pushing on along the road.

49. On serious ground, I would try to keep supplies flowing steadily. On difficult ground, I would keep moving along the road.

50. On hemmed-in ground, I would block any way of retreat. On desperate ground, I would proclaim to my soldiers the hopelessness of saving their lives.

50. On hemmed-in ground, I would block every escape route. On desperate ground, I would tell my soldiers there is no hope of saving their lives.

51. For it is the soldier’s disposition to offer an obstinate resistance when surrounded, to fight hard when he cannot help himself, and to obey promptly when he has fallen into danger.

51. For soldiers naturally resist stubbornly when surrounded. They fight hard when they have no other choice, and obey quickly when in danger.

52. We cannot enter into alliance with neighbouring princes until we are acquainted with their designs. We are not fit to lead an army on the march unless we are familiar with the face of the country—its mountains and forests, its pitfalls and precipices, its marshes and swamps. We shall be unable to turn natural advantages to account unless we make use of local guides.

52. We cannot form alliances with neighboring rulers until we know their plans. We are not fit to lead an army on the march unless we know the terrain. We must know its mountains and forests, hidden pits and cliffs, marshes and swamps. We cannot use the terrain to our advantage unless we use local guides.

53. To be ignorant of any one of the following four or five principles does not befit a warlike prince.

53. A warrior prince should know every one of the following four or five principles.

54. When a warlike prince attacks a powerful state, his generalship shows itself in preventing the concentration of the enemy’s forces. He overawes his opponents, and their allies are prevented from joining against him.

54. When a warlike ruler attacks a powerful state, he shows his military skill by preventing the enemy’s forces from gathering. He intimidates his opponents, and their allies are prevented from joining forces against him.

55. Hence he does not strive to ally himself with all and sundry, nor does he foster the power of other states. He carries out his own secret designs, keeping his antagonists in awe. Thus he is able to capture their cities and overthrow their kingdoms.

55. So he does not try to ally himself with everyone, nor does he strengthen other states. He carries out his own secret plans, keeping his enemies in fear of him. This allows him to capture his enemies’ cities and overthrow their kingdoms.

56. Bestow rewards without regard to rule, issue orders without regard to previous arrangements; and you will be able to handle a whole army as though you had to do with but a single man.

56. Give rewards without following rules, and issue orders without following previous arrangements. Then you will be able to command a whole army as if it were a single man.

57. Confront your soldiers with the deed itself; never let them know your design. When the outlook is bright, bring it before their eyes; but tell them nothing when the situation is gloomy.

57. Give your soldiers the task at hand. Never let them know your plan. When the outlook is good, show them. But tell them nothing when the situation is bleak.

58. Place your army in deadly peril, and it will survive; plunge it into desperate straits, and it will come off in safety.

58. Put your army in deadly danger, and it will survive. Plunge your army into a desperate situation, and it will emerge safely.

59. For it is precisely when a force has fallen into harm’s way that is capable of striking a blow for victory.

59. For an army can strike a blow for victory precisely when it finds itself in danger.

60. Success in warfare is gained by carefully accommodating ourselves to the enemy’s purpose.

60. Success in war comes from carefully adapting to the enemy’s aims.

61. By persistently hanging on the enemy’s flank, we shall succeed in the long run in killing the commander-in-chief.

61. By keeping pressure on the enemy’s flank, we will eventually succeed in killing the commander-in-chief.

62. This is called ability to accomplish a thing by sheer cunning.

62. This is called the ability to get something done through cunning alone.

63. On the day that you take up your command, block the frontier passes, destroy the official tallies, and stop the passage of all emissaries.

63. On the day you take command, block the border passes, destroy the official passes, and stop all messengers from crossing.

64. Be stern in the council-chamber, so that you may control the situation.

64. Be stern in planning meetings so that you can control the situation.

65. If the enemy leaves a door open, you must rush in.

65. If the enemy leaves an opening, you must rush in.

66. Forestall your opponent by seizing what he holds dear, and subtly contrive to time his arrival on the ground.

66. Get ahead of your opponent by seizing what he values most. Then subtly arrange when he arrives on the battlefield.

67. Walk in the path defined by rule, and accommodate yourself to the enemy until you can fight a decisive battle.

67. Follow the rules, and adapt to the enemy until you can fight a decisive battle.

68. At first, then, exhibit the coyness of a maiden, until the enemy gives you an opening; afterwards emulate the rapidity of a running hare, and it will be too late for the enemy to oppose you.

68. At first, act as shy as a young woman until the enemy gives you an opening. Then move as fast as a running hare, and the enemy will be too late to stop you.