In his book, Sun Zi is fully aware of the importance of initiative in the field. His core war theory is to steer clear of the enemy's main strength and strike its weak point. While the theory is universally known as a principle for war, yet Sun Zi's understanding is not limited to the theory's literal meaning; he also takes into account the strength and weakness in a developmental view.
According Sun Zi, the theory does not mean passively waiting; instead, he argues that subjective initiative should be adequately exerted to create favorable situations in the war. Hence there are a lot of tactics and plans to bait the enemy in the book. Sun Zi thinks that if the commanders could properly use tactics and stratagems in the field, delicately maneuver the enemy troops, then the commanders could make their own troop strong and the enemy's weak.
Sun Zi attaches much importance on the management and training of the army, and considers the skills and number of the soldiers as two basic factors that decide the war. It is not an overstatement to say that Sun Zi was the first militarist in China to put management and training on a strategic height.
The central content of Sun's theory in managing the army is to "order the soldiers with civil, and make them uniform with the martial." The generals must care about and treasure their soldiers, but should also implement strict rules and disciplines. Though Sun Zi's theory in managing the military forces is somewhat primitive, it still boasts innovative significance in opening a new and important field.
In addition, the book also talks about military geomorphology (the study of physical features of the earth's surfaces in relation to geological structures), logistics, and forecast. It is fair to say that this book sets up the basic structure of traditional Chinese military theory.
Author: Jeff
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