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Chapter I. LAYING PLANS

[Ts'ao Kung, in defining the meaning of the Chinese for the title

of this chapter, says it refers to the deliberations in the

temple selected by the general for his temporary use, or as we

should say, in his tent. See. § 26.]

1. Sun Tzŭ said: The art of war is of vital importance to the

State.

2. It is a matter of life and death, a road either to safety or

to ruin. Hence it is a subject of inquiry which can on no account

be neglected.

3. The art of war, then, is governed by five constant factors, to

be taken into account in one's deliberations, when seeking to

determine the conditions obtaining in the field.

4. These are: (1) The Moral Law; (2) Heaven; (3) Earth; (4) The

Commander; (5) Method and discipline.

[It appears from what follows that Sun Tzŭ means by "Moral Law" a

principle of harmony, not unlike the Tao of Lao Tzŭ in its moral

aspect. One might be tempted to render it by "morale," were it

not considered as an attribute of the ruler in § 13.]