1. The Art of War by Sun Tzu
孫子兵法
Sūnzi bīngfǎ

2.  The Art of War is an ancient
Chinese military text, written during
the Warring states period (c 453 –
221 BC)
 Comprised of 13 chapters, each
chapter devoting to specific
aspects of warfare – Espionage,
Political Intelligence, Weather &
Terrain, Deception etc.
 English translation by Lionel Giles,
1910

3. Influences & modern application
 Military applications include: During the First Indochina War, General Võ
Nguyên Giáp implemented the tactics described in the Art of War in the
Battle of Điện Biên Phủ (1954) subsequently ending French involvement
in Indochina, dividing Vietnam into North and South.
 Vietcong officers reportedly could cite passages from the Art of War
 Emphasis on strategy rather than brute force:
“Fight wars without battle – outsmart your opponents so that physical battle
is not necessary” (Chapter 3, Verse 2). Details strategy; hierarchy,
resource allocation, understanding terrain (market), enemy (competition)
 Applied to corporate strategy in business management, tactical
advantage in sporting strategies, negotiation tactics & trial strategy in
law, and more…
 Commonly known in China; Japanese companies require executives to
be well versed.

4. “故曰：知彼知己，百戰不殆；
Gù yuē: Zhī bǐ zhījǐ, bǎizhànbùdài;
不知彼而知己，一勝一負；
Bùzhī bǐ ér zhījǐ, yī shèng yī fù;
不知彼，不知己，每戰必敗”
Bùzhī bǐ, bù zhījǐ, měi zhàn bìbài
Hence the saying: If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need
not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the
enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know
neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.
Shortened to the modern day proverb:
知己知彼，百戰不殆。
Zhījǐ Zhī bǐ , bǎizhànbùdài
 Chapter 3, Verse 18