History Literature / TheArtOfWar

* ''Literature/TheArtOfWarMachiavelli''.
* ''Literature/TheArtOfWarSunTzu''.

* ''Film/TheArtOfWarMachiavelli''.

[[quoteright:200:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/200px-The_Art_of_War_Running_Press.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:200:Not big, but still ''The'' BigBookOfWar.]]

->''"War is a matter of vital importance to the state; a matter of life and death, the road either to survival or ruin. Hence, it is imperative that it be studied thoroughly."''
-->-- '''Sun Tzu'''

''[[TropeCodifier The]]'' BigBookOfWar.

''The Art of War'' (孫子兵法, Sūn Zǐ Bīng Fǎ) is a short Chinese text on warfare, written by Sun Tzu (birth name Sun Wu, Sun Tzu/Zi is an honorific meaning "Master Sun"), believed to have been a general of the nation of Wu during the Spring and Autumn Period (722–481 BCE). In it, Sun gives a basic overview of both [[StrategyVersusTactics strategy and tactics]] that has given countless generations of military leaders and thinkers a basic grounding in military theory.

The text's surprisingly general and generous overlaps with military-minded common sense go a long way to explain its popularity and universality. Sun maintains the importance of knowing one's enemies and oneself, striking at the enemy's weaknesses with overwhelming force, concealing one's own weaknesses, and the general importance of deception to military operations. Also covered are how to fight on different types of terrain, the use of fire, and the importance of spies. Perhaps surprisingly, the opening essay stresses the ''un''desirability of going to war at all, and how wars should be brought to a conclusion as quickly and brutally as possible.

''The Art of War'' is easily the best-known military book ever written, and is still one of the most influential. Numerous translations are available, [[TheAnnotatedEdition most of which include at least a few commentaries and annotations]] (in fact, without the annotations, introductions and footnotes, ''Literature/TheArtOfWar'' is surprisingly short)[[note]]At its creation, the book most likely was written on [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bamboo_and_wooden_slips bamboo slips]] since paper hadn't been invented yet, and could have been quite a {{Doorstopper}} in its own right[[/note]]. It is required reading in many militaries even today, and some Korean and Japanese corporations require their employees to read it and apply its lessons to the world of commerce. Napoleon is said to have had a well-used copy in French, and the WWII US general UsefulNotes/DouglasMacArthur is known to have taken its teachings to heart. It is also required reading in many [[CorruptCorporateExecutive executive]] [[ThereAreNoGoodExecutives business]] courses; make of that what you will. There's even a story in the ComicBook ''ComicBook/TheQuestion'' where the eponymous hero and ComicBook/GreenArrow fights some bad guys while quoting the book throughout.

Due to this connection to the spheres of power, wealth and glory, it has an unfortunate tendency to be treated in modern media as [[SufficientlyAnalyzedMagic some sort of magic]] or [[MadScience occult science close to magic]]. It is not and never was. In practice, many people had reached the same conclusion as Sun himself via analysis and common sense, never having read the book. [[StrategyVersusTactics The strategic successes]] [[RealLifeWritesThePlot gained in practice]] in the conditions outlined by Sun 2,500 years before modern age only prove [[LeeroyJenkins that]] ''[[LeeroyJenkins not]]'' [[LeeroyJenkins using your common sense in campaigns and combat]] usually earns you a quick end at a much unripe age. And, which is worse, [[GeneralRipper earn the same end for your army and country due to recklessness]].

It is available online in several places; [[http://www.sonshi.com/learn.html here]] is a copy with accompanying discussions. [[http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/132 This is the 1910 translation (with commentaries) in plaintext]], and [[http://www.puppetpress.com/classics/artofwar.htm here it is in a pretty PDF.]]
----
!!It provides examples of:

* AggressiveNegotiations: A tactic advocated, using false peace talks to lure an enemy into a trap.
* AttackItsWeakPoint
-->'''VI, 30:''' "So, in war, the way is to avoid what is strong and strike at what is weak."
* BattleOfWits: The Handbook
* BeliefMakesYouStupid: One reason why Sun Zi's theories were so radical was his advocation of ''not'' relying on spirits and soothsaying to predict victories in battles. He firmly believes in rational analysis to secure victories.
* BigBookOfWar: Though it only becomes big when you add the commentaries to it. The original Classical Chinese edition fits on half a pamphlet.
* CaptainObvious: "If fighting is sure to result in victory, then you must fight." Despite the text you just read likely inciting you to think "THEN WHY WOULDN'T YOU!?", the context of the line continues and refers to how [[ExecutiveMeddling a monarch may want you to not fight for whatever reason]]. The rest of the line also states that if you will clearly ''lose'', don't fight even if your sovereign commands you to.
* CombatPragmatist: You definitely should be if you take this book as example.
* TheChessmaster[=/=]TheStrategist: The book is basically a manual of how to be one.
* DeadpanSnarker: Whilst it is generally down to the translation rather than Sun himself, there are some rather witty quips.
-->''Though we have heard of stupid haste in war, cleverness has never been seen associated with long delays.''
* DefeatMeansFriendship: Sun Tzu encourages the reader to allow prisoners of war to change side. Once they do, they should be treated as fellow soldiers alongside with the other soldiers.
** This seems odd to Western readers, as Europe has a long tradition of parole, ransom and prisoner exchange, but was actually just business as usual in premodern China.
* DefensiveFeintTrap: If the enemy has a strong hold over a defensive position, pretend that you're retreating from him. If he's stupid enough to follow you, you'll then either lead him into a trap or turn around and attack him again. If he doesn't follow you, then it'll save you more soldiers who will live to fight another day.
* DesperationAttack: "Throw the troops into a position from which there is no escape, and even when faced with death they will not flee." In actuality, Sun Tzu was warning ''against'' this because desperation attacks can still be pretty effective even if the enemy dies while doing it; that is, [[TakingYouWithMe if someone dies but takes out a decent chunk of your infantry while doing so, they've still won]] since you need time and man power to replenish and must potentially stop your forward progress. His answer was to [[HopeSpot always leave an escape route for the enemy, thus allowing them to rout, making them easy targets... and allowing them to run into the ambush you set up on the escape route so you could take them out there.]]
* DirtyCoward: Cowardice is one of the five weaknesses of the general that can lead into defeat.
* DisturbedDoves: IX, 22: "The rising of birds in their flight is the sign of an ambuscade. Startled beasts indicate that a sudden attack is coming."
* DontMakeMeDestroyYou: Sun Tzu said that "supreme excellence" in wartime wasn't winning every battle, but breaking the enemy's resistance without fighting. One of the advised tactics to this end is to intimidate an enemy into surrender by saying that, though you don't want to escalate things, you'll be merciless if you're forced to fight.
* EasyLogistics: Seriously averted. Sun Zi points out that logistics is ''the'' factor which make or break states during wars.
* ExecutiveMeddling: Not literally, but InUniverse in the book, Sun Tzu acknowledges the dangers that might come if a head of state without military experience or training thinks he's hot shot and decides to meddle with the generals' plans and make the strategic decisions himself. It's why it's important for the general to stand up to the head of state if he immediately sees the flaws in his plans.
* AFatherToHisMen: Emotional connections between commanders and soldiers is encouraged since it'll improve the soldiers' fighting spirit.
** However, being too much a Father to the men is one of the "Five Dangerous Faults of a General". If the commander sacrifices important advantages for the sake of his troops' comfort, then defeat or needlessly prolonged conflict follows. In other words, being too 'good' to one's men will get more of them killed in the long-run.
* FeedTheMole: A suggested tactic. In general, Sun Zi approves of using any means to end wars decisively.
* ForebodingFleeingFlock: Sun Tzu counsels being alert for this as it may indicate enemy movement.
* TheGameOfTheBook: ''VideoGame/TheAncientArtOfWar'', which is designed around Sun's observations and features him as your savviest opponent.
* GeoEffects: Sun Tzu points out how to take advantage of the terrain repeatedly.
* GloryHound: Not the best commander you can have, as such commanders may not have a strategy in mind which minimizes casualties and expenses.
* GuileHero: A truly worthy general will have the traits of this. A quote from the work reads "All warfare is based on deception."
* HairTriggerTemper: It's important for the general not have a short temper and to know how to keep his head cool, or he might make costly mistakes. If your enemy has this, then you should [[IShallTauntYou provoke him]] to get him to mess up.
* HonorBeforeReason: Another one of the five weaknesses in generals that can lead to defeat.
* HopeSpot: Encouraged. Leaving an escape route provides numerous chances to dispatch fleeing foes. As well as avoiding loses caused by enemies fighting to the death.
* {{Hostage For MacGuffin}}: Present in a prototypical form. Sun Tzu advises that if you capture something which the enemy holds dear, they will readily acquiesce to your wishes.
* IShallTauntYou: "[[HairTriggerTemper If your enemy is choleric]], [[FlawExploitation seek to anger him]]."
* KansasCityShuffle: The most famous line in the book is:
-->"All warfare is based on deception".
* KillItWithFire: There's an entire chapter devoted to the use of fire, although the last part of this chapter is about "don't fight because of anger".
* KnowWhenToFoldThem: If the enemy is too strong to face without being annihilated, sometimes it's wiser to bug off and call it a day.
* LeeroyJenkins: A more stupider battle plan doesn't exist (wording is deliberate to [[SelfDemonstratingArticle illustrate a point]]). It just gives your enemies a quick victory, and you'll lose plenty of manpower as well as much of your reputation as a tactician.
** Sun Tzu listed it among ''five dangerous traits of a general''.
--->''He who is reckless can be killed.''
--->-- '''8th chapter: Nine Changes'''
** However, Sun Tzu also warns against the ''opposite'' of this:
--->''Thus, though we have heard of stupid haste in war, cleverness has never been seen associated with long delays.''
--->-- '''2nd chapter: Waging War'''
* MundaneUtility: Not only does it find use in war; the themes and ideas in this book have several other applications in everyday life such as business and sports.
* NeverSplitTheParty: It's safer to remain as a whole rather than splitting up the army in hopes for quicker recon gathering.
** Unless you outnumber them two to one, then it outright tells you to split up, though it's only because you're going to use a [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flanking_maneuver flanking tactic]].
* NotAfraidToDie: 'Too much' courage is one of the Five Weaknesses of a leader as well. A leader who is not afraid of dying is liable to [[WhyDontYouJustShootHim being (easily) killed]] by his enemies.
* ObfuscatingStupidity: This, along with any other way of getting your enemy to underestimate you and your forces, is smiled upon by Sun Tzu.
--> "The perfect plan approaches the Formlessness (or indecipherability) If it is formless then best-informed spy cannot uncover it, nor the wisest plan against it."
* ObstructiveBureaucrat: Sun Tzu discusses dealing with these. He favors ignoring them, sending them home and - if they become too obstructive - decapitation.
* PoorCommunicationKills: Sun Tzu cautions that issuing orders that aren't absolutely clear invites disaster.
--> "If instructions are not clear and commands not explicit, it is the commander's fault."
* RapePillageAndBurn: Encouraged, though with more emphasis on "pillage" than "burn" and nothing about the "rape".
** It says an army on the move should pillage resources captured from the people they're invading to ease logistical problems, and to destroy what they can't take if it appears their opponent would use it. Although there really isn't anything specifically said against the first part, it can be assumed that it is not recommended as a standard practice.
* RealLifeWritesThePlot: It has been historically proven that much of what the book recommends is essential for success in the long term.
* RobbingTheDead: Recommended, to cut down supply lines.
* SchmuckBait: If you have something the enemy wants, lay it down somewhere and get your troops ready to ambush him if he takes it. Also, learn how you can avoid taking those baits the enemy lays down for you.
* ShoutOut: Swedish Metal-Band Music/{{Sabaton}} named their fourth album after the book.
** Anarchy Club named their 3rd album this as well.
* SmugSnake: Warned against, as underestimating your opponents can make you susceptible to any trickery they throw your way.
* TheSpartanWay: The best way to create a fine army. However, Sun Zi also advocates treating soldiers fairly. The harsh part should only come in for punishment due to defying orders, as to Sun Zi, an army without discipline is no army at all.
* TheSpymaster: Spies are important, so a general should be this trope as well.
** The introduction to the chapter on spies is a masterpiece of coercion. Sun Tzu calculates how much protracted war costs a state, then brings up the price of spies before finally accusing generals who ''don't'' use spies to speed up combat of crimes against humanity.
* TheStrategist: This book teaches its reader how to be one.
* StockholmSyndrome: It advises invoking this trope on [=POWs=] as ''a matter of standard policy'', because it works often enough to be worth the effort. Countries that comply with the Geneva convention usually take this advice to heart, and treat them well.
* StormingTheCastle: Strongly discouraged.
-->"The preparation of mantlets, movable shelters, and various implements of war, will take up three whole months, and the piling up of mounds over against the walls will take three months more. The general, unable to control his irritation, will launch his men to the assault like swarming ants, with the result that one third of his men are slain while the town still remains untaken. Such are the disastrous effects of a siege."
* SwampsAreEvil: You should avoid swamps as much as possible and if you do end up in one, go through it as quickly as you can. Have your back turned on the trees so that no enemy can attack you from behind.
* TakeAThirdOption: A lot of passages strongly advocate against getting caught in situations where you are presented with only a few obvious courses of action.
* ToWinWithoutFighting: TropeNamer.
-->"For to win one hundred victories in one hundred battles is not the acme of skill. To subdue the enemy without fighting is the acme of skill."
* TropeNamer: Sun Tzu for MaryTzu. Also for ToWinWithoutFighting.
* UnwittingPawn: Arguably the concept of the Doomed Spy, whose sole purpose is for your real spy to reveal him to the enemy, thus allowing your real spy to gain the enemy's trust and allowing the Doomed Spy to give the enemy false information. This is averted if the Doomed Spy knows whats going to happen to him beforehand.
* XanatosGambit: Learning to create a win-win situation would be invaluable for any general so naturally there's a few words on how to do it.
** See also False Retreat; never really a bad idea because you stand to gain no matter what happens.
** The note on Desperation Attack; if the soldiers run (preferably) they're routed with fewer losses. If they don't run, they're still routed.
** Another one, when the enemy is bearing down on you, attack his weakest ally. Either he'll pull out to aid him, or he'll continue on after you, in which case no one will want to ally with someone who abandons them to death. Either you save yourself or you weaken whatever alliances the enemy has going for them.
* XanatosSpeedChess: Don't expect that just one tactic or strategy will help you defeat your foes in the long run. As you fight you'll have to learn that "according as circumstances are favourable, one should modify one's plans."
* ZergRush: Discouraged in hard and long tasks like siege warfare, but encouraged on open battlefields, especially when it's clear that you outnumber the enemy.

''The Art of War'' is easily the best-known military book ever written, and is still one of the most influential. Numerous translations are available, [[TheAnnotatedEdition most of which include at least a few commentaries and annotations]] (in fact, without the annotations, introductions and footnotes, ''Literature/TheArtOfWar'' is surprisingly short). It is required reading in many militaries even today, and some Korean and Japanese corporations require their employees to read it and apply its lessons to the world of commerce. Napoleon is said to have had a well-used copy in French, and the WWII US general UsefulNotes/DouglasMacArthur is known to have taken its teachings to heart. It is also required reading in many [[CorruptCorporateExecutive executive]] [[ThereAreNoGoodExecutives business]] courses; make of that what you will. There's even a story in the ComicBook ''ComicBook/TheQuestion'' where the eponymous hero and ComicBook/GreenArrow fights some bad guys while quoting the book throughout.

* TheSpartanWay: The best way to create a fine army.

* EasyLogistics: Seriously averted.

* FeedTheMole: A suggested tactic.

* GloryHound: Not the best commander you can have.

''The Art of War'' (孫子兵法, Sūn Zǐ Bīng Fǎ) is a short Chinese text on warfare, written by Sun Tzu (birth name Sun Wu, Sun Tzu/Zi is an honorific meaning Master Sun), believed to have been a general of the nation of Wu during the Spring and Autumn Period (722–481 BCE). In it, Sun gives a basic overview of both [[StrategyVersusTactics strategy and tactics]] that has given countless generations of military leaders and thinkers a basic grounding in military theory.

* ExecutiveMeddling: Not literally, but [[{{In-Universe}} in the book]], Sun Tzu acknowledges the dangers that might come if a head of state without military experience or training thinks he's hot shot and decides to meddle with the generals' plans and make the strategic decisions himself. It's why it's important for the general to stand up to the head of state if he immediately sees the flaws in his plans.

''The Art of War'' (孫子兵法, Sūn Zǐ Bīng Fǎ) is a short Chinese text on warfare, written by Sun Tzu (birth name Sun Wu, Sun Tzu is an honorific meaning Master Sun), believed to have been a general of the nation of Wu during the Spring and Autumn Period (722–481 BCE). In it, Sun gives a basic overview of both [[StrategyVersusTactics strategy and tactics]] that has given countless generations of military leaders and thinkers a basic grounding in military theory.

The archetypal BigBookOfWar, ''The Art of War'' (孫子兵法, Sūn Zǐ Bīng Fǎ) is a short Chinese text on warfare, written by Sun Tzu (birth name Sun Wu, Sun Tzu is an honorific meaning Master Sun), believed to have been a general of the nation of Wu during the Spring and Autumn Period (722–481 BCE). In it, Sun gives a basic overview of both [[StrategyVersusTactics strategy and tactics]] that has given countless generations of military leaders and thinkers a basic grounding in military theory.

The archetypal BigBookOfWar, ''The Art of War'' (孫子兵法, Sūn Zǐ Bīng Fǎ) is a short Chinese text on warfare, written by Sun Tzu, believed to have been a general of the nation of Wu during the Spring and Autumn Period (722–481 BCE). In it, Sun gives a basic overview of both [[StrategyVersusTactics strategy and tactics]] that has given countless generations of military leaders and thinkers a basic grounding in military theory.

* IShallTauntYou: "[[HairTriggerTemper If your enemy is choleric]], [[BerserkButton seek to anger him]]."

* ExecutiveMeddling: InUniverse. A constant warning of the book is to keep the monarch out of the decisions on the ground to defy this very trope.

* ExecutiveMeddling: DiscussedTrope. A constant warning of the book is to keep the monarch out of the decisions on the ground to defy this very trope.

* ExecutiveMeddling: A constant warning of the book is to keep the monarch out of the decisions on the ground to avoid this very trope.

* ShoutOut: Swedish Metal-Band Music/{{Sabaton}} named their fourth album after the book

* TheSpymaster: Spies are important, so a general should be this trope as well

** After all, [[http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Franchise/TheElderScrolls the best techniques are passed on by the survivors.]]

* TheThirtySixStratagems: Several are mentioned, and it's probably the origin for quite a lot of them. They are not, however, in any kind of list.

* ZergRush: Discouraged in hard and long tasks like siege warfare, but encouraged on open battlefields, specially when it's clear that you outnumber the enemy.

* DeadpanSnarker: Whilst it is generally down to the translation rather than Tzu himself, there are some rather witty quips.

* DesperationAttack: "Throw the troops into a position from which there is no escape, and even when faced with death they will not flee." In actuality, Sun Tzu was warning ''against'' this because desperation attacks can still be pretty effective even if the enemy dies while doing it; that is, [[TakingYouWithMe if someone dies but takes out a decent chunk of your infantry while doing so, they've still won]] since you need time and man power to replenish and must potentially stop your forward progress. His answer was to always leave an escape route for the enemy, thus allowing them to rout, making them easy targets... and allowing them to run into the ambush you set up on the escape route so you could take them out there.

''The Art of War'' is easily the best-known military book ever written, and is still one of the most influential. Numerous translations are available, [[TheAnnotatedEdition most of which include at least a few commentaries and annotations]] (in fact, without the annotations, introductions and footnotes, ''Literature/TheArtOfWar'' is surprisingly short). It is required reading in many militaries even today, and some Korean and Japanese corporations require their employees to read it and apply its lessons to the world of commerce. Napoleon is said to have had a well-used copy in French, and the WWII US general UsefulNotes/DouglasMacArthur is known to have taken its teachings to heart. It is also required reading in many [[CorruptCorporateExecutive executive]] [[ThereAreNoGoodExecutives business]] courses; make of that what you will. There's even a story in the ComicBook ''TheQuestion'' where the eponymous hero and GreenArrow fights some bad guys while quoting the book throughout.