18
THE ARTICLES OF SUNTZU
Heaven. Yin and Yang;[1] heat and cold; time and season.
Earth. Distance; nature; extent; strategic position.
The Leader. Intelligence; truth; benevolence; courage and strictness.
Law. Partition and ordering of troops.
These things must be known by the leader: to know them is to conquer; to know them not is to be defeated.
Further, with regard to these and the following seven matters, the condition of the enemy must be compared with our own.
The seven matters are:—
The virtue of the prince; the ability of the general; natural advantages; the discipline of the armies; the strength of the soldiers; training of the soldiers; justice both in reward and punishment.
Knowing these things, I can foretell the victor.
- ↑ The Yin and Yang are the two principles into which natural phenomena are divided in Chinese philosophy. Yin is the masculine, active, or light principle, and Yang is the feminine, passive, or dark principle. In this connection, day and night, rain, mist and wind are designated.
