achieved grandiose goals—clever fighters outsmarted their opponents. That was when Heiho was born. The book of Heiho captures the essence of classic military tactics designed to win.
The essence of military tactics, developed many centuries ago, is still relevant today, providing us with new insight and captivating information.
I would be honored if this book could be of any help to you in uncovering the clues to understanding the essence of reality.
Gasshou
Kazumi Tabata
BOOK ONE
The Art of War By Sun Tsu
The Art of War by Sun Tsu is the most widely read among bukeinanasho (seven books on military strategy). This book is known to be written by Sun Tsu, a military strategist who lived more than 2,500 years ago. Sun Tsu was a military commander who served Koryo, the king of Go (514–496 BC). This book is based on the following premises: one should win without fighting; one should not fight when prospects of winning are poor; and one should utilize a weak force to overcome a powerful force. The book is about pursuing this military strategy.
This section will attempt to convey the gist of Sun Tsu’s work.
About Sun Tsu
One day, Koryo, the king of Go, requested Sun Tsu to train soldiers. One hundred and eighty beautiful ladies of the Imperial Court were recruited and divided into two groups. Two of the king’s favorite women were appointed as group leaders. Sun Tsu had all the women carry a pike. He instructed them to look at the chest when he said “front,” the left hand when he said “left,” the right hand when he said “right,” and the back when he said “back.” He explained the procedure and repeated this exercise. Once he started beating the drum and said “right,” the women began to laugh. Sun Tsu said, “It was my fault that the women did not understand my instructions.” After explaining how to do it and repeating the exercise again, he gave a command once more. When he said “left” as he beat the drum, the women started laughing again and failed to carry out the command. He said, “The first time was my fault, but this time, it is different. It is the group leaders’ fault that the command is not being relayed, despite the fact that the women all understand what the command means,” and attempted to strike down the two leaders with a sword. When the king tried to intervene, Sun Tsu explained as follows and struck down the two female leaders: “I am the commander. When the commander is fulfilling his military duties, he may not always be able to follow the king’s orders.” Sun Tsu then appointed two other beautiful ladies as their successors. When he gave a command, the women carried it out in an orderly manner. Sun Tsu said to the king, “Training of soldiers has been completed. If ordered, the soldiers will jump into the water or fire. Please give it a try.” The king replied, “There is no need for that,” and recognized Sun Tsu’s exceptional ability as strategist and hired him as military commander.
Shikei (Basic Planning)
Shikei refers to basic planning needed to initiate a move. This chapter discusses the five criteria for winning a battle, in an attempt to prevent frivolous wars.
Basic Military Power
The outcome of war can determine the fate of people and the nation’s existence. Whether or not to go to war must be carefully considered. In order to win a war, five basic conditions should be taken into account: path, heaven, land, leadership, and law.
Path refers to principles or policies. Only when intentions of the people and their sovereign coincide, the people will be willing to share their fate with the sovereign without being afraid of danger. This is a prerequisite to following the path to victory.
Heaven refers to situations or timing. This condition includes weather, season, occasion, and timing.
Land refers to environmental factors. This condition includes geographical factors such as distance, ruggedness, width, and height.
Leadership refers to a leader’s qualifications. This condition includes a leader’s virtuous qualities such as ingenuity, loyalty, benevolence, courage, and dignity.
Law refers to organization, discipline, and equipment. This condition includes military structure, discipline, and readiness in terms of equipment.
In order to determine if the above five conditions are met, you should examine your prospects by considering the seven comparisons below.
Which side has a better political system?
Which side has better commanders?
Which side enjoys more favorable situational and geographical factors?
Which side enforces the law more thoroughly?
Which side is stronger militarily?
Which side has better-trained soldiers?
Which side has a fairer system of reward and punishment?
When conditions are favorable to you, you must solidify your position by reinforcing the advantageous factors. You should also put more effort into enhancing the basic conditions. Since the basic conditions are constantly changing, you should be able to adapt yourself to any change in circumstances. Your response to the situation should change accordingly. There is no need to adhere to basic rules. If conditions are right, you will win; otherwise, you will lose. Do not fight when prospects of winning are poor.
To Fight is to Deceive
Flexibility is required in a battle. The key to victory is to focus on the enemy’s weaknesses and to take them by surprise.
1. Move closer while pretending to be moving away.
2. Hide your competence and feign incompetence.
3. Make something essential appear unnecessary.
4. Move away while pretending to be moving closer.
5. Lure your opponent by falsely showing that conditions are advantageous to him.
6. Defeat your adversary by creating confusion.
7. When things are going well for the enemy, withdraw and reposition yourself.
8. Avoid a head-on clash with powerful enemies.
9. Exhaust your opponent by infuriating him.
10. Throw the enemy off guard by keeping a low profile.
11. When your opponent is at rest, cause a commotion to exhaust him.
12. When the enemy demonstrates solidarity, break them apart.
A good strategy is to exploit the enemy’s weaknesses and take them by surprise. A strategy should not be predetermined
