Field Positions

Sun Tzu's The Art of War, Chapter 10, Section 3, Stanzas 1-3

This post continues our project explaining each stanza of Sun Tzu’s work. The English translation and Chinese transliterations are from my award-winning book, The Art of War and The Ancient Chinese Revealed.

Due to our member’s generous support, we will send all our articles to all subscribers. To enjoy my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

This article discusses the third section of Chapter 10 of The Art of War. This chapter’s general topic is the six types of terrain on which we compete. These first three stanzas of this section describes positions on these terrains as what I call “field positions” and Sun Tzu calls “ground forms.” It divides these field positions into three categories that must be mastered.

This post is public so feel free to share it.

The first line gives these “field positions” a name. The sense is that these are the positions that we occupy temporarily as we move to new, more permanent positions or to expand our existing positions.

The Six Weaknesses

<Husband> <ground> <form> <is>
You must control your field position.

We control our field position by choosing our path forward. All of these “ground forms” create predictable problems when occupied leaders with certain types of weaknesses. Since we all have weaknesses, we have to be careful about picking terrains that we are “just” passing through because each of those positions must support us, if only for a little while.

<War> <’s> <assistance> <also>
It will always strengthen your army.

All competitions are comparisons. We want field positions that support our forces and create problems for those opposing us. A big part of picking the right terrain is less about us than about our opponents. We want to take positions on the types of terrains that give our opponents problems. All competitions are comparisons. We want field positions that allow us to use the strengths of the ground rather that run into problems on it.

<Predict> <enemy> <overpower> <victory>
You must predict the enemy to overpower him and win.

Picking the right ground depends both on understanding our own weaknesses and the weaknesses of our opponents. The Art of Was has already covered the six types of terrain and the weaknesses that create the biggest problems on them. Knowing this information allows us to foresee who will do better on which type of terrain.

<Plan> <obstructed> <adverse> <distant> <near>
You must analyze the obstacles, dangers, and distances.

We put these different types of ground into three categories: obstructions, dangers, and distance. We mentioned these categories earlier when explaining these problems, but here is the first place that Sun Tzu discusses them. Obstructions are the number of barriers that we must overcome. Dangers are the forms of ground that are sticky and slippery. And distance is the amount of ground that must be covered.

<Above> <general> <’s> <philosophy> <also>
This is the best way to command.

The six different weaknesses of leaders, including our own, allows us to know which weaknesses endanger opposing forces the most and us the least. By picking the paths that put opposing leaders on ground puts them at the biggest disadvantage, we pick the situation that is most likely to help us win comparisons with them.

<Know> <here> <and> <yet> <use> <battle> <is>
Understand your field position before you meet opponents.

The two key factors—their commanders, and the ground on which we will be compared— determines how we will win these comparisons and why we will lose. By understanding the key conditions, we can predict the likely result.

<Must> <win>
Then you will succeed

If we understand our potential field positions and the leader of the opposing force, we pick paths whose ground supports us and weaken opponents. Making the right choices assures us that we will win time after time.

<Not> <know> <here> <and> <yet> <use> <battle> <is>
You can fail to understand your field position and meet opponents.

However, we can only do this if we understand the terrain on which we are being compared and the strengths and weaknesses of ourselves and organizations with whom we are being compared. This doesn’t happen by accident. We must choose paths that keep us on the right ground and facing opponents who are at a disadvantage.

<Must> <be> <defeated>
Then you will fail.

If we don’t understand the competitive terrain and our opponents relative strengths and weaknesses on that type of terrain, we will lose..

NOTE: I am undergoing heart surgery today so a few prayers will be appreciated.