Nine Common Situations

Sun Tzu's The Art of War 11:1-10

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

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This article discusses the first stanza of Chapter 11 of The Art of War. This chapter discusses the “nine grounds.” These “grounds” explain the different common situations that arise in competitive meetings that continue over time. Sun Tzu lists these situations in the order they commonly arise in many competitive battles. Battles may not progress through every stage, but they can. This chapter discusses each stage in depth and gives the appropriate response to each. This stanza, however, simply lists the nine situations.

<Use> <war> <’s> <methods>
Use the art of war.

In this case, “the art of war” is using the response that is suitable to the stage of competition that we are in. The nine common situations discussed in this chapter fall into three different categories.

The Initial Stages

The first three situations describe conditions more common at the beginning of a competitive contest.

<Have> <scattered> <ground>
Know when the terrain will scatter you.

This situation arises when your existing positions are challenged or threatened by a much larger force.

<Have> <easy> <ground>
Know when the terrain will be easy.

This situation arises when you first start exploring a new opportunity. Beginning to explore a new opportunity is the easiest stage.

<Have> <contentious> <ground>
Know when the terrain will be disputed.

Most new opportunities can lead into conflict because others often recognize the opportunity as well. This is the end of the initial stages.

The Middle Stages

This brings us into the middle stages when our opponents and we use more specific methods to explore the opportunity.

<Have> <meeting> <ground>
Know when the terrain is open.

Open terrain is unobstructed, allowing us the choice of many different paths. Competitions in open situations are races in many different directions.

<Have> <highway> <ground>
Know when the terrain is intersecting.

On intersecting terrain, our interests merge with those of others. This is where we need and find allies.

<Have> <serious> <ground>
Know when the terrain is dangerous.

This is a deep penetration into a new territory where supply lines are a problem, and we must find new resources to continue our progress.

Late Stage Situations

These last stagees typically signal that our moves are coming to an end.

<Have> <ruined> <ground>
Know when the terrain is bad.

This is the stage where our progress slows to a crawl. Many give up at this stage, but it often signals that success is near.

<Have> <surround> <ground>
Know when the terrain is confined.

These are situations where we are surrounded by opponents or obstacles and must find a hidden path through them.

<Have> <death> <ground>
Know when the terrain is deadly

This is the final and worst competitive situation where we must use all of our resources to survive.

Each of these states and our best responses to them are explained in detail in this chapter, which is the longest in the book.