# The Art of War: a guide to key ideas

Explore every chapter from planning to information gathering. Consider information, resources, competition and coordination together with the conditions needed to act.

All 13 chapters, plus three focused idea guides.

https://sakimyto.com/en/classics/sunzi

## Complete chapter index

### [Planning: compare before committing](https://sakimyto.com/en/classics/sunzi/chapter-01-planning-compare-before-committing)

Treats war as a consequential decision and compares purpose, timing, terrain, leadership and organization before acting.

Business question: Before starting a venture, compare customer needs, available people, competitors and timing in one table; identify a missing condition.

[Individual material](https://sakimyto.com/classics-data/entries/sunzi/chapter-01-planning-compare-before-committing.en.md)

### [Waging war: the cost of duration](https://sakimyto.com/en/classics/sunzi/chapter-02-waging-war-the-cost-of-duration)

Examines mobilization and supply costs, emphasizing the exhaustion and public burden of a prolonged campaign.

Business question: For an initiative with no demonstrated result, record its recurring burden and decision date; define conditions for continuing, reducing or ending it.

[Individual material](https://sakimyto.com/classics-data/entries/sunzi/chapter-02-waging-war-the-cost-of-duration.en.md)

### [Attack by stratagem: objectives and methods](https://sakimyto.com/en/classics/sunzi/chapter-03-attack-by-stratagem-objectives-and-methods)

Considers achieving an objective without destruction, the conditions for engagement and knowledge of both sides.

Business question: Before matching a competitor’s price, compare partnerships, a narrower use case and a different delivery model against the customer’s objective.

[Individual material](https://sakimyto.com/classics-data/entries/sunzi/chapter-03-attack-by-stratagem-objectives-and-methods.en.md)

### [Tactical dispositions: prepare first](https://sakimyto.com/en/classics/sunzi/chapter-04-tactical-dispositions-prepare-first)

Establishes a position less vulnerable to defeat, waits for an opening and places preparation before engagement.

Business question: Before a large launch, prepare supply capacity, support, quality checks and pause conditions; test the expected load.

[Individual material](https://sakimyto.com/classics-data/entries/sunzi/chapter-04-tactical-dispositions-prepare-first.en.md)

### [Energy: organization and combinations](https://sakimyto.com/en/classics/sunzi/chapter-05-energy-organization-and-combinations)

Explores organizing many people, combining ordinary and unexpected methods and arranging conditions rather than relying only on individual effort.

Business question: Do not explain sales differences solely through talent; inspect lead allocation, proposal materials and handoff procedures.

[Individual material](https://sakimyto.com/classics-data/entries/sunzi/chapter-05-energy-organization-and-combinations.en.md)

### [Weak points and strong: focus and adaptation](https://sakimyto.com/en/classics/sunzi/chapter-06-weak-points-and-strong-focus-and-adaptation)

Addresses initiative, concentration and dispersion, avoiding a strong position and adapting to changing circumstances.

Business question: With limited people serving many segments, choose one problem you can solve well; set a focus period and review conditions.

[Individual material](https://sakimyto.com/classics-data/entries/sunzi/chapter-06-weak-points-and-strong-focus-and-adaptation.en.md)

### [Maneuvering: speed and support](https://sakimyto.com/en/classics/sunzi/chapter-07-maneuvering-speed-and-support)

Discusses the difficulty of reaching an advantageous position while balancing speed, cohesion and supplies.

Business question: When urgent delivery creates rework, distinguish work that can advance from work that must wait; prepare the information and ownership needed for handoffs.

[Individual material](https://sakimyto.com/classics-data/entries/sunzi/chapter-07-maneuvering-speed-and-support.en.md)

### [Variation in tactics: benefits and harms](https://sakimyto.com/en/classics/sunzi/chapter-08-variation-in-tactics-benefits-and-harms)

Considers changing actions with circumstances, weighing benefits alongside harms and recognizing dispositions that impair judgment.

Business question: Evaluate a partnership by comparing access or capabilities with dependency, operating burden and the consequences of ending it.

[Individual material](https://sakimyto.com/classics-data/entries/sunzi/chapter-08-variation-in-tactics-benefits-and-harms.en.md)

### [The army on the march: observation and coordination](https://sakimyto.com/en/classics/sunzi/chapter-09-the-army-on-the-march-observation-and-coordination)

Examines terrain, observable signals, the condition of people and the consistent use of trust and commands.

Business question: Do not diagnose a team from one report; inspect workload, waiting time, staffing gaps and requests for help together.

[Individual material](https://sakimyto.com/classics-data/entries/sunzi/chapter-09-the-army-on-the-march-observation-and-coordination.en.md)

### [Terrain: circumstances and responsibility](https://sakimyto.com/en/classics/sunzi/chapter-10-terrain-circumstances-and-responsibility)

Classifies terrain and military failures, assigning leaders responsibility for understanding circumstances, their people and the opposing side.

Business question: Before blaming an owner for a failed project, review acceptance conditions, authority, training and dependencies; define management improvements too.

[Individual material](https://sakimyto.com/classics-data/entries/sunzi/chapter-10-terrain-circumstances-and-responsibility.en.md)

### [Nine situations: act according to circumstances](https://sakimyto.com/en/classics/sunzi/chapter-11-nine-situations-act-according-to-circumstances)

Distinguishes nine situations and explains how movement, cohesion, alliances and decisions depend on the setting.

Business question: Do not use identical goals for entering a market, expanding an account and withdrawing; specify success conditions and decision authority for each.

[Individual material](https://sakimyto.com/classics-data/entries/sunzi/chapter-11-nine-situations-act-according-to-circumstances.en.md)

### [Attack by fire: purpose and restraint](https://sakimyto.com/en/classics/sunzi/chapter-12-attack-by-fire-purpose-and-restraint)

Examines the conditions and dangers of fire attacks, urging action aligned with an objective rather than anger.

Business question: When a response is driven by irritation at a competitor, assess customer value, possible harm and a stopping method before deciding.

[Individual material](https://sakimyto.com/classics-data/entries/sunzi/chapter-12-attack-by-fire-purpose-and-restraint.en.md)

### [The use of spies: information from people](https://sakimyto.com/en/classics/sunzi/chapter-13-the-use-of-spies-information-from-people)

Discusses the value of information, the people and systems handling it and the importance of human knowledge of the other side.

Business question: Use consented customer interviews and public materials rather than guesses; record dates and whether evidence is direct or secondhand.

[Individual material](https://sakimyto.com/classics-data/entries/sunzi/chapter-13-the-use-of-spies-information-from-people.en.md)

## Focused ideas

### [Know both sides](https://sakimyto.com/en/classics/sunzi/know-yourself-and-others)

Establish what is known about both sides before choosing an action.

Business question: When a team follows competitor features without knowing its own strengths or why customers choose it.

[Individual material](https://sakimyto.com/classics-data/entries/sunzi/know-yourself-and-others.en.md)

### [Win without direct conflict](https://sakimyto.com/en/classics/sunzi/win-without-direct-conflict)

Expand the routes to an objective and compare the cost of confrontation.

Business question: When competition for the same customers leads to recurring price or advertising battles.

[Individual material](https://sakimyto.com/classics-data/entries/sunzi/win-without-direct-conflict.en.md)

### [Avoid strength and act on weakness](https://sakimyto.com/en/classics/sunzi/choose-your-ground)

Reconsider the setting, use case or route before competing on identical terms.

Business question: When matching a larger competitor feature for feature exceeds your resources.

[Individual material](https://sakimyto.com/classics-data/entries/sunzi/choose-your-ground.en.md)

Updated: 2026-10-13 · v1.0.0