# Nine situations: act according to circumstances: summary

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

https://sakimyto.com/en/classics/sunzi/chapter-11-nine-situations-act-according-to-circumstances

## Source and summary

[Sunzi · The Art of War · Nine situations: act according to circumstances](https://zh.wikisource.org/w/index.php?title=%E5%AD%AB%E5%AD%90%E5%85%B5%E6%B3%95&oldid=7906064#%E4%B9%9D%E5%9C%B0%E7%AC%AC%E5%8D%81%E4%B8%80)

> 孫子曰：凡用兵之法，有散地，有輕地，有爭地，有交地，有衢地，有重地，有圮地，有圍地，有死地。諸侯自戰其地者，為散地；入人之地而不深者，為輕地；我得則利，彼得亦利者，為爭地；我可以往…

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

## Editorial interpretation

The example below adapts this chapter’s questions to modern work. Evaluate it against the actual purpose and conditions; ancient politics, warfare or ethics do not establish business results.

## Business application

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

1. Choose one relevant case and record its objective, available resources, verified facts and unknowns.
2. Compare options using this chapter’s perspective; choose a limited trial, owner, deadline and a measure to assess the result.

Deliverable: A comparison using nine situations: act according to circumstances, with conditions for acting or declining.

## Limits

The summary selects main points rather than translating every sentence. The example is not a demonstrated business method; check it against stakeholders’ conditions and actual evidence.

## Validation question

How does this chapter’s perspective change the selected option or priority, and what further evidence could change the decision?

[The Art of War: a guide to key ideas](https://sakimyto.com/en/classics/sunzi)

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

Updated: 2026-10-13 · v1.0.0