Sun Tzu Decoded
Chapter 1 · Initial Assessments · 始計

Passage 1-15

夫未戰而廟算勝者, 得算多也; 未戰而廟算不勝者, 得算少也; 多算勝, 少算不勝, 而況於無算乎. 吾以此觀之, 勝負見矣.

Those who win in the temple calculations before battle have computed many advantages. Those who lose have computed few. Many calculations lead to victory; few calculations lead to defeat—how much more so with no calculation at all! By this measure, I can foresee who will win and who will lose.

Temple Calculation (廟算) — the pre-battle assessment that determines outcomes before engagement begins. Strategy is won in the planning room, not on the battlefield.

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These passages from other chapters connect to the themes in Passage 1-15:

Win First, Then Fight Passage 4-9 故善戰者, 立於不敗之地, 而不失敵之敗也. 是故勝兵先勝,... Know Enemy, Know Self Passage 3-13 故曰, 知彼知己, 百戰不殆; 不知彼而知己, 一勝一負, ... Knowing Terrain Alone Is Not Enough Passage 10-13 夫地形者 兵之助也. 料敵制勝, 計險阨遠近, 上將之道也.... Command Without Numbers Passage 9-19 兵非益多也, 惟無武進, 足以倂力料敵, 取人而已. 夫惟無... Making Plans Unknowable Passage 6-16 故策之而知得失之計, 作之而知動靜之理, 形之而知死生之地,... Turning the Indirect into Direct Passage 7-2 軍爭之難者, 以迂爲直, 以患爲利. 故迂其途, 而誘之以利...

More from Chapter 1: Initial Assessments (始計)

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