Sun Tzu Decoded
Chapter 7 · Armed Struggle · 軍爭

Passage 7-7

故不知諸侯之謀者, 不能豫交; 不知山林, 險阻, 沮澤之形者, 不能行軍. 不用鄕導者, 不能得地利.

Without knowing the designs of neighboring rulers, you cannot forge alliances. Without knowing mountains, forests, obstacles, and wetlands, you cannot maneuver. Without local guides, you cannot exploit the terrain.

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These passages from other chapters connect to the themes in Passage 7-7:

Ground Dictates Behavior Passage 11-30 故兵之情, 圍則禦, 不得已則鬪, 過則從. 是故不知諸侯之... Know Enemy, Know Self (Extended) Passage 10-16 知吾卒之可以擊, 而不知敵之不可擊, 勝之半也; 知敵之可擊... Terrain Reading Passage 9-9 軍旁有險阻, 潢井, 葭葦, 山林, 蘙薈者, 必謹復索之,... Sovereign and General Passage 3-11 故君之所以患於軍者三: 不知軍之不可以進, 而謂之進; 不知... Crossing Mountains Passage 9-1 孫子曰: 凡處軍相敵: 絶山依谷, 視生處高, 戰隆無登, ... Surrounded Ground Passage 11-8 山林, 險阻, 沮澤, 凡難行之道者, 爲圮地.

More from Chapter 7: Armed Struggle (軍爭)

Passage 7-1: Sun Tzu said: In military operations, after the general receives orders from the... Passage 7-2: The difficulty of armed contention is making the circuitous direct and turning a... Passage 7-3: Move the entire army to contend for advantage—you cannot arrive in time. Abandon... Passage 7-4: Therefore, if you roll up armor and race day and night without rest, covering do... Passage 7-5: Racing fifty li for advantage, the lead commander falls, and half arrive. Racing... Passage 7-6: An army without equipment perishes. Without provisions, it perishes. Without sto... Passage 7-8: Warfare is founded on deception, driven by advantage, and transformed through di... Passage 7-9: Therefore: - Swift as the wind - Silent as the forest - Ravenous as fire - Immov... Passage 7-10: Plunder the countryside to divide spoils among troops. Expand territory to share... Passage 7-11: The Military Administration states: “When words cannot be heard, use drums and g... Passage 7-12: Drums, gongs, flags, and banners unify the eyes and ears of the troops. Once uni... Passage 7-13: In night battles, use many torches and drums. In day battles, use many flags and... Passage 7-14: The army’s spirit (qì) can be seized; the general’s heart can be stolen. Morning... Passage 7-15: Principles of warfare: - Do not advance uphill against the enemy - Do not oppose...