Sun Tzu Decoded
Chapter 7 · Armed Struggle · 軍爭

Passage 7-8

故兵以詐立, 以利動, 以分合爲變者也.

Warfare is founded on deception, driven by advantage, and transformed through division and concentration.

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These passages from other chapters connect to the themes in Passage 7-8:

The Way of Deception Passage 1-12 兵者, 詭道也. 故能而示之不能, 用而示之不用, 近而視之... Manipulating Appearances Passage 1-13 利而誘之, 亂而取之, 實而備之, 强而避之, 怒而橈之, ... Formlessness Passage 6-9 故形人而我無形, 則我專而敵分. 我專爲一, 敵分爲十, 是... Baiting the Enemy Passage 5-8 故善動適者, 形之, 適必從之; 予之, 適必取之; 以利動... Subjugate Without Fighting Passage 8-7 是故屈諸侯者以害, 役諸侯者以業, 趨諸侯者以利. Orthodox and Unorthodox Passage 5-2 凡戰者, 以正合, 以奇勝.

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 7-7: Without knowing the designs of neighboring rulers, you cannot forge alliances. W... 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...