Sun Tzu said: War is a matter of vital importance to the state. It is a realm of life and death, a path leading to survival or ruin. Therefore, it must be thoroughly examined and studied.
Note
A great military strategist and thinker in ancient China, who lived in the late Spring and Autumn Period. He authored The Art of War, the world’s earliest and most influential military classic. His strategic thoughts have been widely applied in military, politics and management worldwide.
The cautious attitude toward war
A core traditional Chinese political and military philosophy. Ancient Chinese thinkers and rulers opposed arbitrary wars, and advocated solving conflicts through diplomacy and governance first.
A turbulent era in ancient China (770 BC – 476 BC). Dozens of vassal states fought constantly for dominance, so war dominated social life and threatened the existence of every state.
For example, the ruler of the State of Yu during the Spring and Autumn period, coveting treasures and disregarding the principle that “when the lips are gone, the teeth feel cold,” rashly granted passage to the State of Jin to attack the State of Guo. In the end, both states were destroyed one after another. Their story became a classic warning against reckless warfare.
孫子曰：兵者，國之大事，死生之地，存亡之道，不可不察也。
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