Art of War Chapter – 12.1

Sun Tzu said there are five kinds of fire attack: burn enemy troops, burn supplies, burn baggage carts, burn storehouses, and burn marching columns.

Fire attacks rely on proper conditions, and fire tools must be prepared in advance. Choose the right season and date to set fires. The season means dry weather. The date refers to days when the moon passes the four constellations: Ji, Bi, Yi and Zhen, for winds often blow on these days.

Note

Sun Tzu lists five fire attack targets: soldiers, provisions, carts, storehouses and troop formations. Prearrange fire tools and launch assaults on dry, windy days when the moon passes four specific constellations for favorable winds.

Sun Tzu (Sun Wu)

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.

Five fire attacks

Classification of targets for incendiary tactics.

Preparation

Fire equipment must be ready beforehand.

Astronomy & weather

Ancient generals used celestial signs and dry, windy weather to launch fire attacks.

孫子曰：凡火攻有五：一曰火人，二曰火積，三曰火輜，四曰火庫，五曰火隊。行火必有因，煙火必素具。發火有時，起火有日。時者，天之燥也。日者，月在箕壁翼軫也。凡此四宿者，風起之日也。