始計

• War is serious business. Start with calculation, judgment, and deception before action.
• Alternate chapter title: Laying Plans
• Chinese chapter title: 始計
• This chapter is grouped into three contextual rule cards while preserving the full traditional Chinese text.

• Core idea: War is a matter of state survival, so it must be examined with care.
• Meaning: Strategy begins by taking conflict seriously.
• Why it matters: Do not treat major competition like improvisation. First understand what is at stake.
• How to apply: Before entering a new market, define what failure would cost and what success must protect.

Original Text Explanation

孫子曰：兵者，國之大事。

Sun Zi opens by saying that war concerns the state's highest interests.

死生之地，存亡之道，不可不察也。

It decides life or death, survival or collapse, so it demands close study.

故經之以五事，校之以計。

He says it should be weighed through five main factors and compared through calculation.

而索其情：一曰道，二曰天，三曰地，四曰將，五曰法。

Those factors are shared purpose, timing, terrain, leadership, and order.

道者，令民於上同意，可與之死，可與之生，而不危也；

Shared purpose means ruler and people move with one will, so they can face hardship without losing heart.

天者，陰陽、寒暑、時制也；

Timing covers shifts in weather, season, and the rhythm of day and night.

地者，遠近、險易、廣狹、死生也；

Terrain includes distance, danger, ease, room to move, narrow ground, and positions that favor life or death.

將者，智、信、仁、勇、嚴也；

Leadership is made of judgment, trustworthiness, humanity, courage, and discipline.

法者，曲制、官道、主用也。

Order means organization, lines of authority, supply routes, and control of resources.

凡此五者，將莫不聞，知之者勝，不知之者不勝。

Every commander hears of these five, but victory belongs to the one who truly understands them.

故校之以計，而索其情，

So if you want the real situation, compare both sides through careful calculation.

曰：主孰有道？將孰有能?天地孰得？法令孰行？兵眾孰強?士卒孰練？賞罰孰明？

Ask which ruler has stronger cohesion, which general has greater ability, who holds better advantages in timing and terrain, whose rules are carried out, whose army is stronger, whose troops are better trained, and whose rewards and punishments are clearer.

吾以此知勝負矣。

From those answers, you can judge who is more likely to win or lose.

• Core idea: Warfare is the art of deception.
• Meaning: You do not reveal your real intention too early.
• Why it matters: If the other side can predict your move, they can prepare for it.
• How to apply: During a negotiation, do not show your full priority list before you know the other side's constraints.

Original Text Explanation

將聽吾計，用之必勝，留之；將不聽吾計，用之必敗，去之。

Keep the commander who accepts sound counsel and can turn it into victory; dismiss the one who rejects it and heads toward defeat.

計利以聽，乃為之勢，以佐其外。

Once the advantage is understood, build supporting momentum around it.

勢者，因利而制權也。

Momentum means shaping your power around whatever advantage the situation offers.

兵者，詭道也。

War works through misdirection.

故能而示之不能，用而示之不用，近而示之遠，遠而示之近。

When capable, appear incapable; when acting, appear inactive; when near, seem far; when far, seem near.

利而誘之，亂而取之，

Lure with gain; if the opponent falls into disorder, take the opening.

實而備之，強而避之，

If he is firmly prepared, be ready for him; if he is stronger, do not meet him head-on.

怒而撓之，卑而驕之，

If he is quick to anger, provoke him; if you appear humble, draw him into arrogance.

佚而勞之，親而離之，

If he is resting, wear him down; if he is united, pull him apart.

攻其無備，出其不意。

Strike where he has not prepared, and arrive where he does not expect you.

此兵家之勝，不可先傳也。

These are the ways war creates victory, and they cannot be handed out beforehand.

• Core idea: The side that calculates more wins; the side that calculates less loses.
• Meaning: Better preparation creates better odds.
• Why it matters: Good results usually come from disciplined comparison, not confidence alone.
• How to apply: Compare several launch scenarios, staffing levels, and risks before committing to the plan.

Original Text Explanation

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，而況於無算乎！吾以此觀之，勝負見矣。

Before battle, the side that wins has usually done more serious reckoning, while the side that loses has done less. Many calculations create the conditions for victory, few calculations weaken them, and no calculation is worse still. That is how the likely outcome can be seen in advance.