The Art of War by Sun Zi

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The Art of War written by Sun Zi is the first book of war tactics in the world. Nearly every war in ancient China would apply the tactics in The Art of War. In Chu-Han war period, which was a famous historical incident that resulted in the establishment of Han Dynasty, many tactics in The Art of War were widespread used. The tactics in The Art of War influenced the success and failure of the Chu-Han war a lot. Liu Bang and his strategists applied the strategies well in the war therefore he finally won the war. Xiang Yu, in some cases, did not follow the tactics of war which result in his failure. This essay will use some famous Chu-Han incidents described in Shiji chapters as examples, and then tie the tactics to The Art of War. The essay will first analyze the tactics that Liu Bang and his strategists used which may lead the success of war and see how it tied to The Art of War. Then it will elaborate some successful tactical use in The Art of War of Xiang Yu. Finally it will analyze some tactical problem of Xiang Yu which may result in his failure.

Liu Bang did not win many battles in Chu-Han war, but he finally defeated Xiang Yu and became the first emperor of Han Dynasty. It is not only because of his brilliant leadership, but also because of his accurate use of tactics and strategies to obtain advantages in the war. The most famous incident of Liu Bang getting advantages before war was “Hanzhong Plan”(汉中对) made by Han Xin---one of Liu Bang’s best general. This famous incident happened when Liu Bang met Han Xin for the first time. Liu Bang was at a disadvantage in the war with Xiang Yu. Han Xin analyzed defects in Xiang Yu’s character and the strategical status between Chu and Han. He said: “When Xiang Yu meets people he is c...

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...nalysis of the tactical condition of Chu and Han. He listed XiangYu’s disadvantages and predicted that Xiang Yu would be easily defeated. He applied the Sun Zi’s tactics of “analyzing the condition before war” in Chu-Han war and gained a great advantage for Liu Bang in the war. Moreover, Xiang Yu’s role as a general is successful. He used the tactics in The Art of War to attack Liu Bang at unawares and obtained victory of the battle. However, Xiang Yu made many other mistakes on stratagem that he did not reward his officers well and he was so cruel that he butchered thousands of them. He was completely contrary to Sun Zi’s idea in The Art of War and finally he lost the war. Therefore, personally, the tactics in The Art of War influenced the success and failure of the Chu-Han war a lot. The side which applied the strategies successfully was more like to win the war.

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