In an era dominated by AI and high-speed decision-making, military strategy can seem like an ancient and distant discipline.
Algorithms analyze in real time. Tools execute instantly. It often feels as if success is simply about moving fast enough, not thinking deeply enough.
But if you take the time to truly read The Art of War, you’ll notice something striking:
Sun Tzu was never obsessed with how to fight harder.
He was focused on something far more important—
how to avoid wars that should never be fought.
He doesn’t teach you how to increase output.
He teaches you how to control risk.
He doesn’t teach you how to prove yourself.
He teaches you to assess the odds before you act.
That is why the very first chapter of The Art of War is not about tactics or troops, but about calculation.
Today, let’s talk about Chapter One: Laying Plans (始計第一).
The Original Text: The Art of War · Chapter One — Laying Plans
Sun Tzu said:
War is a matter of vital importance to the state;
it is the province of life or death,
the road to survival or ruin.
It must be thoroughly examined.Therefore, assess it through five factors,
compare them through calculation,
and thus determine the outcome.The five factors are:
Dao, Heaven, Earth, Command, and Discipline.Dao causes the people to be in complete accord with their ruler,
so that they will follow him regardless of danger or death.Heaven refers to yin and yang, cold and heat, seasons and timing.
Earth refers to distance, terrain, danger and safety,
openness and narrowness, life and death.Command refers to wisdom, credibility, benevolence, courage, and discipline.
Discipline refers to organization, chain of command, logistics, and control.
Whoever understands these five factors will win;
whoever does not will lose.Therefore, through calculation, determine the outcome:
Which ruler has the Dao?
Which commander has greater ability?
Which side gains advantage from Heaven and Earth?
Whose discipline is enforced?
Whose troops are stronger?
Whose soldiers are better trained?
Whose rewards and punishments are clearer?By these, victory or defeat can be foreseen.
If a commander follows my calculations, he will win—retain him.
If he does not, he will lose—dismiss him.Having assessed advantage, create momentum to support action;
momentum is the control of power according to circumstances.War is the way of deception.
Therefore, when able, appear unable;
when active, appear inactive.
When near, appear far; when far, appear near.
Lure with profit; strike amid chaos.
Prepare against strength; avoid it when powerful.
Provoke anger; feign weakness.
Exhaust the rested; divide the united.Attack where there is no defense;
strike where it is unexpected.These are the strategist’s keys to victory,
and cannot be taught in advance.Those who calculate thoroughly before battle will win;
those who calculate little will lose.
How much more so those who do not calculate at all?From this, victory and defeat can be clearly seen.
War as Survival: For States, and for Individuals
At first glance, this chapter appears to be about national strategy and military decisions.
But replace the word “state” with “individual”, and you’ll realize it describes the irreversible choices we face in life：
- Changing careers
- Starting a business
- Investing capital
- Marriage and family
- Long-term commitments
- Continuing a relationship
- Enduring an environment that slowly drains you
The cost of these decisions is rarely just “failing once.”
It is the long-term loss of time, mental resilience, confidence, and momentum.
That is why Sun Tzu opens with a warning:
War is a matter of vital importance. It must not be ignored.
Not because war is glorious—
but because misjudgment is extraordinarily expensive.
Not Every Battle Is Worth Fighting
One of the most overlooked principles in Laying Plans is this:
Victory should be visible before the battle begins.
If success depends on luck, endurance, or self-sacrifice just to reach an uncertain outcome, then in Sun Tzu’s logic, the war is already lost.
True wisdom is not about holding on until the end.
It is about whether you chose the right battlefield in the first place.
The Five Factors: From Statecraft to Personal Decision-Making
Sun Tzu’s “Five Factors”—Dao, Heaven, Earth, Command, and Discipline—are not abstract philosophy.
They are a pre-decision checklist.
1️⃣ Dao: Alignment of Values
Dao means unity between the people and their leader.
For a state, it means public support.
For an individual, it raises a brutal but honest question:
Do you genuinely believe in what you are doing?
Or are you continuing only because you “can’t afford to lose” or have “already invested too much”?
When actions and values are misaligned, even immense effort turns into internal friction.
Those who go the farthest are not the most desperate—
but those who know why they act.
2️⃣ Heaven: Timing and Readiness
Heaven refers to seasons, timing, and conditions.
Many failures are not due to lack of ability, but mistimed action:
- Monetizing skills before they mature
- Taking high risks with unstable mental states
- Making life-changing decisions during emotional lows
Some choices demand speed.
Others demand patience.
Wisdom lies in knowing the difference.
3️⃣ Earth: Environment and Terrain
Earth refers to terrain, distance, danger, and survival.
Environment amplifies strengths—and exposes weaknesses.
- Is your industry growing or shrinking?
- Does your workplace support you or deplete you?
- Does your social circle elevate you or stagnate you?
Effort matters.
But choosing the right terrain matters more.
Because effort in the wrong place only leads to faster exhaustion.
4️⃣ Command: Self-Leadership
Command consists of wisdom, trust, benevolence, courage, and discipline.
Applied personally, this is a blueprint for self-management:
- Wisdom: Do you understand what you’re doing?
- Trust: Can you honor commitments to yourself?
- Benevolence: Do you treat yourself with care, not constant depletion?
- Courage: Can you decide when action is required?
- Discipline: Can you resist drift and procrastination?
Many people lack not resources—but an inner leader who can guide them steadily.
5️⃣ Discipline: Systems and Structure
Discipline refers to organization, authority, and logistics.
A state without systems relies on luck.
A person without discipline relies on mood.
- Do you have stable workflows?
- Basic rules for money and time?
- Clear reward and consequence mechanisms for yourself?
True freedom often comes from discipline—not spontaneity.
“War Is Deception”: Not Trickery, but Boundaries
War is the way of deception.
This line is often misunderstood as “be cunning.”
On a personal level, it means something more mature:
- You don’t need to reveal every plan too early.
- You don’t need to explain outcomes before they exist.
- You don’t need to exhaust yourself completely in every relationship.
Maturity is not manipulating others.
It is leaving yourself room to maneuver.
Victory Is Decided Before Action
Laying Plans barely teaches you how to fight.
Instead, it keeps asking:
- Should you fight this battle at all?
- Are the conditions ready?
- Do you understand yourself and your environment?
If the answer is no, the best strategy is often not persistence—but restraint.
Conclusion: Treat Strategy as Risk Management for Life
To me, The Art of War is not a book about power or manipulation.
It is a framework for evaluating high-stakes decisions.
The question is not whether to do or not to do,
but how to do it—or how not to.
Exploring the meeting point of technology and the inner world is often a solitary journey—but a meaningful one.
If this article has brought you a moment of clarity or inspiration, you’re welcome to buy me a cup of coffee and support me in continuing this kind of thoughtful, in-depth writing.
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