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| Wednesday, 11 February 2004 |
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The oldest military treatise in Sinhala Yuda kalava Yuda Kalava is the authentic Sinhala translation of Chinese author Sun Tzu's extraordinary book titled The Art of War. The original book was written more than two and a half millenniums ago. Although civilized societies condemn war as something inhuman and barbaric Sun Tzu believed that the art of war was of vital importance to the state. It is a matter of life and death, a road either to safety or to ruin. Hence under no circumstances can it be neglected. In his foreword to the book the author says that he believes that military and political leaders should learn the art of war because it is something unavoidable in human society. Therefore, we must give ear to what he has to say on the subject. Advice The book contains a lot of valuable advice. He says, "Supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy's resistance without fighting. In another place the author writes: "If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear for the result of a hundred battles. Such valuable advice made Sun Tzu obligatory reading in the Soviet political military hierarchy. Similarly The Art of War is the source of Mao Tse-tung's Little Red Book of strategic and tactical doctrine. Like Machiavelli's The Prince and Miyamoto Musashi's The Book of Five Rings, Sun Tzu's The Art of War has stood the test of time for 25 centuries. That means it qualifies to be the oldest military treatise in the world. Although the weapons have been changed, the fundamentals of war remain the same. For instance, he says tactical dispositions should mask strength with weakness. According to the author, the art of war is governed by five factors: The moral law, heaven, earth, the commander and method and discipline. The moral law causes people to follow their ruler. Heaven signifies night and day, cold and heat, times and seasons. Earth comprises distances, danger and security, open ground and narrow passes; the chances of life and death. The commander stands for the virtues of wisdom and courage. By method and discipline are to be understood the marshalling of the army in its proper sub divisions. In writing his monumental work Sun Tzu has used a number of memorable images: "Let your rapidity be that of the wind, your compactness that of the forest. In raiding and plundering be like fire, in immovability like a mountain." Peace In the chapter titled "The army on the march", Sun Tzu says peace proposals unaccompanied by a sworn covenant indicate a plot. When there is much running about it means that the critical moment has come. Reaffirming the importance of terrain, he says that you should occupy the raised and sunny spots, and wait for the enemy to come. If the enemy has occupied them before you, do not follow him, but retreat to entice him away. Chapter 13 is devoted to the use of spies. He lists five kinds of spies who can be used to gather information. Similar advice is given by the author to handle many aspects of war. The book does not, in any way, promote or glorify war. It only suggests ways and means to win a war if a country is pushed into it by circumstances. - R. S. Karunaratne **** Back **** |
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