The Art of War by Sun Tzu | Chapter 2: Waging War

Course Hero Literature Instructor Russell Jaffe provides an in-depth summary and analysis of Chapter 2: Waging War from Sun Tzu's treatise The Art of War.


Likely written during the violent and chaotic Warring States period of Chinese history (475–221 BCE), The Art of War offers a series of military strategies to wage war, involving such tactics as careful planning before battle.

The strategies outlined in this volume were derived from the experiences of a general during a period of internecine conflict in China.

Sun Tzu explains that inconsistency can be a useful means of deceiving the enemy. He then illustrates effective battle techniques, negotiation, and espionage, as well as other means of achieving victory. He also describes useful sacrifices and means of managing armies.

Ancient Chinese professional tactician and strategist Sun Tzu’s The Art of War was written c. 475-225 BCE. The treatise has persisted for over 2,000 years as a valuable source of information for armies, businesses, and individuals. The stratagems and organizational principles laid out in Sun Tzu's masterwork have been applied to other forms of conflict. The text is often studied by modern business students who apply it to capitalist competition.

The military treatise contains many enduring ideas such as predecided outcomes, as good resources, training, and strategy are the keys to victory; changing tactics, as war is unpredictable, a fact that good leaders use to their advantage; strengths and weaknesses, as wise commanders know theirs and their enemies’ strengths and weaknesses; and deceit as strategy, as fooling the enemy into making miscalculations wins battles.


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