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The Japanese, who until recent times, were the disciples of the Chinese, and the latter, who sit at the feet of antiquity, go back some way for their authorities on War. Sonshi the most celebrated lived during the Shu (周) dynasty of China, about 550 B.C, and whether or no reluctance to disturb ancient axioms curbs further original efforts, subsequent writers have largely confined themselves to commentating the Master’s teachings.

The broad rules of War are unchanging, and much of Sonshi is curiously modern in its application. Contrasted with Western works on strategy, it deals rather with the human, or moral side which we nowadays take for granted, and so overlook. The Chinese are not by nature soldiers, nor had the ruling powers ever a strong hold over the people; discipline was lax; and further, with vast capacity for intrigue, generals and others had little patriotism, and were easily bought.

Hence the need for diplomacy and the importance of spies; the need for considering the temper of the troops; and the sages insistent, "know your own side!”

Sonshi’s preference for the defence is perhaps accounted for by the Chinese nature,slow, ceremonious, and lacking in dash. His advice is ever to move warily at first, and not to attack until the enemy has committed himself. He has a horror of sieges, frontal attacks and assaults, and an Eastern love of crafty and subtle methods.

In short, Sonshi's cardinal rules are: preparation; a thoroughly thought out plan of campaign; importance of intelligence and knowledge of the ground; variety and non dependence on book or rule; and quickness to take and press advantage.