★ In an era of heightened uncertainty and fierce competition, this book offers a detailed interpretation of the complete text of The Art of War, a 2,500-year-old military classic, explaining the keys to winning in business warfare. Using the concept of "overall victory," it helps enterprises break free from vicious competition, escape the trap of involution at minimal cost, and solve practical challenges in business operations.

★ The latest work by Professor Gong Yuzhen, standing director of the China Sun Tzu's Art of War Research Association and professor of management at the National School of Development, Peking University! With 30 years of dedicated study of "The Art of War" and a dual background in military science and management, he deeply integrates ancient warfare wisdom with modern business competition, offering unique and actionable strategic insights.

★ The book not only dissects classic historical battles but also distills analytical tools that can be transferred to business management, providing enterprise managers, entrepreneurs, and strategy researchers with a methodology for moving from the battlefield to the boardroom.

In today's highly uncertain environment, how can companies break free from mutually destructive competition such as resource attrition and price wars—surviving steadily while escaping the vicious cycle of "involution"?
What is the primary principle of major decisions?
How can you overcome growth bottlenecks when resources are limited?
How can you improve your team's execution?
…
"The knower of war acts without hesitation and executes without exhaustion."
A "knower of war" is someone who deeply understands the underlying logic of winning. The Art of War, written in an era of chaos, represents Sun Tzu's comprehensive grasp of that logic. Reading this military classic greatly benefits managers in understanding competition, escaping competition, and transcending competition.
This book provides a complete explanation of the original text of The Art of War in 13 chapters, contextualized with contemporary business realities. It guides managers to grasp the strategic concepts of winning and master actionable tactical methods—thereby elevating competition from low-level, material confrontation to high-level, intangible strategic contest. Ultimately, it shows how to transform confrontation into cooperation, shape a competitive environment favorable to long-term development, build an organization capable of winning, and finally break through operational difficulties to achieve true victory.

Gong Yuzhen

Doctor of Military Science, Professor of Management at the National School of Development, Peking University; Associate Dean of the BiMBA Business School, Deputy Director of the Academic Committee, and EMBA Academic Director. Former Associate Researcher in the Strategy Department of the Academy of Military Science; Visiting Scholar at the East Asia Studies Center, Cornell University; Board Member of the China Sun Tzu's Art of War Research Association.

He has authored more than ten books, including The Historical Dimensions of Management, An Analysis of Chinese Strategic Culture, The Path to Victory: Sun Tzu's Art of War and the Principles of Competition, Twelve Lessons on Zeng Guofan's Leadership, The Great Way Is Simple: Zeng Guofan and Chinese-Style Leadership, and translated The U.S. Army Leadership Field Manual: Skills, Strategies, and Methods for Leading in Any Situation. He has led or participated in over ten national and military research projects and published nearly 100 academic papers. He has received the National Book Award Special Prize, the Academy of Military Science Outstanding Research Achievement Award, the First Prize for Academic Publications from the China University Presses Association, the China Sun Tzu's Art of War Research Association Outstanding Achievement Award, and the Peking University National School of Development Excellent Teaching Awards for both the Economics Double Degree program and the EMBA program.

Recommendation Foreword
Author's Preface: Re-reading The Art of War Through the Logic of Winning

Chapter 1 – Strategic Assessments (Ji)
Matters of State
The Five Fundamentals
The Seven Considerations
Heed the Commander's Plan
Adapt to Circumstances for Advantage
Warfare Is Deception
Victory Is Determined in the Temple Before Battle

Chapter 2 – Waging War (Zuo Zhan)
A Thousand Pieces of Gold a Day
Wisdom of Slow and Steady Warfare
Supply from the Enemy
Grow Stronger by Defeating the Enemy
The Commander Who Understands War

Chapter 3 – Strategic Attack (Mou Gong)
Overall Victory Is Best
The Best Strategy Is to Outmaneuver Plans
Non-War, Non-Attack, Non-Prolonged
Ten Surrounds, Five Attacks
Three Ways a Sovereign Can Harm the Army
Five Conditions for Knowing Victory
Know the Enemy, Know Yourself—Hundred Battles, No Danger

Chapter 4 – Disposition of Forces (Xing)
First Ensure Invincibility
Seek Battle Only After Certain Victory
Measure, Estimate, Count, Weigh, Win

Chapter 5 – Momentum (Shi)
Organization, Designation, Numbers, Names
The Interplay of Direct and Indirect Forces
Steep Momentum, Short Timing
Appear Formless to Move the Enemy
Seek Victory from Momentum

Chapter 6 – Emptiness and Fullness (Xu Shi)
Lure the Enemy, Don't Be Lured
Reveal Nothing, Perceive Everything
Probe, Provoke, Appear, Test
Forces Have No Constant Form

Chapter 7 – Maneuvering (Jun Zheng)
The Indirect Is Direct, Adversity Is Advantage
Maneuvering Brings Both Benefit and Danger
Beware the Three "Don'ts"
Split and Combine as Conditions Change
Four Controls of Maneuvering
Eight Taboos of Using Troops

Chapter 8 – Nine Variations (Jiu Bian)
The Benefits of Nine Variations
Mixed Considerations of Advantage and Harm
A Commander Has Five Dangerous Traits

Chapter 9 – Marching (Xing Jun)
Four Methods of Positioning Troops
This Is Called Certain Victory
Six Harmful Terrain Types
Thirty-Two Methods of Reading Signs
Troops Are Not Better in Greater Number

Chapter 10 – Terrain (Di Xing)
Six Types of Terrain
Six Causes of Defeat
Advance Not for Fame, Retreat Not to Avoid Blame
Know Heaven, Know Earth, Know the Enemy, Know Yourself

Chapter 11 – Nine Grounds (Jiu Di)
Variations of Nine Grounds
The Principle of Flexibility and Firmness
The Nature of Human Sentiment
The Army That Rules Over All

Chapter 12 – Fire Attack (Huo Gong)
Variations of the Five Fire Attacks
Secure the State, Preserve the Army

Chapter 13 – Use of Spies (Yong Jian)
Foreknowledge
No One Closer Than the Spy
Seek Knowledge by Every Means
The Wise Become Spies

References