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Factors on Using Troops

 

Disciplines > WarfareWu Zi's Art of War > Factors on Using Troops

Chapter | Observed lessons | Discussion | See also

 

Chapter

First part : 3 : 1

Observed lessons

  • Four principles of lightness:
    1. The terrain feels that the horses are light. So choose terrain that suits horses.
    2. The horses feel that the chariot is light. So feed the horses to keep them strong.
    3. Chariots feel that the soldiers on it are light. So maintain chariots well.
    4. The soldiers feel that the burden of war is light. So arm and train soldiers well.
  • Two principles of heaviness:
    1. Reward heavily the courageous troops who advance.
    2. Punish heavily those who retreat.
  • One principle of integrity:
    • Ensure the reward and punishment system is fairly designed and implemented.

Discussion

War is not about soldiers or horses or chariots or terrain. It is about all of them. The same principle applies now, just substituting horses and chariots for their modern equivalent. The whole system can fail if one part fails, so pay attention to all parts.

Lightness and heaviness are principles in Tai Chi, where you make yourself insubstantial or immovable, so your opponent falls through where they thought you were or bounces off of your strongly rooted stance. You can also do this in verbal interactions with others, being light and lithe or strong and tough. Often light works best, though sometimes heavy is needed.

Reward and punishment have been used for many years and still have their place, although our understanding of motivation now is more sophisticated. When you use this carrot and stick system, be careful to ensure it is perceived as being fair, otherwise even rewards will cause resentment.

See also

Harmony principle, Alignment principle

 

http://www.chinese-wiki.com/Wu_Zi_Art_of_War

 

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Site Menu

| Home | Top | Quick Links | Settings |

Main sections: | Disciplines | Techniques | Principles | Explanations | Theories |

Other sections: | Blog! | Quotes | Guest articles | Analysis | Books | Help |

More pages: | Contact | Caveat | About | Students | Webmasters | Awards | Guestbook | Feedback | Sitemap | Changes |

Settings: | Computer layout | Mobile layout | Small font | Medium font | Large font | Translate |

 

 

Please help and share:

 

Quick links

Disciplines

* Argument
* Brand management
* Change Management
* Coaching
* Communication
* Counseling
* Game Design
* Human Resources
* Job-finding
* Leadership
* Marketing
* Politics
* Propaganda
* Rhetoric
* Negotiation
* Psychoanalysis
* Sales
* Sociology
* Storytelling
* Teaching
* Warfare
* Workplace design

Techniques

* Assertiveness
* Body language
* Change techniques
* Closing techniques
* Conversation
* Confidence tricks
* Conversion
* Creative techniques
* General techniques
* Happiness
* Hypnotism
* Interrogation
* Language
* Listening
* Negotiation tactics
* Objection handling
* Propaganda
* Problem-solving
* Public speaking
* Questioning
* Using repetition
* Resisting persuasion
* Self-development
* Sequential requests
* Storytelling
* Stress Management
* Tipping
* Using humor
* Willpower

Principles

+ Principles

Explanations

* Behaviors
* Beliefs
* Brain stuff
* Conditioning
* Coping Mechanisms
* Critical Theory
* Culture
* Decisions
* Emotions
* Evolution
* Gender
* Games
* Groups
* Habit
* Identity
* Learning
* Meaning
* Memory
* Motivation
* Models
* Needs
* Personality
* Power
* Preferences
* Research
* Relationships
* SIFT Model
* Social Research
* Stress
* Trust
* Values

Theories

* Alphabetic list
* Theory types

And

About
Guest Articles
Blog!
Books
Changes
Contact
Guestbook
Quotes
Students
Webmasters

 

| Home | Top | Menu | Quick Links |

© Changing Works 2002-
Massive Content — Maximum Speed