The Art of War in Fiction
How Sun Tzu's Philosophy Shaped Your Favourite Stories.
Sun Tzu's philosophy on managing conflict has endured through the ages and has been applied in countless real-life scenarios, stories, and works of art. His maxims are woven into the fabric of every book, comic, joke, movie, and tale ever told. From leadership and teamwork to adaptability and moral law, his teachings provide a blueprint for success in times of conflict. In this essay, we will explore Sun Tzu's five maxims and how they are reflected in various forms of media.
The first maxim is "After that comes tactical maneuvering, then there is nothing more difficult. The difficulty of tactical maneuvering consists in turning the devious into the direct, and misfortune into gain." This maxim emphasizes the importance of adaptability and turning unfavourable situations into favourable ones. One of the best examples of this maxim in action is in the movie Die Hard. The main character, John McClane, is a New York City cop who finds himself in the wrong place at the wrong time. Terrorists have taken over the building he is in, and he must use his wits and tactical maneuvering to overcome the odds and save the hostages. He turns the devious tactics of the terrorists against them and ultimately emerges victorious.
The second maxim "Foreknowledge enables the wise sovereign and the good general to conquer and achieve beyond the ordinary" is the second maxim. In the 2008 film "The Tracker," an Aboriginal man is accused of killing a white woman. Three white men, known as The Fanatic, The Follower, and The Veteran, with an experienced indigenous man called The Tracker, embark on a mission to capture him through the harsh Australian outback. However, The Fanatic's ignorance and extreme determination to bring the accused to justice puts everyone at risk, including sacrificing others for the goal. As they journey, The Tracker's intentions remain mysterious, using his unique tribal knowledge to control the fate of all. With his foreknowledge, his deep knowledge of the land, he imposes his will to achieve the outcome he had predetermined from the start of the hunt.
The third maxim, “Thus, what enables the wise sovereign and the good general to strike and conquer, and achieve things beyond the reach of ordinary men, is foreknowledge”, highlights the significance of a strong leader as the bulwark of a state, which can make all the difference in times of conflict. This can be seen in popular fictional characters such as Dumbledore in the Harry Potter series, who leads the fight against Voldemort and inspires others to fight for what is right. Similarly, Superman serves as the protector of Smallville and Batman as the defender of Gotham City against super-villains and themselves, thus embodying the concept of a strong bulwark for their respective cities.
The first maxim is "After that comes tactical maneuvering, then there is nothing more difficult. The difficulty of tactical maneuvering consists in turning the devious into the direct, and misfortune into gain." This maxim emphasizes the importance of adaptability and turning unfavourable situations into favourable ones. One of the best examples of this maxim in action is in the movie Die Hard. The main character, John McClane, is a New York City cop who finds himself in the wrong place at the wrong time. Terrorists have taken over the building he is in, and he must use his wits and tactical maneuvering to overcome the odds and save the hostages. He turns the devious tactics of the terrorists against them and ultimately emerges victorious.
The second maxim "Foreknowledge enables the wise sovereign and the good general to conquer and achieve beyond the ordinary" is the second maxim. In the 2008 film "The Tracker," an Aboriginal man is accused of killing a white woman. Three white men, known as The Fanatic, The Follower, and The Veteran, with an experienced indigenous man called The Tracker, embark on a mission to capture him through the harsh Australian outback. However, The Fanatic's ignorance and extreme determination to bring the accused to justice puts everyone at risk, including sacrificing others for the goal. As they journey, The Tracker's intentions remain mysterious, using his unique tribal knowledge to control the fate of all. With his foreknowledge, his deep knowledge of the land, he imposes his will to achieve the outcome he had predetermined from the start of the hunt.
The third maxim, “Thus, what enables the wise sovereign and the good general to strike and conquer, and achieve things beyond the reach of ordinary men, is foreknowledge”, highlights the significance of a strong leader as the bulwark of a state, which can make all the difference in times of conflict. This can be seen in popular fictional characters such as Dumbledore in the Harry Potter series, who leads the fight against Voldemort and inspires others to fight for what is right. Similarly, Superman serves as the protector of Smallville and Batman as the defender of Gotham City against super-villains and themselves, thus embodying the concept of a strong bulwark for their respective cities.
“After that comes tactical maneuvering, then there is nothing more difficult. The difficulty of tactical maneuvering consists in turning the devious into the direct, and misfortune into gain”
“Thus, what enables the wise sovereign and the good general to strike and conquer, and achieve things beyond the reach of ordinary men, is foreknowledge”
“Now the general is the bulwark of the State; if the bulwark is complete at all points, the State will be strong; if the bulwark is defective, the State will be weak”
“The clever combatant looks to the effect of combined energy and does not require too much from individuals. Hence their ability to pick out the right individuals and utilize combined energy”
“MORAL LAW causes the people to be in complete accord with their leader”
The fourth maxim is "The clever combatant looks to the effect of combined energy and does not require too much from individuals. Hence their ability to pick out the right individuals and utilize combined energy." This maxim highlights the importance of teamwork and the idea that a group can achieve more than individuals working alone. The movie Ocean's Eleven is a perfect example of this maxim in action. A group of criminals comes together to pull off a heist using each other's unique skills. By working together and utilizing each other's strengths, they are able to achieve what they could not have accomplished alone.
The Harry Potter series is another great example of this maxim in action. Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley always stand by Harry Potter, using their unique skills to help defeat Voldemort and his followers. By working together and utilizing each other's strengths, they are able to achieve what they could not have accomplished alone. Additionally, Superman had the Justice League, and Batman had the Bat Family to help them protect their cities against super-villains and other threats. These examples show that including the right people in your team and support network is essential for achieving great things.
The maxim "MORAL LAW causes the people to be in complete accord with their leader" underscores the importance of ethical leadership and how a leader who embodies moral values can win the support of their followers. In the Star Wars franchise, the character of Luke Skywalker embodies this maxim as he leads the rebellion against the oppressive Empire. His moral principles and unwavering commitment to justice inspire his fellow rebels to follow him and fight for their cause.
Similarly, in the movie The Warriors, based on the novel Anabasis by Xenophon, the character of Swan becomes the leader of the Warriors gang and guides them safely back home after they are falsely accused of murder and forced to fight their way back to Coney Island. Swan's moral leadership and ability to inspire trust among his fellow gang members allow him to utilize their collective energy to overcome obstacles and reach home safely.
In conclusion, Sun Tzu's teachings have had a lasting impact on conflict management and resolution and have been reflected in various forms of media. His five maxims emphasize the importance of adaptability, foreknowledge, strong leadership, teamwork, and ethical values in achieving success in times of conflict. These principles can be seen in popular movies, books, and other works of art, where characters have utilized Sun Tzu's teachings to overcome adversity and emerge victorious. Sun Tzu's philosophy is a timeless reminder of the importance of strategic thinking and ethical leadership, which can inspire individuals and leaders alike to navigate conflict with wisdom and finesse.
The Harry Potter series is another great example of this maxim in action. Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley always stand by Harry Potter, using their unique skills to help defeat Voldemort and his followers. By working together and utilizing each other's strengths, they are able to achieve what they could not have accomplished alone. Additionally, Superman had the Justice League, and Batman had the Bat Family to help them protect their cities against super-villains and other threats. These examples show that including the right people in your team and support network is essential for achieving great things.
The maxim "MORAL LAW causes the people to be in complete accord with their leader" underscores the importance of ethical leadership and how a leader who embodies moral values can win the support of their followers. In the Star Wars franchise, the character of Luke Skywalker embodies this maxim as he leads the rebellion against the oppressive Empire. His moral principles and unwavering commitment to justice inspire his fellow rebels to follow him and fight for their cause.
Similarly, in the movie The Warriors, based on the novel Anabasis by Xenophon, the character of Swan becomes the leader of the Warriors gang and guides them safely back home after they are falsely accused of murder and forced to fight their way back to Coney Island. Swan's moral leadership and ability to inspire trust among his fellow gang members allow him to utilize their collective energy to overcome obstacles and reach home safely.
In conclusion, Sun Tzu's teachings have had a lasting impact on conflict management and resolution and have been reflected in various forms of media. His five maxims emphasize the importance of adaptability, foreknowledge, strong leadership, teamwork, and ethical values in achieving success in times of conflict. These principles can be seen in popular movies, books, and other works of art, where characters have utilized Sun Tzu's teachings to overcome adversity and emerge victorious. Sun Tzu's philosophy is a timeless reminder of the importance of strategic thinking and ethical leadership, which can inspire individuals and leaders alike to navigate conflict with wisdom and finesse.