The Art of War Part 1 Trivia Quiz

Answer: Wu

Sun Tsu lived around 500BC. He was undefeated for two decades, but after he died the army moved away from his ideas. In 453BC, the Kingdom of Wu was conquered and ceased to exist.

Answer: Concubines

The King wanted to test Sun Tsu's theories, so he put 180 ladies of the household into two companies with his two favorite concubines in charge of the companies. When Sun Tsu gave his first command, the ladies started laughing. He explained that if the orders are not carried out because they are unclear, it is the general's fault.

He gave the order again and the ladies laughed. He explained that if the orders are not carried out but they are clear, it is the officers' fault. The two concubines were executed and replaced.

The ladies did the rest of the drill flawlessly.

Answer: No

Sun Tsu believed that as a general, there were certain orders than should not be followed. An example is in the above story. The King ordered him not to execute the favored concubines. Sun Tsu replied that a general was in charge of the army and in that capacity had the duty to disobey certain orders.

Answer: Chu

Sun Tsu defeated the Chu army and captured its capital Ying. This conquest continued into the Kingdom of Yueh. It was during this war that Sun Tsu died.

Answer: 1905

This seminal work was unknown in Europe for 2000 years. It was translated into French by Father Amiot in 1782. It then took over 100 years before P. F. Calthrop would translate this book into English.

Answer: 13

Even with large print, small pages, and translator's notes, this book is only 73 pages. Compare this with the Occidental version - Carl von Clausewitz's "On War" written in 1832 at 464 pages.

Answer: The Soviet Union

It is very clear from reading "The Art of War" that the United States' military was unfamiliar with the principles in this book during the Vietnam War.

Answer: 2.78

The modern li is thought to be close to the measurement of the ancient one. Incidently, 1 li = 0.58 Km.

Answer: Luck

The Moral Law refers to the belief that people have that their ruler is in the right. Heaven refers to time, seasons, weather, etc. Earth refers to terrain and distances. The Commander refers to leadership abilities. Method and Discipline refers to how the army is organized, supplies, obedience, etc. Luck is certainly an important factor, but it is not constant.

Answer: Deception

Sun Tsu was a firm believer in giving his enemy false intelligence. He recognized that his famous quote "Know your enemy and yourself . . ." also works in reverse.

Answer: 7

What ruler has the Moral Law? Which general has the most ability? Which side gains the advantage of Heaven and Earth? Which side is better disciplined? Which army is stronger? Which side has the better system of rewards/punishments?

Answer: False

Sun Tsu allows that generals must take advantage of all opportunities that come their way, even if unexpected. However, planning is paramount. "The general who wins a battle makes many calculations in his temple before the battle is fought."

Answer: False

Sun Tsu said that there has never been a country that benefited from a prolonged war. He believed in quickly invading and feeding off the enemy's land.

Answer: It costs the enemy food

Sun Tsu believed in making life hard on the enemy. He recognized that war was also a battle of economies and that to win, one had to make war costly for the enemy.

Answer: The soldiers

It is the prospect of getting the spoils of war that provides an incentive for the common soldier to fight. He also believed that captured prisoners should be used as an addition to one's own forces.

Answer: 133 1/3 lbs

In regards to question 14, Sun Tsu believed that one picul of the enemy's provisions captures were equivalent to twenty piculs of one's own provisions.

Answer: Capture the country intact

Sun Tsu believed that one should break the enemy without fighting and capture food, soldiers, and territory without destroying it.

Answer: Besiege a city

In order from best generalship to worst: frustrate the enemy's plans, prevent enemy forces from joining each other, attack the enemy, and besiege a city. A siege take up valuble time, energy, and men. Often the results are not worth it.

Answer: Attack from front and rear

If we outnumber the enemy 10 to 1 - surround him, if 5 to 1 - attack, if 2 to 1 - attack from front and rear, if equal - offer battle (fight a defensive battle), if slightly smaller - avoid the enemy, and if inferior - flee!

Answer: Underfinancing the army

To address the appointment of officers, Su Ma Ch'ien comments that a wise man, a brave man, a covetous man, and a stupid man can all be used - provided they are placed in an appropriate command.

Answer: It depends on the situation

Sun Tsu points out that the old military theory was to make oneself invunerable to defeat then wait for the enemy to make a mistake. However, Sun Tsu feels that one should use tactics based on the general's natural abilities and the strength of each army.

Answer: False

A good general will win too easily. The battle will be over too quickly for the general to be considered couragous and the intelligence the general used will be unknown so he will not be considered wise.

Answer: The general plans for victory before the battle

Sun Tsu believed that with proper planning, a general can guarantee victory. He counterposes this with generals that do their planning once the battle starts.

Answer: No battle at all

Sun Tsu often repeats himself. Through secrecy, planning, and clever manuvering, a general can win without shedding blood.

Answer: True

For Sun Tsu, you simple divide up the soldiers and employ signs and signals. Other than that, commanding small groups and large groups of soldiers are the same.