I t’s truly compelling to note how good leadership principles, ideas and philosophies can transcend time and culture. Sun Tzu’s The Art of War is internationally regarded as one of the greatest texts for strategic methodology, and has a myriad of applications throughout history. What began in China as a manual of military tactics in the fourth century BC has been appropriated globally by managers, sports figures, philosophers, and even stock traders over several millennia. With this in mind, it’s evident why executives have used Sun Tzu’s teachings and likened their business experiences to the warfare depicted in this ancient Chinese reference. The elegant simplicity of The Art of War is what makes its teachings so accessible and multifaceted. The regular use of esoteric metaphor paradoxically challenges and subdues the reader with its allusions to nature and philosophy that characterise the universality of good leadership qualities. Senior Lecturer and Philosophy Discipline Coordinator at the University of New South Wales Dr Karyn Lai has extensive experience exploring ancient Chinese philosophy, but realises the limitations of applying Sun Tzu’s teachings to specific industries. Karyn says, “I am quite sceptical of the many publications that FEW ANCIENT TEXTS ARE AS PERENNIAL AS SUN TZU’S THE ART OF WAR . THIS ARCHAIC REFERENCE HAS INTRINSIC TEACHINGS REGARDING LEADERSHIP, GOVERNANCE AND STRATEGY THAT GO FAR BEYOND ITS ORIGINAL TIME AND CONTEXT. BY JAY GARCIA popularise Sun Tzu’s Bing Fa (The Art of War) for management. This is because they often misconstrue the text by taking it out of its original historical context, and because they propose to cast business strategies and management as war.” Karyn explains: “Sun Tzu’s The Art of War , and its associated text by his descendant, Sun Bin, must be placed in an intellectual context that is anti-war. Taking these texts out of context often results in a militaristic reading of them.” Therefore, removing the militaristic context of the original writings can make The Art of War more easily applicable to management, and particularly self-understanding. For strategists to triumph in warfare, or the business realm, they must first understand their personal limitations and the context in which they are working. “What would I do with the Bing Fa?” Karyn asks. “I would read it first and foremost as an important text for understanding the self in relation to others and the self in context, as some early Chinese thinkers saw it. In this way, it is not a text about how to conquer or defeat, but a text that throws light on oneself in relation to its context and to others. It helps to situate the self. Sure, the text is not about self-sacrifice or altruism, but neither is it just about conquests. It is about gaining advantage for the self, but that can result in as much a win-win situation as it can a win-lose situation.” Knowledge of self is heavily promoted through Sun Tzu’s text. Lessons within The Art of War are taught and explained but, more importantly, they aim to develop self-exploration. One tries to understand the ‘self’ by searching for answers in the ‘other’ (nature, business, the external world), but the paradox occurs when one realises that all understanding comes from within. We travel down others’ interpretations of Sun Tzu to discover our own meaning – thus, the process of looking outward brings us back to self- understanding. Others’ reasoning and rationale can only take you so far before you begin to look within yourself for answers. That is why so many scholars and translators have developed their own understanding of Sun Tzu with varied success. What’s most important to remember about The Art of War is that it promotes self-understanding, not self-cultivation as most authors would have you believe. The reader must derive their own understanding from the text, and that’s the true purpose of its inscrutable teachings. The text is not a guide to understanding, but rather provides the tools and ideas for a person to develop their own interpretation and comprehension. Karyn highlights: “A notable scholar and translator of the Sun Bin writes: ‘Both the Sun Tzu [Sunzi] , and its literary descendant, the Sun Pin [Sun Bin] , are military treatises that share a fundamental distaste for war. Warfare always constitutes a loss.’ In its original context, the Bing Fa builds upon existing themes in Chinese philosophy, including the Daoist notion of wu wei, which is not a concept about deception but one which emphasises the spontaneity and integrity of individuals.” Daoism, like The Art of War , promotes independent thought and wu wei (non-action). Wu wei is an illusive notion that encourages people to be more open to change and adaptation, rather than being assertive and rigid like other ancient Chinese schools of thought. Wu wei is a very laissez-faire concept, and can be applied on both an individual and societal level. Even within business, leaders should act wu wei, intervening only when completely necessary. Omnipotence is not a sign of a true leader, as people must learn to govern and think for themselves. Leading people blindly or forcefully will not ensure obedience, nor will it encourage development. It should also be understood that wu wei is not taking zero action, but rather giving people the freedom to grow and learn on their own accord, steering clear of micromanagement and assisting only when truly necessary. Previous schools of thought were too rigid in their notions of governance and leadership. However, as Daoism, Sun Tzu, and nature have determined, those set to In this way, it is not a text about how to conquer or defeat, but a text that throws light on oneself in relation to its context and to others. It helps to situate the self.” - Dr Karyn Lai To understand the intricacies of modern business, an executive must first understand the role and nature of all stakeholders to be able to take a more holistic approach to all business activities. 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