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[The heading means literally "The Nine Variations," but as Sun

Tzŭ does not appear to enumerate these, and as, indeed, he has

already told us (V §§ 6-11) that such deflections from the

ordinary course are practically innumerable, we have little

option but to follow Wang Hsi, who says that "Nine" stands for an

indefinitely large number. "All it means is that in warfare we

ought to vary our tactics to the utmost degree.... I do not know

what Ts'ao Kung makes these Nine Variations out to be, but it has

been suggested that they are connected with the Nine Situations"

- of chapt. XI. This is the view adopted by Chang Yu. The only

other alternative is to suppose that something has been lost-a

supposition to which the unusual shortness of the chapter lends

some weight.]

1. Sun Tzŭ said: In war, the general receives his commands from

the sovereign, collects his army and concentrates his forces.