Tactics+&+Strategies

= Tactics & Strategies =



Warfare in Warring States China (and in fact throughout most of Chinese history) stem from political reasoning or social revolutions. In my fellow colleague Tom Lee's wiki on Warfare in Southeast Asia war and fighting was seen as something for individual gain and prestige rather than a group "victory" so to say. Southeast Asian warfare differed as they were more primitive, often seen as skirmishers, with a lack of military leadership. They were won "without the tactical means of counting men and advantageous positions" as he describes it. Two cultures so close to each other, yet differed so greatly in the social implications of warfare. Wars and battles in Warring States China required much more coordination because of the large size of the armies. Complexities arise and so do they need for a leader. These leaders, or rulers, waged wars for the prosperity of the state and the people. Wars were fought for these leaders and in doing so the individual gains material wealth and honor. One was able to advance through the ranks through merit and performance if one was a good leader.

Being a good leader meant more than just being able to fight, they needed to be able to understand tactics and strategies to benefit the entire group (army).Tactics and strategies are an integral part to any nation fighting any war. They represent strong leadership and complex planning. The ability to command the troops and have them follow orders can spell the difference between defeat and victory. Many books from the Warring States period were written to explain the thought processes behind tactics and strategies. The most famous book of the time was [|"The Art of War" by Sun Tzu], a famous strategist, which has 13 chapters. Each of the chapters details a specific aspect of war ranging from how to prepare supply lines, to how to retreat, and even how to spy on your enemies. "The Art of War" has influenced many aspects of Asian and Western military practices and even culture. Sun Tzu believed that wars were won through careful planning and strategy but strategy was not following a set list of plans but rather being flexible and able to adapt to situations.



Another famous strategist of the era was [|Sun Bin], who was supposedly descended from Sun Tzu. Sun Bin wrote his own book titled [|Sun Bin's Art of War] which was rediscovered during an archaeological excavation in 1972. The book contains 89 chapters with 4 full volumes of pictures. The below listed are the military formations used during the Warring States era which are found in the book.

__**The Wu**__ - five-man squad in line astern.

 __**The Dui**__ - 10 Wu in line abreast (5 men deep and 10 across) 50 men

 **__The Bo__** - Two Dui in line abreast (5 men deep and 20 across) or line astern (a square 10 men deep and 10 across) 100 men

 **__The Qu__** - Two Bo in line abreast (5 men deep and 40 across) or line astern (20 men deep and 10 across) 200 men

 **__The Square__** - made up of several rows of Qu, with the HQ in the middle of the rear row. Not necessarily a true square, can be rectangular. A favorite tactic was to place stronger Qu on the flanks, and then lure the enemy to attack the center and be outflanked.

 **__The Circle__** - a Qu reformed into a ring, with the HQ protected within it. A highly defensive formation.

 **__Dispersed Formation__** - increasing the distance between individual Qu in a square, so as to mislead the enemy or divide his forces.

 **__Close Formation__** - decreasing the distance between individual Qu in a square, for strength in close-quarter fighting.

 **__The Awl__** - A wedge (triangle with one point facing forward), a highly offensive formation.

 **__The Wild-Goose-Flight Formation__** - A V-formation with two wings for enveloping the enemy and the HQ in the middle. Or an inverted-V for a defensive formation that can quickly be converted to offensive wedge.

 **__The Hook Formation__** - A line abreast with the two ends sloping inwards to avoid being flanked.

= Visual Help =



For a visual guide on military formations and army compositions I strongly suggest visiting [|National Geographics exhibition on the Terracotta Warriors]. These are Terracotta soldiers crafted to guard the 1st emperor of China [|Qin Shi Huang], who was also the ruler of the Qin state that took over China. The warriors on display are placed into military formations that they would have been standing in back in the Warring States Era.