Sun Tzu in India (Part 3)

Comparing Sun Tzu with Kautilya is a satisfactory experience because one knows one is reading two individuals who are so completely ruthless, determined, no nonsense, insightful, cunning, and in some ways wise. There is an important difference though--Kautilya's emphasis is more on state craft and state administration (though he also covers some military strategy), while Sun Tzu's is exclusively on military strategy.

But the no nonsense approach of Sun Tzu and Kautilya can be fathomed by the attitude towards superstition.

Sun Tzu writes (Griffith translation, new illustrated edition, pg 218):

He [i.e. the general] prohibits superstitious practices and so rids the army of doubts. Then until the moment of death there can be no troubles.

Sun Tzu's traditional chinese commentators, writing on the above verse, say [Griffith translation, pg 218]:

Tsao Tsao: Prohibit talk of omens and of supernatural portents. Rid plans of doubts and uncertainties.
Chang Yu: The Ssu-ma Fa says: 'Exterminate superstitions'.

Kautilya of course takes a slightly different approach to superstions. He wants the ruler to be free from all superstions but he wants the ruler to use superstions in an expedient manner so as to keep the subjects under control. Further, he wants the ruler to use superstitious beliefs to his advantage when dealing with a superstitious opponent. There are many concrete examples that Kautilya gives on how one may use superstition to one's advantage. They may be covered separately in a different write up.

Another interesting point of similarity is that both Sun Tzu and Kautilya talk about the importance of having spies. Sun Tzu writes on spies from a military perspective and Kautilya from both military as well as administrative perspective. An interesting feature of Kautilya's works is that he recommends the usage of female spies for specific covert operations which he describes in some detail.

Sun Tzu's works are usually aphorisms. To understand them completely, and to obtain concrete examples, one has to rely on Sun Tzu's traditional commentators. In contrast, Kautilya gives the concrete examples--for explaining his position--himself.

(to be continued)