Throughout The Art of War, Sun Tzu uses terms in unique or non-standard ways. Be sure to pay careful attention because the different uses can drastically change the meaning. The the key terms that are listed below are the most important of these.

Heaven

Heaven means the time of day and weather conditions in The Art of War.

Earth

Earth is the term Sun Tzu uses to reference the layout of the battlefield.

Moral Law

Moral law in The Art of War means the obedience of the soldiers as well as the populace. “A consummate leader cultivates the moral law.”

Leader

Sun Tzu uses a myriad of terms to describe the individual who will benefit from reading the essays. These include the leader, general, chieftain, and commander-in-chief.

Sovereign

The sovereign is specifically the ruler of the nation who ranks above the leader. On several occasions, Sun Tzu recommends defying the sovereign’s orders if they are not tactically sound.

Take a Study Break