Sun Tzu
EN
12

第12篇:火攻篇

The Attack by Fire

核心要义

火攻有五:火人火积火辎火库火队。主不可以怒而兴师,将不可以愠而致战。怒可以复喜,亡国不可以复存。

Five targets for fire attack, each with specific timing and conditions. But more importantly: a leader must not be moved by anger. Rage subsides; a ruined state cannot be restored.

目录

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 第12篇:火攻篇

孙子兵法

Sun Tzu’s THE ART OF WAR [ 首页 ](/) [ 火攻篇 ](#huogong)

目录 1 [

始计篇 ](/chapter-1-laying-plans/) 2 [ 作战篇 ](/chapter-2-waging-war/) 3 [ 谋攻篇 ](/chapter-3-attack-by-stratagem/) 4 [ 军形篇 ](/chapter-4-tactical-dispositions/) 5 [ 兵势篇 ](/chapter-5-energy/) 6 [ 虚实篇 ](/chapter-6-weak-points-and-strong/) 7 [ 军争篇 ](/chapter-7-maneuvering/) 8 [ 九变篇 ](/chapter-8-variation-in-tactics/) 9 [ 行军篇 ](/chapter-9-the-army-on-the-march/) 10 [ 地形篇 ](/chapter-10-terrain/) 11 [ 九地篇 ](/chapter-11-the-nine-situations/) 12 [ 火攻篇 ](/chapter-12-the-attack-by-fire/) 13 [ 用间篇 ](/chapter-13-the-use-of-spies/)

孙子兵法

Sun Tzu’s THE ART OF WAR [ 首页 ](/) [ 火攻篇 ](#huogong)

目录 1 [

始计篇 ](/chapter-1-laying-plans/) 2 [ 作战篇 ](/chapter-2-waging-war/) 3 [ 谋攻篇 ](/chapter-3-attack-by-stratagem/) 4 [ 军形篇 ](/chapter-4-tactical-dispositions/) 5 [ 兵势篇 ](/chapter-5-energy/) 6 [ 虚实篇 ](/chapter-6-weak-points-and-strong/) 7 [ 军争篇 ](/chapter-7-maneuvering/) 8 [ 九变篇 ](/chapter-8-variation-in-tactics/) 9 [ 行军篇 ](/chapter-9-the-army-on-the-march/) 10 [ 地形篇 ](/chapter-10-terrain/) 11 [ 九地篇 ](/chapter-11-the-nine-situations/) 12 [ 火攻篇 ](/chapter-12-the-attack-by-fire/) 13 [ 用间篇 ](/chapter-13-the-use-of-spies/) 《孙子兵法·火攻篇》 孙子曰:凡火攻有五:一曰火人,二曰火积,三曰火辎,四曰火库,五曰火队。行火必有因,烟火必素具。发火有时,起火有日。时者,天之燥也;日者,月在箕、壁、翼、轸也。凡此四宿者,风起之日也。 凡火攻,必因五火之变而应之。火发于内,则早应之于外。火发兵静者,待而勿攻,极其火力,可从而从之,不可从而止。火可发于外,无待于内,以时发之。火发上风,无攻下风。昼风久,夜风止。凡军必知有五火之变,以数守之。 故以火佐攻者明,以水佐攻者强。水可以绝,不可以夺。夫战胜攻取,而不修其功者凶,命曰费留。故曰:明主虑之,良将修之。非利不动,非得不用,非危不战。主不可以怒而兴师,将不可以愠而致战;合于利而动,不合于利而止。怒可以复喜,愠可以复悦;亡国不可以复存,死者不可以复生。故明君慎之,良将警之,此安国全军之道也。

白话译文: 孙子说:

火攻有五种目标:一是焚烧敌军的将士和马匹,二是焚毁敌军的粮草储备,三是焚烧敌军的辎重,四是焚毁敌军的仓库,五是破坏敌军的运输设施。施行火攻必须具备一定条件,随时准备好必要的火攻器材。发动火攻时,要选择有利的时机和适宜的日期。有利的时机,是指天气干燥;适宜的日期,是指月亮运行到“箕、壁、翼、轸”四星所在之日,因为这时容易起风,有利于火势蔓延。 使用火攻时,必须根据五种火攻目标可能带来的变化灵活运用兵力。如果从敌人内部放火,应提前派兵从外部策应;火势已起,而敌军仍镇定,则需观察等待,不可贸然进攻。待火势达到最盛时,再视情况决定是否出击;若不适合进攻,则应停止。 火也可以从外部点燃,这时无需内部配合,只要时机成熟即可实施。放火时必须选择上风方向,不可从下风处进攻。白天风势强劲,夜间常会减弱,所以时机把握至关重要。 军队必须熟悉五种火攻方法的变化与运用,耐心等待条件成熟,再行实施火攻,方能确保战果。

常见问题

What are the five targets for 'attack by fire' in Chapter 12?
The five fire attack targets: (1) burn soldiers in their camp; (2) burn enemy stores and supplies; (3) burn baggage and transport; (4) burn arsenals and magazines; (5) burn formations with fire arrows. Each requires specific wind conditions, timing, and follow-up strategy.
Why does Chapter 12 end with a warning about anger and warfare?
After detailing fire attacks, Sun Tzu pivots to his most profound warning: 'A sovereign should not start a war out of anger, nor should a general give battle out of rage.' Anger passes, but a ruined state cannot be restored. In business: never make strategic moves out of competitive anger — price wars, hostile acquisitions, or retaliatory product launches born of emotion destroy value.
How does the fire attack chapter apply to modern competitive strategy?
Fire attack = disruptive competitive moves. The five targets map to: burn their customer base (superior product), burn their supply chain (better partnerships), burn their logistics (operational efficiency), burn their talent pool (better culture), burn their go-to-market (superior distribution). But Sun Tzu's warning applies: disruption must be strategic, not emotional.
What does Sun Tzu say about the timing of fire attacks?
Sun Tzu emphasizes precise conditions: fire attacks depend on dry weather, specific wind directions, and the right season. 'Attack when the wind rises in the daytime; a night wind is unreliable.' In modern terms: time your competitive moves when market conditions favor you, not arbitrarily.
What is the connection between 'Attack by Fire' and Chapter 13 'Use of Spies'?
Fire attacks require precise intelligence: you must know exactly where enemy supplies are stored, when conditions are right, and where your follow-up forces should strike. This requires spies (Chapter 13). The two chapters together form a complete offensive framework: intelligence gathering → precise, conditions-dependent strike.