Classical Text 古典文獻 · Sun Tzu Art of War 孫子兵法
Chapter 12 — The Attack by Fire
火攻 (The Attack by Fire)
火攻
The Attack by Fire
Chapter 12
Chapter Summary
本章概要
Explains the general use of weapons and the specific use of the environment as a weapon. This section examines the five targets for attack, the five types of environmental attack and the appropriate responses to such attacks.
Key Quote
重要引語
以火佐攻者明，以水佐攻者強。
“If you use fire to assist your attack, you will achieve clarity of results. If you use water to assist your attack, you will gain in conquering power.”
Application in the Five Arts
五術應用
In Daoist Magic: Fire (Incense, Talisman burning, Candles) is the primary medium of communication with the Upper Realms, providing "clarity" (Ming) to Heaven. Water (Fa Shui) provides grounding and purifying "strength" (Qiang) in the physical realm.
Study Translation
導讀譯文
Core teaching. Explains the general use of weapons and the specific use of the environment as a weapon. This section examines the five targets for attack, the five types of environmental attack and the appropriate responses to such attacks.
Canonical maxim. If you use fire to assist your attack, you will achieve clarity of results. If you use water to assist your attack, you will gain in conquering power. 以火佐攻者明，以水佐攻者強。
Chapter focus. Chapter 12 (火攻) explores how to weaponize natural elements—fire and water—against the enemy, detailing targets and countermeasures.
Source. Sunzi Bingfa (孫子兵法), public-domain classical editions.
Liuren Fajiao Commentary
六壬法教評注
Five Arts application. In Daoist Magic: Fire (Incense, Talisman burning, Candles) is the primary medium of communication with the Upper Realms, providing "clarity" (Ming) to Heaven. Water (Fa Shui) provides grounding and purifying "strength" (Qiang) in the physical realm.
Tactical insight. Environmental attacks amplify force through nature's power, but require precise timing and control to avoid self-harm.
Study point. Chapter 12 underscores the importance of adapting tactics to available resources, a principle echoed in asymmetric warfare.
Source Note
來源說明
Source: Sun Tzu Art of War (孫子兵法), Chapter 12