The Nine Situations (九地篇 - Jiu Di)
Original Content
The art of war recognizes nine varieties of ground: Dispersive, Facile, Contentious, Open, Terrains of intersecting highways, Serious, Difficult, Hemmed-in, and Desperate ground.
Description
Explores the interaction between psychological states and environment. On 'Desperate ground,' fight. Stresses that speed is the essence of war.
Related Hexagrams
Hexagram Bo (Splitting Apart): 'It does not pay to go anywhere.' Strategies for difficult or deteriorating grounds.
Hexagram Kun (Oppression): 'Water dried up in the marsh.' Ways to break through hemmed-in ground and exhaustion.
Hexagram Fu (Return): 'Going deep leads to focus.' Concentration of mind when deep in serious (enemy) ground.
Hexagram Shi (The Army): 'Water within the earth.' Organizing the masses to find life in desperate ground.
Hexagram Tai (Peace): 'Intercourse and Heaven.' Diplomacy and alliances at intersecting highways.