The Nine Situations 568
Sun Tzǔ said: The art of war recognizes nine varieties of ground: (1) Dispersive ground; (2) facile ground; (3) contentious ground; (4) open ground; (5) ground of intersecting highways; (6) serious ground; (7) difficult ground; (8) hemmed-in ground; (9) desperate ground.
When a chieftain is fighting in his own territory, it is dispersive ground. 569
When he has penetrated into hostile territory, but to no great distance, it is facile ground. 570
Ground the possession of which imports great advantage to either side, is contentious ground. 571