Sun Tzu's Moral Influence

There are five factors need to master which are moral influence, terrain, weather, generalship, and doctrine and law. It appears from what follows that Sun Tzu means by "Moral Law" a principle of harmony, not unlike the Tao of Lao Tzu in its moral aspect. One might be tempted to render it by "morale," were it not considered as an attribute of the ruler. The moral influence is translated from Tao. It usually rendered as ‘The Way’ or The Right Way’. It refers to the morality of the government, especially to that of the sovereign. If the sovereign governs justly, benevolently and righteously, he follow the right path or the right way, and thus exerts a superior degree of moral influence. Moral influence cause people to be in harmony with their leaders, so that they will accompany them in life and unto death without fear of moral peril. Second is weather. Meng Shih refers to "the hard and the soft, waxing and waning" of Heaven. Wang Hsi, however, may be right in saying that what is meant is "the general economy of Heaven," including the five elements, the four seasons, wind and clouds, and other phenomena. It means the natural forces, the effects of winter’s cold and summer’s heat and the conduct of military operations in accordance with the seasons. It is one of the factors that we cannot control at all. …show more content…
For example, Sime Darby Plantation, which is one of the oil palm plantation in Malaysia. In its land preparation and management, it strictly adhere to its policy against clearing virgin forest and ensure protection of high conservation value areas, Avoid planting oil palm on very steep slope of above 25 degrees gradient to minimise erosion. These areas are left in situ with its natural habitat and forest and so on. For the social enhancement, it provides and maintaining a safe and healthy working environment, preventing injury and ill health to its employees, contractors and