Sunzi Art of War 孫子兵法

計篇第一
jì piān dì yī

1.孫子曰兵者國之大事
sūnzi yuē bīng zhě guó zhī dàshì
Sun Tzu said: The art of war is of vital importance to the State.

2. 死生之地，存亡之道，不可不察也
sǐ shēng zhī dì ， cún wáng zhī dào ， bùkě bù chá yě
It is a matter of life and death, a road either to safety or to ruin. Hence it is a subject of inquiry which can on no account be neglected.

3. 故經之以五，校之以計，而索其情：
gù jīng zhī yǐ wǔ，xiào zhī yǐ jì，ér suǒ qí qíng
The art of war, then, is governed by five constant factors, to be taken into account in one’s deliberations, when seeking to determine the conditions obtaining in the field.

4.一曰道，二曰天，三曰地，四曰將，五曰法。
yī yuē dào，èr yuē tiān，sān yuē dì，sì yuē jiāng，wǔ yuē fǎ。
These are:
(1) The Moral Law;
(2) Heaven;
(3) Earth;
(4) The Commander;
(5) Method and discipline.

5.道者，令民于上同意者也，
dào zhě，lìng mín yú shàng tóng yì zhě yě，

6.可與之死，可與之生，民不詭也。
kě yǔ zhī sǐ，kě yǔ zhī shēng，mín bù guǐ yě。
The Moral Law causes the people to be in complete accord with their ruler, so that they will follow him regardless of their lives, undismayed by any danger.

7.天者，陰陽、寒暑、時制也。
tiān zhě，yīn yáng、hán shǔ、shí zhì yě。
Heaven signifies night and day, cold and heat, times and seasons.

8.地者，高下、遠近、險易、廣狹、死生也。
dì zhě，gāo xià、yuǎn jìn、xiǎn yì、guǎng xiá、sǐ shēng yě。
Earth comprises distances, great and small; danger and security; open ground and narrow passes; the chances of life and death.

9.將者，智、信、仁、勇、嚴也。
jiāng zhě，zhì、xìn、rén、yǒng、yán yě。
The Commander stands for the virtues of wisdom, sincerely, benevolence, courage and strictness.

10.法者，曲制、官道、主用也。
fǎ zhě，qū zhì、guān dào、zhǔ yòng yě。
By method and discipline are to be understood the marshaling of the army in its proper subdivisions, the graduations of rank among the officers, the maintenance of roads by which supplies may reach the army, and the control of military expenditure.

11.凡此五者，將莫不聞，知之者勝，不知之者不勝。
fán cǐ wǔ zhě，jiāng mò bù wén，zhī zhī zhě shèng，bù zhī zhī zhě bù shèng。
These five heads should be familiar to every general: he who knows them will be victorious; he who knows them not will fail.

12.故校之以計，而索其情。
gù xiào zhī yǐ jì，ér suǒ qí qíng。
Therefore, in your deliberations, when seeking to determine the military conditions, let them be made the basis of a comparison, in this wise:–

13.曰：主孰有道？將孰有能？天地孰得？法令孰行？兵眾孰強？士卒孰練？賞罰孰明？
yuē：zhǔ shú yǒu dào？jiāng shú yǒu néng？tiān dì shú de？fǎ lìng shú xíng？bīng zhòng shú qiáng？shì zú shú liàn？shǎng fá shú míng？
(1) Which of the two sovereigns is imbued with the Moral law?
(2) Which of the two generals has most ability?
(3) With whom lie the advantages derived from Heaven and Earth?
(4) On which side is discipline most rigorously enforced?
(5) Which army is stronger?
(6) On which side are officers and men more highly trained?
(7) In which army is there the greater constancy both in reward and punishment?

14.吾以此知勝負矣。
wú yǐ cǐ zhī shèng fù yǐ。
By means of these seven considerations I can forecast victory or defeat.

15.將聽吾計，用之必勝，留之﹔將不聽吾計，用之必敗，去之。
jiāng tīng wú jì，yòng zhī bì shèng，liú zhī﹔jiāng bù tīng wú jì，yòng zhī bì bài，qù zhī。
The general that hearkens to my counsel and acts upon it, will conquer: let such a one be retained in command! The general that hearkens not to my counsel nor acts upon it, will suffer defeat:–let such a one be dismissed!

16.計利以聽，乃為之勢，以佐其外。
jì lì yǐ tīng，nǎi wéi zhī shì，yǐ zuǒ qí wài。
While heading the profit of my counsel, avail yourself also of any helpful circumstances over and beyond the ordinary rules.

17. 勢者，因利而制權也。
shì zhě yīn lì ér zhì quán yě
According as circumstances are favorable, one should modify one’s plans.

18.兵者，詭道也。
bīng zhě，guǐ dào yě。
All warfare is based on deception.

19.故能而示之不能，用而示之不用，近而示之遠，遠而示之近。
gù néng ér shì zhī bù néng，yòng ér shì zhī bù yòng，jìn ér shì zhī yuǎn，yuǎn ér shì zhī jìn。
Hence, when able to attack, we must seem unable; when using our forces, we must seem inactive; when we are near, we must make the enemy believe we are far away; when far away, we must make him believe we are near.

20.利而誘之，亂而取之，
lì ér yòu zhī，luàn ér qǔ zhī，
Hold out baits to entice the enemy. Feign disorder, and crush him.

21.實而備之，強而避之，
shí ér bèi zhī，qiáng ér bì zhī，
If he is secure at all points, be prepared for him. If he is in superior strength, evade him.

22.怒而撓之，卑而驕之，
nù ér náo zhī，bēi ér jiāo zhī，
If your opponent is of choleric temper, seek to irritate him. Pretend to be weak, that he may grow arrogant.

23.佚而勞之，親而離之，
yì ér láo zhī，qīn ér lí zhī，
If he is taking his ease, give him no rest. If his forces are united, separate them.

24.攻其不備，出其不意。
gōng qí bù bèi，chū qí bù yì。
Attack him where he is unprepared, appear where you are not expected.

25.此兵家之勝，不可先傳也。
cǐ bīng jiā zhī shèng，bù kě xiān chuán yě。
These military devices, leading to victory, must not be divulged beforehand.

26.夫未戰而廟算勝者，得算多也﹔未戰而廟算不勝者，得算少也。多算勝，少算不勝，而況無算乎！吾以此觀之，勝負見矣。

fū wèi zhàn ér miào suàn shèng zhě，de suàn duō yě﹔wèi zhàn ér miào suàn bù shèng zhě，de suàn shǎo yě。duō suàn shèng，shǎo suàn bù shèng，ér kuàng wú suàn hū！wú yǐ cǐ guān zhī，shèng fù jiàn yǐ。

Now the general who wins a battle makes many calculations in his temple ere the battle is fought. The general who loses a battle makes but few calculations beforehand. Thus do many calculations lead to victory, and few calculations to defeat: how much more no calculation at all! It is by attention to this point that I can foresee who is likely to win or lose.