兵は国の大事なり
孫子曰く、兵とは国の大事なり。死生の地、存亡の道は、察せざる可からざるなり。故に之れを経るに五を以てし、之れを効らかにするには計を以てし、以て其の情を探む。
Sun Tzu said: The art of war is of vital importance to the State.
It is matter of life and death, a road either to safety or to ruin. Hence it is a subject of inquiry which can no account be neglected. The art of war, then, id governed by five constant factors, to be taken into account in one’s deliberations, when seeking to determine the conditions obtaining in the field.
一に曰く道、二に曰く天、三に曰く地、四に曰く将、五に曰く法。道とは、民をして上と意を同じゅうせ令むる者なり。故に之れと死す可く、之れと生く可くして、民は詭わざるなり。天とは、陰陽・寒暑・時制なり、順逆・兵勝なり。地とは、高下・広狭・遠近・険易・死生なり。将とは、智・信・仁・勇・厳なり。法とは、曲制・官道・主用なり。凡そ此の五者は、将は聞かざること莫きも、之れを知る者は勝ち、知らざる者は勝たず。
These are: The Moral Law; Heaven; Earth; The Commander; Method and discipline.
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.
Heaven signified night and day, cold and heat, times and seasons.
Earth comprises distances, great and small; danger and security; open ground and narrow passes; the chances of life and death.
The Commander stands for the virtues of wisdom, sincerely, benevolence, courage and strictness.
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.
These file heads should be familiar to every general: he who knows them will be victorious; he who knows them not will fail.
故に之れを効らかにするに計を以てし、以て其の情を探む。曰く、主は孰れか賢なる、将は孰れか能なる、天地は孰れか得たる、法令は孰れか行なわる、兵衆は孰れか強き、士卒は孰れか練いたる、賞罰は孰れか明らかなると。吾れ此を以て勝負を知る。
Therefore, in your deliberations, when seeking to determine the military conditions, let them be made the basis of a comparison, in this wise:
(1) Which of the two sovereigns is imbued with the Moral low? (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?
By means of these seven considerations I can forecast victory and defeat.
勢とは、利に因りて権を制するなり
将し吾が計を聴かば、之れを用いて必ず勝つ。之れに留まらん。将し吾が計を聴かざれば、之れを用うるも必ず敗る。之れを去らん。計、利として以て聴かるれば、乃ち之れが勢を為して、以て其の外を佐く。勢とは、利に因りて権を制するなり。
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!
According as circumstances are favorable, one should modify one’s plans.
兵とは詭道なり
兵とは詭道なり。故に能なるも之れに不能を視し、用なるも之れに不用を視し、近きも之れに遠きを視し、遠きも之れに近きを視す。故に利なれば而ち之れを誘い、乱なれば而ち之れを取り、実なれば而ち之れに備え、強なれば而ち之れを避け、怒なれば而ち之れをみだす。其の無備を攻め、其の不意に出づ。之れ兵家の勝にして、先には伝う可からざるなり。
All warfare is based on deception.
Hence, when able to attack, me 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.
Hold out baits to entice the enemy. Feign disorder, and crush him.
If he is secure at all points, be prepared for him. If he is in superior strength, evade him.
If your opponent is of choleric temper, seek to irritate him. Pretend to be weak, that he may grow arrogant.
If he is taking his ease, give him no rest. If his forces are united, separate them.
Attack him where he is unprepared, appear where you are not expected.
These military devices, leading to victory, must not be divulged beforehand.
算多きは勝ち、算少なきは敗る
夫れ未だ戦わざる廟算して勝つ者は、算を得ること多ければなり。未だ戦わざるに廟算して勝たざる者は、算を得ること少なければなり。算多きは勝ち、算少なきは敗る。況んや算なきにおいてをや。吾れ此を以て之れを観るに、勝負見わる。
Now the general who wins a battle makes many calculations in his tempe 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.