Sun Tzŭ on the Art of War: The Oldest Military Treatise in the WorldSunzi, active 6th century B.C.
Philosophy
Sun Tzŭ on the Art of War: The Oldest Military Treatise in the World
Sunzi, active 6th century B.C.
Military art and science -- Early works to 1800; War -- Early works to 1800
For 罷, see II. § 14. The moral is, as Ts‘ao Kung and others point
out: Don’t march a hundred _li_ to gain a tactical advantage,
either with or without impedimenta. Manœuvres of this description
should be confined to short distances. Stonewall Jackson said:
“The hardships of forced marches are often more painful than the
dangers of battle.” He did not often call upon his troops for
extraordinary exertions. It was only when he intended a surprise,
or when a rapid retreat was imperative, that he sacrificed
everything to speed.[171]
9. 五十里而爭利則蹶上將軍其法半至
If you march fifty _li_ in order to outmanœuvre the enemy, you will
lose the leader of your first division, and only half your force will
reach the goal.
蹶 is explained as similar in meaning to 挫: literally, “the leader
of the first division will be _torn away_.” Cf. Tso Chuan, 襄 19th
year: 是謂蹶其本 “This is a case of [the falling tree] tearing up
its roots.”
10. 三十里而爭利則三分之二至
If you march thirty _li_ with the same object, two-thirds of your army
will arrive.
In the _T‘ung Tien_ is added: 以是知軍爭之難 “From this we may know
the difficulty of manœuvring.”
11. 是故軍無輜重則亡無糧食則亡無委積則亡
We may take it then that an army without its baggage-train is lost;
without provisions it is lost; without bases of supply it is lost.
委積 is explained by Tu Yu as 芻草之屬 “fodder and the like;” by Tu
Mu and Chang Yü as 財貨 “goods in general;” and by Wang Hsi as
薪鹽蔬材之屬 “fuel, salt, foodstuffs, etc.” But I think what Sun Tzŭ
meant was “stores accumulated in dépôts,” as distinguished from
輜重 and 糧食, the various impedimenta accompanying an army on its
march. Cf. _Chou Li_, ch. xvi. fol. 10: 委人 ... 斂薪芻凡疏材木材凡
畜聚之物.
12. 故不知諸侯之謀者不能豫交
We cannot enter into alliances until we are acquainted with the
designs of our neighbours.
豫 = 先. Li Ch‘üan understands it as 備 “guard against,” which is
hardly so good. An original interpretation of 交 is given by Tu Mu,
who says it stands for 交兵 or 合戰 “join in battle.”
13. 不知山林險阻沮澤之形者不能行軍
We are not fit to lead an army on the march unless we are familiar
with the face of the country—its mountains and forests, its pitfalls
險, defined as 坑塹 (Ts‘ao Kung) or 坑坎 (Chang Yü).
and precipices,
阻, defined as 一高一下.
its marshes
沮, defined as 水草漸洳者.
and swamps.
澤, defined as 衆水所歸而不流者.
14. 不用鄉導者不能得地利
We shall be unable to turn natural advantages to account unless we
make use of local guides.
§§ 12–14 are repeated in chap. XI. § 52.
15. 故兵以詐立以利動
In war, practise dissimulation, and you will succeed.
According to Tu Mu, 立 stands for 立勝. Cf. I. § 18. In the tactics
of Turenne, deception of the enemy, especially as to the numerical
strength of his troops, took a very prominent position.[172]
Move only if there is a real advantage to be gained.
This is the interpretation of all the commentators except Wang
Hsi, who has the brief note 誘之也 “Entice out the enemy” (by
offering him some apparent advantage).
16. 以分合爲變者也
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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