Giles 兵勢第五. Energy

The Art of War by Sun Tzu

Translated from the Chinese by Lionel Giles, M.A. (1910)

V. 勢篇

1.孫子曰凡治衆如治寡分數是也
2.鬥衆如鬥寡形名是也

V. ENERGY.

1. Sun Tzu said: The control of a large force is the same principle as the control of a few men: it is merely a question of dividing up their numbers.

2. Fighting with a large army under your command is nowise different from fighting with a small one: it is merely a question of instituting signs and signals.


3.三軍之衆可使必受敵而無敗者奇正是也

3. To ensure that your whole host may withstand the brunt of the enemy's attack and remain unshaken-- this is effected by maneuvers direct and indirect.


4.兵之所加如以碬投卵者虛實是也
5.凡戰者以正合以奇勝

4. That the impact of your army may be like a grindstone dashed against an egg--this is effected by the science of weak points and strong. 5. In all fighting, the direct method may be used for joining battle, but indirect methods will be needed in order to secure victory.


6.故善出奇者無窮如天地不竭如江河終而復始日月是也死而復生四時是也
7.聲不過五五聲之變不可勝聽也
8.色不過五五色之變不可勝觀也
9.味不過五五味之變不可勝嘗也。

6. Indirect tactics, efficiently applied, are inexhaustible as Heaven and Earth, unending as the flow of rivers and streams; like the sun and moon, they end but to begin anew; like the four seasons, they pass away to return once more.

7. There are not more than five musical notes, yet the combinations of these five give rise to more melodies than can ever be heard.

8. There are not more than five primary colors (blue, yellow, red, white, and black), yet in combination they produce more hues than can ever be seen.

9. There are not more than five cardinal tastes (sour, acrid, salt, sweet, bitter), yet combinations of them yield more flavors than can ever be tasted.


10.戰埶不過奇正奇正之變不可勝窮也
11.奇正相生如循環之無端孰能窮之
12.激水之疾至於漂石者勢也
13.鷙鳥之疾至於毀折者節也

10. In battle, there are not more than two methods of attack--the direct and the indirect; yet these two in combination give rise to an endless series of maneuvers.

11. The direct and the indirect lead on to each other in turn. It is like moving in a circle--you never come to an end. Who can exhaust the possibilities of their combination?

12. The onset of troops is like the rush of a torrent which will even roll stones along in its course.

13. The quality of decision is like the well-timed swoop of a falcon which enables it to strike and destroy its victim.


14.是故善戰者其埶險其節短
15.埶如彍弩節如發機
16.紛紛紜紜鬥亂而不可亂也渾渾沌沌形圓而不可敗也

14. Therefore the good fighter will be terrible in his onset, and prompt in his decision.

15. Energy may be likened to the bending of a crossbow; decision, to the releasing of a trigger.

16. Amid the turmoil and tumult of battle, there may be seeming disorder and yet no real disorder at all; amid confusion and chaos, your array may be without head or tail, yet it will be proof against defeat.


17.亂生於治怯生於勇弱生於彊
18.治亂數也勇怯埶也彊弱形也

17. Simulated disorder postulates perfect discipline, simulated fear postulates courage; simulated weakness postulates strength. 

18. Hiding order beneath the cloak of disorder is simply a question of subdivision; concealing courage under a show of timidity presupposes a fund of latent energy; masking strength with weakness is to be effected by tactical dispositions.


19.故善動敵者形之敵必從之予之敵必取之
20.以利動之以卒待之

19. Thus one who is skillful at keeping the enemy on the move maintains deceitful appearances, according to which the enemy will act. He sacrifices something, that the enemy may snatch at it. 20. By holding out baits, he keeps him on the march; then with a body of picked men he lies in wait for him.


21.故善戰者求之於埶不責於人故能擇人而任埶
22.任埶者其戰人也如轉木石木石之性安則靜危則動方則止圓則行
22.故善戰人之勢如轉圓石於千仞之山者埶也

21. The clever combatant looks to the effect of combined energy, and does not require too much from individuals. Hence his ability to pick out the right men and utilize combined energy.

22. When he utilizes combined energy, his fighting men become as it were like unto rolling logs or stones. For it is the nature of a log or stone to remain motionless on level ground, and to move when on a slope; if four-cornered, to come to a standstill, but if round-shaped, to go rolling down.

23. Thus the energy developed by good fighting men is as the momentum of a round stone rolled down a mountain thousands of feet in height. So much on the subject of energy.

孫子兵法-chn-eng-
 


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