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 available through        ,internet     
,archive4 ,see                          
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rmilitar#jj;caltiala      ,transcriber's
 note3          ,text enclosed by       
underscores is in italics 7italics74    
,changes made are listed at the end of  
the text4          ,,the ,,book ,,of    
,,war    ,the ,military ,classic of the 
,far ,east    ,translated from the      
,chinese by    ,,captain ,e4 ,f4        
,,calthrop1 ,r4,f4,a4                   
,london  ,john ,murray1 ,albemarle ,st41
 ,w4  #aijh          ,,contents         
,,page              ,,introduction      
#g                ,,the ,,articles ,,of 
,,suntzu           ,i4 ,,preliminary    
,,reckoning              #ag            
,,ii4 ,,operations ,,of ,,war           
#bj         ,,iii4 ,,the ,,attack ,,by  
,,stratagem            #bd              
,,iv4 ,,the ,,order ,,of ,,battle       
#bh           ,v4 ,,the ,,spirit ,,of   
,,the ,,troops           #ca            

,,vi4 ,,emptiness ,,and ,,strength      
#cd         ,,vii4 ,,battle ,,tactics   
#dj        ,,viii4 ,,the ,,nine         
,,changes                   #dd         
,,ix4 ,,movement ,,of ,,troops          
#dg           ,x4 ,,ground              
#ec          ,,xi4 ,,nine ,,grounds     
#eh         ,,xii4 ,,assault ,,by ,,fire
                    #fg        ,,xiii4  
,,the ,,employment ,,of ,,spies         
#gj                ,,the ,,sayings ,,of 
,,wutzu              ,,introduction     
#ge           ,i4 ,,the ,,government    
,,of ,a ,,country        #gg            
,,ii4 ,,estimation ,,of ,,the ,,enemy   
#he         ,,iii4 ,,control ,,of ,,the 
,,army                #ic          ,,iv4
 ,,qualities ,,of ,,the ,,general       
#aja           ,v4 ,,suiting ,,the      
,,occasion              #ajh            
,,vi4 ,,encouragement ,,of ,,the        
,,troops       #aaf          ,,the      
,,book ,,of ,,war                       
,,introduction      ,i    ,written in   
the fifth century ,b4,c41 ,suntzu and   

,wutzu still remain the  most celebrated
 works on war in the literature of      
,china4 ,while the  chariot has gone1   
and weapons have changed1 these ancient 
masters have  held their own1 since they
 deal chiefly with the fundamental      
principles  of war1 with the influence  
of politics and human nature on military
  operations2 and they show in a most   
striking way how unchanging these       
principles are4    ,when these books    
were written1 ,china was a conglomerate 
of  principalities in continual ferment4
 ,personal ambition and intrigue1  and  
not the wishes of the people1 were the  
main factors in these wars4             
,patriotism1 or a popular cause1 could  
not1 therefore1 be relied on  to        
maintain the moral of the levies4       
,instead of these1 what may be  called  
the force of despair is pointed out as  
the most powerful agent  in giving      
cohesion and energy to an army4 ,the    
general is urged to  take a vigorous    
offensive2 and to act at a distance from

 his base1  where defeat means disaster1
 and where desertion is minimised owing 
to  the distance from home4 ,he should1 
in fact1 burn his boats before an       
action1 or1 in ,chinese phrase1 act as  
one who removes the ladder from  under  
those mounted upon the roof4    ,on the 
other hand1 every care must be taken not
 to render the enemy  desperate2 and1 as
 an instance of this1 ,sun observes that
 an opponent  should on no account be   
completely surrounded4 ,a loop-hole of  
escape  weakens the resolution of the   
general and the energy of his troops4   
,it is interesting to notice that moral1
 or the spirit of the troops1  is thus  
considered a determining factor in war4 
,the ,chinese are  perhaps unusually    
affected by climatic conditions4 ,as is 
well known1  the umbrella was part of a 
soldier's equipment2 and for the same   
reasons1 the sunny side of high ground  
is recommended as most suitable  for    
defence1 tactical considerations        
permitting4    ,the large number of     

bannermen in the ,chinese army was out  
of all  proportion to the service of    
standards in providing rallying points4 
,the chief use of banners was to        
maintain the spirit of the troops4  ,a  
forest of banners1 held erect1 gave a   
feeling of liveliness and  security to  
the ranks1 in the same way as a military
 band1 and when ,sun  remarks that the  
march of an army should be calm like the
 forest1 he is  using a simile that is  
not inappropriate4    ,probably owing to
 the fact that the profession of arms   
has never been  highly regarded in      
,china1 we find that the ruler of the   
state did not  usually take the field1  
but employed a professional to command  
the  army--one of the masters of war who
 wandered from state to state at  that  
time with the secrets of victory to     
impart to the highest bidder4  ,the     
question of political interference with 
the general in the field  naturally     
arises under these conditions4 ,the two 
sages point out1 that  to unite the     

nation under firm and just government is
 the business of  the ruler and         
necessary to victory2 but that the      
general is the best  judge of the       
questions that arise on a distant field1
 and that all  interference with him    
causes delay and disaster4    ,war      
meaning ravage1 it was essential that   
the operations should be  conducted in  
the enemy's territory4 ,once there1     
however1 a vigorous  offensive is no    
longer advised4 ,at first behave with   
the discretion of  a maiden is the      
counsel of ,sun4 ,the enemy must be     
induced to take the  initiative1 and    
when he is worn out by marching1 or     
makes a false move1  then1 says the     
master1 dart in like a rabbit4          
,unlike the tactics of the ,japanese1 in
 whom the spirit of attack  burns so    
strongly1 those of ,suntzu and ,wutzu   
are essentially of  the                 
offensive-defensive order--manoeuvre    
before fighting1 and  non-committal     
until the enemy has shown his hand4 ,the

 business of the  general is to avoid   
encounter in battle until the enemy is  
no longer  capable of offering a        
successful resistance4    ,the masters  
do not make1 however1 the mistake of    
advocating a passive  defensive4 ,suntzu
 lays down that the division of the     
forces which this  strategy involves1 is
 to be everywhere weak1 rendering the   
army liable  to be taken in detail by   
the concentrated forces of the enemy4   
,it is  rather the defence which avoids 
battle by mobility and manoeuvre1       
induces the enemy by stratagem to divide
 his forces1 or act in  conformity with 
our wishes1 and then falls upon him4    
,with regard to the tactics of the      
battlefield1 the pitched battle1  or1 in
 other words1 the frontal attack1 is    
considered unworthy of the  skilful     
general4 ,the plan of attack should     
consist1 broadly speaking1  in the      
division of the army into two forces4   
,the enemy is attracted  and engaged by 
one force1 and defeated with the other2 

and here we  have the containing or     
secondary attack1 and the main or       
reserve force  which decides the battle 
of to-day--a most striking instance of  
the  continuity of military principles4 
,considerable space is devoted to the   
influence of ground on war4 ,the        
passage of defiles and rivers is still  
conducted in the same way4 ,the  many   
large rivers of ,china naturally        
affected military operations2 and1      
among other axioms1 it is laid down that
 the passage of a river should  not be  
disputed1 as the enemy will probably    
give up the attempt1 and  make the      
passage untouched at some other point1  
but that he should  be attacked when    
half his force is across the stream4    
,again1 an army  should not encamp on a 
river below the enemy1 as it is thereby 
liable  to be inundated1 or to have its 
water poisoned2 or the enemy may come   
down stream and make a sudden attack4   
,while both writers were professional   
soldiers1 they show a fine              

disinterestedness by repeatedly pointing
 out that even successful  war brings   
evil in its train4 ,wu remarks that few 
are those who have  gained power on     
earth by many victories1 and he is      
insistent that war  should not be       
undertaken until a careful comparison of
 the two sides  shows that victory is   
certain2 and he adds1 ,the army which   
conquers  makes certain of victory and  
then attacks1 while the army that is    
defeated fights in the hope of success4 
,hence the importance they assign to    
intelligence of the enemy1 and to  the  
spy2 and as the sages dealt with war    
between members of the same  race1 the  
work of spies was greatly facilitated4  
,the spy was treated  with great honour 
by his countrymen1 and the fact that    
many of the  national heroes of ,china  
were spies1 shows that the part that    
they  played was not forgotten4 ,they   
frequently toiled for years1 and rose   
to high rank in the enemy's service2 and
 thus1 by wrong counsel and by          

spreading mistrust in his ranks1 they   
became a two-edged sword in the  hands  
of the general4 ,wonderful1 indeed1 is  
their power1 exclaims  ,sun2 but he also
 reminds us that their management is the
 most difficult  and delicate duty of   
the general4      ,,ii    ,sun and ,wu  
are perhaps held in even greater        
reverence in ,japan than  in ,china1    
where war is looked upon as a           
troublesome phase in national  life1 and
 victory in battle is not considered the
 greatest achievement  of a state4 ,far 
otherwise is it in ,japan2 and          
successive generations  of her soldiers 
have been brought up on ,sun and ,wu4   
,like other arts1  mystery was formerly 
supposed to surround the art of war1 a  
belief that  was encouraged by the      
strategist2 and for a considerable time1
 the few  copies of this book1 that were
 brought over from ,china to ,japan1    
were  jealously guarded by their        
possessors4 ,later1 as they became      
known1 an  army of ,japanese            

commentators arose--for ,chinese        
literature is thought  compressed1 to be
 unfolded in the mind of the reader4    
,to-day ,sun and ,wu have given way to  
the scientific works of ,european       
writers1 but their sayings have become  
proverbs1 and their influence           
undoubtedly helped the ,japanese to     
victory in the late war4 ,belief  in the
 importance of a knowledge of the enemy 
and his resources1 of  preparation and  
training1 had grown out of a long study 
of these  ancient masters2 and since it 
was the vital importance of a successful
  issue to the ,japanese which1 after   
all1 fired their resolution and  carried
 them through1 they proved the sage's   
words that it is the  energy1 born of   
despair1 that wins the victory4         
,,iii    ,little is known of the life of
 either master4 ,they were in no sense  
patriots but professional strategists1  
continually changing their  employer4   
,chinese history tells a famous story   
about ,sun4 ,a certain  ruler asked ,sun

 to give a practical demonstration of   
his principles in  the neighbourhood of 
the palace1 and entrusted him with the  
women of  the court for this purpose4   
,during the operations1 the leader of   
one of  the sides did not obey the      
master's instructions1 and her execution
 was  ordered4 ,she happened to be the  
king's favourite wife1 but ,sun pointed 
out that the king's wish that her life  
should be spared was a case of          
political interference with the general 
in the field2 and the sentence  was     
carried out4    ,wu is represented as a 
person of low moral character4 ,on two  
separate  occasions1 for fear of giving 
rise to suspicion1 he killed one of his 
wives who belonged to a state with which
 his employer at the time was  at war2  
and1 graver still in the eyes of the    
,chinese historian1 he was  not present 
at the death-bed of his mother4         
,e4 ,f4 ,c4      ,,note4    ,the        
translator is indebted to ,major ,j4 ,c4
 ,somerville for his kind help  and     

criticism4          ,,the ,,articles    
,,of ,,suntzu          ,i               
,,preliminary ,,reckoning      ,the     
words of ,sun the ,master3--    ,to all 
nations ,war is a great matter4 ,upon   
the army death or life  depend3 it is   
the means of the existence or           
destruction of the ,state4    ,therefore
 it must be diligently studied4    ,now1
 in war1 besides stratagem and the      
situation1 there are five  indispensable
 matters4 ,the first is called ,the     
,way2#a the second1  ,heaven2 the third1
 ,earth2 the fourth1 the ,leader2 the   
fifth1 ,law4    ,the ,way or the proper 
conduct of man4 ,if the ruling authority
 be  upright1 the people are united3    
fearless of danger1 their lives are at  
the service of their ,lord4    ,heaven4 
,yin and ,yang2#b heat and cold2 time   
and season4    ,earth4 ,distance2       
nature2 extent2 strategic position4     
,the ,leader4 ,intelligence2 truth2     
benevolence2 courage and strictness4    
,law4 ,partition and ordering of troops4

    ,these things must be known by the  
leader3 to know them is to conquer2  to 
know them not is to be defeated4        
,further1 with regard to these and the  
following seven matters1 the  condition 
of the enemy must be compared with our  
own4    ,the seven matters are3--       
,the virtue of the prince2 the ability  
of the general2 natural  advantages2 the
 discipline of the armies2 the strength 
of the soldiers2  training of the       
soldiers2 justice both in reward and    
punishment4    ,knowing these things1 ,i
 can foretell the victor4    ,if a      
general under me fight according to my  
plans1 he always conquers1  and ,i      
continue to employ him2 if he differ    
from my plans1 he will be  defeated and 
dismissed from my service4              
,wherefore1 with regard to the          
foregoing1 considering that with us     
lies the advantage1 and the generals    
agreeing1 we create a situation  which  
promises victory2 but as the moment and 
method cannot be fixed  beforehand1 the 

plan must be modified according to      
circumstances4    ,war is a thing of    
pretence3 therefore1 when capable of    
action1 we  pretend disability2 when    
near to the enemy1 we pretend to be far2
 when  far away1 we pretend to be near4 
,allure the enemy by giving him a small 
advantage4 ,confuse and capture  him4   
,if there be defects1 give an appearance
 of perfection1 and awe the  enemy4     
,pretend to be strong1 and so cause the 
enemy to avoid you4 ,make  him angry1   
and confuse his plans4 ,pretend to be   
inferior1 and cause him  to despise you4
 ,if he have superabundance of strength1
 tire him out2  if united1 make         
divisions in his camp4 ,attack weak     
points1 and appear  in unexpected       
places4    ,these are the secrets of the
 successful strategist1 therefore they  
must  not be made known beforehand4     
,at the reckoning in the ,sanctuary     
before fighting1 victory is to the  side
 that excels in the foregoing matters4  
,they that have many of  these will     

conquer2 they that have few will not    
conquer2 hopeless1  indeed1 are they    
that have none4    ,if the condition of 
both sides with regard to these matters 
be known1 ,i  can foretell the victor4  
,,ii    ,,operations ,,of ,,war         
,sun the ,master said3--    ,now the    
requirements of war are such that we    
need a thousand light  chariots with    
four horses each2 a thousand            
leather-covered chariots1  and one      
hundred thousand armoured men2 and we   
must send supplies to  distant fields4  
,wherefore the cost at home and in the  
field1 the  entertainment of guests1    
glue and lacquer for repairs1 and       
necessities  for the upkeep of waggons  
and armour are such that in one day a   
thousand pieces of gold are spent4 ,with
 that amount a force of one  hundred    
thousand men can be raised3--you have   
the instruments of  victory4    ,but1   
even if victorious1 let the operations  
long continue1 and the  soldiers' ardour
 decreases1 the weapons become worn1    

and1 if a siege be  undertaken1 strength
 disappears4    ,again1 if the war last 
long1 the country's means do not        
suffice4  ,then1 when the soldiers are  
worn out1 weapons blunted1 strength gone
  and funds spent1 neighbouring princes 
arise and attack that weakened  country4
 ,at such a time the wisest man cannot  
mend the matter4    ,for1 while quick   
accomplishment has been known to give   
the victory to  the unskilful1 the      
skilful general has never gained        
advantage from  lengthy operations4     
,in fact1 there never has been a country
 which has benefited from a  prolonged  
war4    ,he who does not know the evils 
of war will not reap advantage thereby4 
,he who is skilful in war does not make 
a second levy1 does not load his  supply
 waggons thrice4    ,war material and   
arms we obtain from home1 but food      
sufficient for the  army's needs can be 
taken from the enemy4    ,the cost of   
supplying the army in distant fields is 
the chief drain  on the resources of a  

state3 if the war be distant1 the       
citizens are  impoverished4    ,in the  
neighbourhood of an army prices are     
high1 and so the money  of the soldiers 
and followers is used up4 ,likewise the 
state funds  are exhausted1 and frequent
 levies must be made2 the strength of   
the  army is dissipated1 money is spent1
 the citizen's home swept bare3 in  all1
 seven-tenths of his income is          
forfeited4 ,again1 as regards ,state    
property1 chariots are broken1 horses   
worn out1 armour and helmet1  arrow and 
bow1 spear1 shield1 pike and fighting   
tower1 waggon and oxen  used and gone1  
so that six-tenths of the ,government's 
income is spent4    ,therefore the      
intelligent general strives to feed on  
the enemy2 one  bale of the enemy's rice
 counts as twenty from our own waggons2 
one  bundle of the enemy's forage is    
better than twenty of our own4          
,incitement must be given to vanquish   
the enemy4    ,they who take advantage  
of the enemy should be rewarded4        

,they who are the first to lay their    
hands on more than ten of the  enemy's  
chariots should be rewarded2 the enemy's
 standard on the  chariots exchanged for
 our own2 the captured chariots mixed   
with our  own chariots and taken into   
use4    ,the accompanying warriors must 
be treated well1 so that1 while the     
enemy is beaten1 our side increases in  
strength4    ,now the object of war is  
victory2 not lengthy operations1 even   
skilfully conducted4    ,the good       
general is the lord of the people's     
lives1 the guardian of the  country's   
welfare4          ,,iii    ,,the        
,,attack ,,by ,,stratagem      ,sun the 
,master said3--    ,now by the laws of  
war1 better than defeating a country by 
fire and the  sword1 is to take it      
without strife4    ,better to capture   
the enemy's army intact than to overcome
 it after  fierce resistance4    ,better
 to capture the ,lu1#c the ,tsu or the  
,wu whole1 than to  destroy them in     
battle4    ,to fight and conquer one    

hundred times is not the perfection of  
attainment1 for the supreme art is to   
subdue the enemy without fighting4      
,wherefore the most skilful warrior     
outwits the enemy by superior           
stratagem2 the next in merit prevents   
the enemy from uniting his  forces2 next
 to him is he who engages the enemy's   
army2 while to  besiege his citadel is  
the worst expedient4    ,a siege should 
not be undertaken if it can possibly be 
avoided4 ,for1  before a siege can be   
commenced1 three months are required for
 the  construction of stages1           
battering-rams and siege engines2 then a
  further three months are required in  
front of the citadel1 in order to  make 
the ,chuyin4#d ,wherefore the general is
 angered1 his patience  exhausted1 his  
men surge like ants against the ramparts
 before the  time is ripe1 and one-third
 of them are killed to no purpose4 ,such
 are  the misfortunes that sieges       
entail4    ,therefore the master of war 
causes the enemy's forces to yield1 but 

without fighting2 he captures his       
fortress1 but without besieging  it2 and
 without lengthy fighting takes the     
enemy's kingdom4 ,without  tarnishing   
his weapons he gains the complete       
advantage4    ,this is the assault by   
stratagem4    ,by the rules of war1 if  
ten times as strong as the enemy1       
surround him2  with five times his      
strength1 attack2 with double his       
numbers1 divide4  ,if equal in strength1
 exert to the utmost1 and fight2 if     
inferior in  numbers1 manoeuvre and     
await the opportunity2 if altogether    
inferior1  offer no chance of battle4 ,a
 determined stand by inferior numbers   
does  but lead to their capture4    ,the
 warrior is the country's support4 ,if  
his aid be entire1 the country  is of   
necessity strong2 if it be at all       
deficient1 then is the country  weak4   
,now a prince may embarrass his army in 
three ways1 namely3--    ,ignorant that 
the army in the field should not        
advance1 to order it to  go forward2 or1

 ignorant that the army should not      
retreat1 order it to  retire4    ,this  
is to tie the army as with a string4    
,ignorant of military affairs1 to rule  
the armies in the same way as the       
state4    ,this is to perplex the       
soldiers4    ,ignorant of the situation 
of the army1 to settle its dispositions4
    ,this is to fill the soldiers with  
distrust4    ,if the army be perplexed  
and distrustful1 then dangers from      
neighbouring  princes arise4 ,the army  
is confounded1 and offered up to the    
enemy4    ,there are five occasions when
 victory can be foretold3--    ,when the
 general knows the time to fight and    
when not to fight2 or  understands when 
to employ large or small numbers2 when  
government  and people are of one mind2 
when the state is prepared1 and chooses 
the enemy's unguarded moment for attack2
 when the general possesses  ability1   
and is not interfered with by his       
prince4    ,these five things are the   
heralds of victory4    ,it has been said

 aforetime that he who knows both sides 
has nothing  to fear in a hundred       
fights2 he who is ignorant of the enemy1
 and  fixes his eyes only on his own    
side1 conquers1 and the next time is    
defeated2 he who not only is ignorant of
 the enemy1 but also of his own         
resources1 is invariably defeated4      
,,iv    ,,the ,,order ,,of ,,battle     
,sun the ,master said3--    ,the ancient
 masters of war first made their armies 
invincible1 then  waited until the      
adversary could with certainty be       
defeated4    ,the causes of defeat come 
from within2 victory is born in the     
enemy's  camp4    ,skilful soldiers make
 defeat impossible1 and further render  
the enemy  incapable of victory4        
,but1 as it is written1 the conditions  
necessary for victory may be  present1  
but they cannot always be obtained4     
,if victory be unattainable1 we stand on
 the defensive2 if victory be  sure1 we 
attack4    ,deficiency compels defence2 
super-abundance permits attack4    ,the 

skilful in defence crouch1 hidden in the
 deepest shades2 the  skilful in attack 
push to the topmost heaven4#e    ,if    
these precepts be observed1 victory is  
certain4    ,a victory1 even if         
popularly proclaimed as such by the     
common folk1 may  not be a true success4
 ,to win in fight1 and for the kingdom  
to say1  ,well done1 does not mark the  
summit of attainment4 ,to lift an autumn
  fleece#f is no proof of strength2 the 
eyes that only see the sun and  moon are
 not the eagle's2 to hear the thunder is
 no great thing4    ,as has been said   
aforetime1 the able warrior gains the   
victory without  desperate and bloody   
engagements1 and wins thereby no        
reputation for  wisdom or brave deeds4  
,to fight is to win1 for he attacks only
 when the  enemy has sown the seeds of  
defeat4    ,moreover1 the skilful       
soldier in a secure position does not   
let pass  the moment when the enemy     
should be attacked4    ,the army that   
conquers makes certain of victory1 and  

then seeks battle4    ,the army destined
 to defeat1 fights1 trusting that chance
 may bring  success to its arms4    ,the
 skilful leader is steadfast in the     
,way2 upholds the ,law1 and  thereby    
controls the issue4    ,touching the    
laws of war1 it is said3 first1 the     
rule2 second1 the  measure2 third1 the  
tables2 fourth1 the scales2 fifth1 the  
foretelling  of victory4    ,for the    
rule is the survey of land2 the measure 
tells the amount of  that land's        
produce2 the tables its population2 from
 the scales their  weight or quality is 
made known2 and then can we calculate   
victory or  defeat4    ,the army that   
conquers as against the army destined to
 defeat1 is as a  beam against a feather
 in the scales4 ,the attack of          
conquering forces  is as the outburst of
 long-pent-up waters into sunken        
valleys4    ,such are the orders of     
battle4          ,v    ,,the ,,spirit   
,,of ,,the ,,troops      ,sun the       
,master said3--    ,the control of large

 numbers is possible1 and like unto that
 of small  numbers1 if we subdivide     
them4    ,by means of drum1 bell and    
flag1#g the direction of large forces in
  battle is possible1 and like unto the 
direction of small forces4    ,by the   
skilful interchange of normal and       
abnormal manoeuvres are the  armies     
certainly preserved from defeat4    ,the
 enemy is crushed1 like the fall of a   
grindstone upon an egg1 by  knowledge of
 his strength and weakness1 and by the  
employment of truth  and artifice4      
,moreover1 in battle the enemy is       
engaged with the normal and defeated  by
 the abnormal force4#h    ,the abnormal 
force1 skilfully handled1 is like the   
heaven and earth1  eternal2 as the tides
 and the flow of rivers1 unceasing2 like
 the sun  and moon1 for ever            
interchanging2 coming and passing1 as   
the seasons4    ,there are five notes2  
but by combinations1 innumerable        
harmonies are  produced4 ,there are but 
five colours2 but if we mix them1 the   

shades  are infinite4 ,there are five   
tastes1 but if we mix them there are    
more  flavours than the palate can      
distinguish4#i    ,in war there are but 
two forces1 the normal and the abnormal2
 but they  are capable of infinite      
variation4 ,their mutual interchange is 
like a  wheel1 having neither beginning 
or end4 ,they are a mystery that none   
can penetrate4    ,as the rush of       
rock-shouldering torrents1 so is the    
spirit of the  troops4    ,like the     
well-judged flight of the falcon1 in a  
flash crushing its  quarry1 so should   
the stroke be timed4    ,wherefore the  
spirit of the good fighter is           
terrifying1 his occasions  sudden2 like 
the stretched cross-bow1 whose string is
 released at the  touch of the trigger4 
,in the maze and tumult of the battle1  
there is no confusion2 in the  thick of 
action the battle array is impenetrable4
    ,if discipline be perfect1 disorder 
can be simulated2 if truly bold1 we  can
 feign fear2 if really strong1 we can   

feign weakness4    ,we simulate disorder
 by subdivision2 fear1 by spirit2       
weakness1 by  battle formation4    ,we  
set the enemy in motion by adopting     
different formations to which he  must  
conform4    ,if we offer the enemy a    
point of advantage1 he will certainly   
take it3  we give him an advantage1 set 
him in motion and then fall upon him4   
,wherefore the good fighter seeks       
victory from spirit1 and does not       
depend entirely upon the skill of his   
men4 ,he is careful in his choice1  and 
leaves the rest to battle force2 yet1   
when an opening or advantage  shows1 he 
pushes it to its limits4    ,as a log or
 rock which1 motionless on flat ground1 
yet moves with  ever-increasing force   
when set on an incline1 so await the    
opportunity1  and so act when the       
opportunity arrives4    ,if the general 
be skilful1 the spirit of his troops is 
as the impetus  of a round stone rolled 
from the top of a high mountain4        
,,vi    ,,emptiness ,,and ,,strength    

,sun the ,master said3--    ,to be the  
first in the field1 and there to await  
the enemy1 is to  husband strength4     
,to be late1 and hurrying to advance to 
meet the foe1 is exhausting4    ,the    
good fighter contrives to make the enemy
 approach2 he does not  allow himself to
 be beguiled by the enemy4    ,by       
offering an apparent advantage1 he      
induces the enemy to take up a  position
 that will cause his defeat2 he plants  
obstructions to dissuade  him from      
acting in such a way as to threaten his 
own dispositions4    ,if the enemy be at
 rest in comfortable quarters1 harass   
him2 if he be  living in plenty1 cut off
 his supplies2 if sitting composedly    
awaiting  attack1 cause him to move4    
,this may be done by appearing where the
 enemy is not1 and assaulting           
unexpected points4    ,if we go where   
the enemy is not1 we may go a thousand  
leagues without  exhaustion4    ,if we  
attack those positions which the enemy  
has not defended1 we  invariably take   

them3 but on the defence we must be     
strong1 even where  we are not likely to
 be attacked4    ,against those skilful 
in attack1 the enemy does not know where
 to  defend3 against those skilful in   
defence1 the enemy does not know where  
to attack4    ,now the secrets of the   
art of offence are not to be easily     
apprehended1  as a certain shape or     
noise can be understood1 of the senses2 
but when  these secrets are once learnt1
 the enemy is mastered4    ,we attack1  
and the enemy cannot resist1 because we 
attack his  insufficiency2 we retire1   
and the enemy cannot pursue1 because we 
retire too quickly4    ,again1 when we  
are anxious to fight1 but the enemy is  
serenely secure  behind high walls and  
deep moats2 we attack some such other   
place that  he must certainly come out  
to relieve4    ,when we do not want to  
fight1 we occupy an unfortified line2   
and  prevent the enemy from attacking by
 keeping him in suspense4    ,by making 
feints1 and causing the enemy to be     

uncertain as to our  movements1 we      
unite1 whilst he must divide4    ,we    
become one body2 the enemy being        
separated into ten parts4 ,we  attack   
the divided ten with the united one4 ,we
 are many1 the enemy is  few1 and in    
superiority of numbers there is economy 
of strength4    ,the place selected for 
attack must be kept secret4 ,if the     
enemy know  not where he will be        
attacked1 he must prepare in every      
quarter1 and so  be everywhere weak4    
,if the enemy strengthen his front1 he  
must weaken his rear2 if he  strengthen 
his right1 his left is weakened2 and if 
he strengthen his  left1 his right is   
weakened4    ,everywhere to make        
preparations1 is to be everywhere weak4 
,the enemy is  weakened by his extended 
preparations1 and we gain in strength4  
,having decided on the place and day of 
attack1 though the enemy be a  hundred  
leagues away1 we can defeat him4    ,if 
the ground and occasion be not known1   
the front cannot help the  rear2 the    

left cannot support the right1 nor the  
right the left1 nor  the rear the front4
 ,for on occasion1 the parts of the army
 are two  score leagues apart1 while a  
distance of four or five leagues is     
comparatively close4    ,the soldiers of
 ,wu#aj are less than the soldiers of   
,yueh2 but as  superiority in numbers   
does not of necessity bring victory1 ,i 
say1  then1 that we may obtain the      
victory4    ,if the enemy be many in    
number1 prevent him from taking         
advantage of  his superiority1 and      
ascertain his plan of operations4       
,provoke the  enemy and discover the    
state of his troops2 feint and discover 
the  strength of his position4 ,flap the
 wings1 and unmask his sufficiency or   
insufficiency4 ,by constant feints and  
excursions1 we may produce on the  enemy
 an impression of intangibility1 which  
neither spies nor art can  dispel4      
,the general makes his plans in         
accordance with the dispositions of  the
 enemy1 and puts his hosts in motion2   

but the multitude cannot  appreciate the
 general's intention2 they see the signs
 of victory1 but  they cannot discover  
the means4    ,if a victory be gained by
 a certain stratagem1 do not repeat it4 
,vary  the stratagem according to       
circumstances4    ,an army may be       
likened to water4    ,water leaves dry  
the high places1 and seeks the hollows4 
,an army turns  from strength and       
attacks emptiness4    ,the flow of water
 is regulated by the shape of the       
ground2 victory is  gained by acting in 
accordance with the state of the enemy4 
,the shape of water is indeterminate2   
likewise the spirit of war is not       
fixed4    ,the leader who changes his   
tactics in accordance with his          
adversary1  and thereby controls the    
issue1 may be called the ,god of war4   
,among the five elements#aa there is no 
settled precedence2 the four  seasons   
come and go2 the days are long and      
short2 and the moon waxes  and wanes4   
,so in war there is no fixity4          

,,vii    ,,battle ,,tactics      ,sun   
the ,master said3--    ,for the most    
part1 military procedure is as          
follows3--    ,the general receives     
orders from his lord2 assembles and     
settles  harmony among the forces1 and  
takes the field4    ,there is nothing   
more difficult than ,battle ,tactics4   
,their difficulty  lies in the          
calculation of time and distance1 and   
the reversal of  misfortune4    ,to make
 the enemy take a circuitous route by a 
show of gain1 and then1  whilst starting
 after him1 to arrive before him1 is to 
be a master of  the art of manoeuvre4   
,the operations of an army may reap     
advantage2 the wrangles of a  multitude 
are fraught with peril4    ,employing   
our whole force at one time in order to 
gain advantage over  the enemy1 we may  
not have time enough to gain our object4
 ,if we push  on with a portion of the  
force only1 the transport is lost4      
,discarding  helmet and armour2 stopping
 neither day nor night2 marching double 

distance2 doing double work2 and finally
 contending with the enemy at  a        
distance of a hundred leagues3 results  
in the loss of the general4  ,since the 
strong men arrive first1 and the tired  
drop in rear1 only  one-tenth of the    
forces is available4    ,a forced march 
of fifty leagues to secure an advantage 
may result in  failure to the leader of 
the vanguard1 for only half his men will
  arrive4    ,after a forced march of   
thirty leagues to secure an advantage1  
only  two-thirds of the army will be    
available4    ,further1 a lack of       
ammunition1 of supplies1 or of stores1  
may lead to  disaster4    ,the ruler who
 is ignorant of the designs of          
neighbouring princes1  cannot treat with
 them4    ,he who is ignorant of        
mountain and forest1 defile and marsh1  
cannot  lead an army4    ,he who does   
not employ a guide1 cannot gain         
advantage from the ground4    ,disguise 
your movements2 await a favourable      
opportunity2 divide or  unite according 

to circumstance4    ,let your attack be 
swift as the wind2 your march calm like 
the  forest2#ab your occupation         
devastating as fire4 ,in defence1 as a  
mountain rest firm2 like darkness       
impenetrable to the enemy4 ,let your    
movements be swift as the lightning4    
,let as many as possible take part in   
the plunder3 distribute the profit  from
 the captured territory4    ,so he who  
understands the crooked and the straight
 way conquers4    ,these are the methods
 of ,battle ,tactics4    ,according to  
the ancient books on war1 the drum and  
bell are used1  because the voice does  
not carry2 the flag is used to assist   
the  sight4 ,the use of bell1 drum1     
banner and flag is to attract the united
  attention of eye and ear4    ,when all
 are united1 the strong are not left to 
go forward alone1  the cowardly are not 
free to retreat unrestricted4 ,in this  
way can a  multitude be used4           
,therefore in night fighting1 beacons   
and drums are largely used2 in day      

fighting1 a great number of banners and 
flags and the enemy's eyes and  ears are
 confounded4    ,we thus awe his army1  
and defeat his general's ambition4      
,in the morning the spirits are keen2 at
 midday there is a laziness2 in  the    
evening a desire to return4 ,wherefore1 
he who uses his soldiers  well1 avoids  
the time when the spirits are keen2 but 
attacks the enemy  when he is languid or
 seeking his camp4    ,thus should the  
nature of energy be turned to account4  
,to oppose confusion with order1 clamour
 with quiet1 is to have the  heart under
 control4    ,to await an enemy from a  
distance1 to oppose hunger with satiety1
 rest  with fatigue1 is the way to      
husband strength4    ,do not attack     
where lines of banners wave1 nor the    
serried ranks of  battle spread1 but    
patiently await your time4    ,do not   
attack an enemy on high ground1 nor one 
who has high ground at  his back4 ,do   
not pursue an enemy who is imitating    
flight2 do not attack  a spirited enemy4

    ,if the enemy offer an allurement1  
do not take it4    ,do not interfere    
with an enemy who has struck camp1 and  
is about to  retire4 ,when surrounding  
an enemy1 allow him an outlet4 ,do not  
press a  desperate enemy4    ,these are 
the methods of employing troops4        
,,viii    ,,the ,,nine ,,changes        
,sun the ,master said3--    ,in general1
 the procedure of war is3--the ,leader1 
having received  orders from his lord1  
assembles the armies4    ,do not camp on
 marshy or low-lying ground2 enter into 
friendly  relations with neighbouring   
states2 do not linger in a far country2 
use stratagem in mountainous and wooded 
country2 on death ground1 fight4        
,there are always roads that must be    
avoided2 forces that must not be        
attacked2 castles that must not be      
besieged2 ground that must not be       
chosen for encounter2 orders from the   
lord that must not be obeyed4    ,the   
general who knows the ,nine ,changes    
understands the use of troops2  on the  

contrary1 he who does not understand    
them1 can make no use of  his           
topographical knowledge4    ,in the     
management of armies1 if the art of the 
,nine ,changes be  understood1 a        
knowledge of the ,five ,advantages is of
 no avail4    ,the wise man considers   
well both advantage and disadvantage4   
,he sees a  way out of adversity1 and on
 the day of victory to danger is not    
blind4    ,in reducing an enemy to      
submission1 inflict all possible damage 
upon  him2 make him undertake useless   
adventures2 also make neighbouring      
rulers move as you would desire them by 
tempting them with gain4    ,wherefore  
in the conduct of war do not depend on  
the enemy's not  coming1 but rely on    
your own preparations2 do not count on  
the enemy  not attacking your fortress1 
but leave nothing undefended4           
,generals must be on their guard against
 these five dangerous faults3--         
,blind impetuosity1 which leads to      
death4    ,over-cautiousness1 which     

leads to capture4    ,quick temper1     
which brings insult4    ,a too rigid    
propriety1 which invites disgrace4      
,over-regard for the troops1 which      
causes inconvenience4    ,these five    
faults in the leader are disastrous in  
war4 ,the overthrow of  the army and the
 slaughter of the general arise from    
them4 ,therefore  they must be carefully
 considered4          ,,ix    ,,movement
 ,,of ,,troops      ,sun the ,master    
said3--    ,touching the disposal of    
troops and observation of the enemy in  
relation to mountain warfare3--         
,cross mountains and camp in valleys1   
selecting positions of safety4    ,place
 the army on high ground1 and avoid an  
enemy in high places4    ,in relation to
 water3--    ,after crossing waters1    
pass on immediately to a distance4 ,when
 the  enemy is crossing a stream1 do not
 meet and engage him in the waters1  but
 strike when half his force has passed  
over4 ,do not advance on an  enemy near 
water1 but place the army on high       

ground1 and in safety4    ,do not fight 
when the enemy is between the army and  
the source of the  river4    ,with      
regard to marshes3--    ,cross salty    
marshes quickly2 do not linger near     
them4    ,if by chance compelled to     
fight in the neighbourhood of a marsh1  
seek a  place where there is water and  
grass1 and trees in plenty in the rear4 
,in open country place the army in a    
convenient place with rising ground  in 
the right rear2 so that while in front  
lies death1 behind there is  safety4    
,such is war in flat country4           
,huangti1 by observing these things1    
gained the victory over four  ,princes4 
,as a rule1 the soldiers prefer high    
ground to low4 ,they prefer sunny       
places to those the sun does not reach4 
,if the health of the troops be         
considered1 and they are encamped on    
high and sunny ground1 diseases will be 
avoided1 and victory made  certain4     
,if there be rising ground1 encamp on   
its sunny side and in front of  it2 for 

thereby the soldiers are benefited1 and 
the ground used to our  advantage4      
,if1 owing to rains in the upper        
reaches1 the river become turbulent1 do 
not cross until the waters have quieted4
    ,steep and impassable valleys2      
well-like places2 confined places2      
tangled impenetrable ground2 swamps and 
bogs2 narrow passages with              
pitfalls3--quickly pass from these1 and 
approach them not4 ,cause the  enemy to 
approach near to them1 but keep yourself
 from these places2  face them1 so that 
the enemy has them in his rear4    ,if  
there be near to the army1 precipices1  
ponds1 meres1 reeds and  rushes1 or     
thick forests and trees1 search them    
thoroughly4 ,these are  places where the
 enemy is likely to be in ambush4       
,when the enemy is close1 but quiet1 he 
is strong in reliance on natural        
defences4    ,if the enemy challenge to 
fight from afar1 he wishes you to       
advance4    ,if the enemy be encamped in
 open country1 it is with some special  

object in view4    ,movement among the  
trees shows that the enemy is advancing4
 ,broken  branches and trodden grass1 as
 of the passing of a large host1 must be
  regarded with suspicion4    ,the      
rising of birds shows an ambush4        
,startled beasts show that the enemy is 
stealthily approaching from  several    
sides4    ,high1 straight spurts of dust
 betoken that chariots are coming4      
,long1 low masses of dust show the      
coming of infantry4    ,here and there1 
thin and high columns of dust are signs 
that firewood  and fodder are being     
collected4    ,small clouds of dust     
moving to and fro are signs that the    
enemy is  preparing to encamp for a     
short time4    ,busy preparations and   
smooth words show that the enemy is     
about to  advance to attack4    ,big    
words1 and the spurring forward of      
horsemen1 are signs that the  enemy is  
about to retire4    ,an advance of the  
light chariots to the flanks of the camp
 is a sign  that the enemy is coming    

forth to fight4    ,without             
consultation1 suddenly to desire an     
armistice1 is a mark of  ulterior       
design4    ,the passing to and fro of   
messengers1 and the forming up of       
troops1  show that the enemy has some   
movement on foot4    ,an advance1       
followed by sudden retirement1 is a lure
 to attack4    ,when the enemy use their
 weapons to rest upon1 they are hungry4 
,if the drawers of water drink at the   
river1 the enemy is suffering from      
thirst4    ,disregard of booty that lies
 ready at hand is a sign of exhaustion4 
,the clustering of birds round a        
position shows that it is unoccupied4   
,voices calling in the night betoken    
alarm4    ,disorder in the army is a    
sign that the general is disregarded4   
,a changing about of flags and banners  
is a sign that the army is  unsettled4  
,if the officers be angry1 it is because
 the soldiers are tired1 and  slow to   
obey4    ,the killing of horses for food
 shows that the enemy is short of       

provisions4    ,when the cooking-pots   
are hung up on the wall and the soldiers
 turn  not in again1 the enemy is at an 
end of his resources4    ,exceeding     
graciousness and familiarity on the part
 of the general show  that he has lost  
the confidence of the soldiers4         
,frequent rewards show that discipline  
is at an end4    ,frequent punishments  
are a sign that the general is in       
difficulties4    ,the general who first 
blusters1 and then is obsequious1 is    
without  perception4    ,he who offers  
apologies and hostages is anxious for a 
truce4    ,when both sides1 eager for a 
fight1 face each other for a            
considerable  time1 neither advancing   
nor retiring1 the occasion requires the 
utmost  vigilance and circumspection4   
,numbers are no certain mark of         
strength4    ,even if incapable of a    
headlong assault1 if the forces be      
united1 and  the enemy's condition      
ascertained1 victory is possible4    ,he
 who without taking thought makes light 

of the enemy is certain to be  captured4
    ,if a general who is strange to the 
troops punish them1 they cease to  obey 
him4 ,if they are not obedient1 they    
cannot be usefully employed4    ,if the 
troops know the general1 but are not    
affected by his punishments1  they are  
useless4    ,by humane treatment we     
obtain obedience2 authority brings      
uniformity4  ,thus we obtain victory4   
,if the people have been trained in     
obedience from the beginning1 they      
respect their leader's commands4    ,if 
the people be not early trained to      
obedience1 they do not respect  their   
leader's commands4    ,orders are always
 obeyed1 if general and soldiers are in 
sympathy4          ,x    ,,ground       
,sun the ,master said3--    ,with regard
 to the different natures of ground     
there are3--    ,open ground2 broken    
ground2 suspended ground2 defiles2      
precipices2 far  countries4    ,open    
ground is that where either side has    
liberty of movement3 be  quick to occupy

 any high ground in the neighbourhood   
and consider well  the line of supplies4
    ,broken ground4 ,advance is easy1   
but retreat from it is difficult4 ,here1
  if the enemy be not prepared1 we may  
win3 but should he be prepared1  and    
defeat us1 and retreat be impossible1   
then there is disaster4    ,suspended   
ground4 ,the side that takes the        
initiative is under a  disadvantage4    
,here1 if the enemy offer some          
allurement1 we should not  advance3 but 
rather1 by feigning retreat1 wait until 
he has put forth  half his force4 ,then 
we may attack him with advantage4       
,defiles1 make haste to occupy2 garrison
 strongly and await the enemy4  ,should 
the enemy be before you1 and in         
strength1 do not engage him2 but  if    
there be unoccupied points1 attack him4 
,in precipitous ground quickly occupy a 
position on a sunny height1 and  await  
the enemy4 ,if the enemy be before you1 
withdraw and do not attack  him4    ,if 
distant from the enemy1 and the forces  

be equal1 to take the  initiative is    
disadvantageous4    ,now1 these are the 
six kinds of ground4 ,it is the duty of 
generals to  study them4    ,again1     
there are six calamities among the      
troops1 arising1 not from  defect of    
ground1 or lack of opportunity1 but from
 the general's  incapacity4    ,these   
are3 repulse1 relaxation1 distress1     
disorganisation1 confusion  and rout4   
,if troops be sent to attack an enemy of
 equal quality1 but ten times  their    
number1 they retire discomfited4        
,strong soldiers with weak officers     
cause relaxation4    ,able officers with
 feeble soldiers cause distress4        
,enraged senior officers1 who fall upon 
the enemy without orders1 and  obey not 
the general because he does not         
recognise their abilities1  produce     
disorganisation4    ,weak and amiable   
generals1 whose directions and          
leadership are vague1  whose officers'  
and men's duties are not fixed1 and     
whose dispositions  are contradictory1  

produce confusion4    ,generals1 who are
 unable to estimate the enemy1 who      
oppose small  numbers to large1 weakness
 to strength1 and who do not put picked 
men  in the van of the army1 cause it to
 be routed4    ,these six things lead to
 defeat4 ,it is the duty of the general 
to study  them carefully4    ,ground is 
the handmaid of victory4    ,ability to 
estimate the enemy1 and plan the        
victory2 an eye for  steepness1 command 
and distances3 these are the qualities  
of the good  general4    ,whosoever     
knows these things1 conquers2 he who    
understands them not1 is  defeated4     
,if victory be certain from the military
 standpoint1 fight1 even if the  lord   
forbid4    ,if defeat be certain from   
the military standpoint1 do not fight1  
even  though the lord commands it4      
,the general who advances1 from no      
thought of his own glory1 or retires1   
regardless of punishment2 but only      
strives for the people's welfare1  and  
his lord's advantage1 is a treasure to  

the state4    ,the good general cares   
for his soldiers1 and lovingly treats   
them as  his children2 as a consequence 
they follow him through deep valleys1   
and are beside him in death4            
,nevertheless1 over-care for the        
soldiers may cause disobedience2        
over-attention may make them            
unserviceable2 over-indulgence may      
produce  disorder3 they become like     
spoilt children1 and cannot be used4    
,he who is confident of his own men1 but
 is ignorant that the enemy  should not 
be attacked1 has no certainty of        
victory4    ,he who knows that the enemy
 may be attacked with advantage1 but    
knows  not his own men1 has no certainty
 of victory4    ,confidence in the      
troops1 right judgment when to attack   
the enemy1 but  ignorance of the ground1
 bring uncertain victory4    ,the wise  
soldier1 once in motion1 does not waver1
 and is never at a  loss4    ,as has    
been said3 ,know thyself2 know the      
enemy2 fear not for victory4    ,also1  

if the season and the opportunity be    
realised1 and the ground  known1        
complete victory is certain4            
,,xi    ,,the ,,nine ,,grounds      ,sun
 the ,master said3--    ,in respect to  
the conduct of war there are3--         
,distracting ground2 disturbing ground2 
ground of contention2  intersecting     
ground2 path-ridden ground2             
deeply-involved ground2  difficult      
ground2 enclosed ground2 death ground4  
,at all times1 when the prince fights in
 his own territory1 it is called        
distracting#ac ground4    ,that ground a
 short way inside the enemy's border is 
called disturbing  ground4    ,ground   
giving advantage to whichever side is in
 possession1 is called  ground of       
contention4    ,ground to which either  
side has access1 is called intersecting 
ground4    ,ground between three        
provinces first possession of which     
enables the  peoples of the earth to be 
controlled1 is called path-ridden       
ground4    ,the interior of the enemy's 

country with many of his fortified towns
 in  rear1 is called deeply-involved    
ground4    ,mountain and forest1        
precipices1 ravines1 marsh and swamp1   
all places  where passage is hard1 are  
called difficult ground4    ,a narrow   
entrance and winding outlet1 where a    
small number can oppose a  large force1 
is called enclosed ground4    ,that     
ground where delay means disaster1 is   
called death ground4    ,wherefore1 do  
not fight on distracting ground2 do not 
linger on  disturbing ground4    ,if the
 enemy be in possession of disputed     
ground1 do not attack4    ,in           
intersecting ground1 do not interrupt   
the highways4    ,at the crossing of    
highways1 cultivate intercourse4        
,when deeply involved1 levy and store up
 the enemy's property4    ,quickly      
depart from difficult ground4    ,on    
enclosed ground1 use stratagem4    ,on  
death ground1 fight4    ,the skilful    
fighters of old were at pains to        
disconnect the enemy's  front and rear2 

they cut asunder small and large forces 
of the enemy2  prevented mutual help    
between his officers and men2 spread    
mistrust  between high and low4 ,they   
scattered the enemy1 and prevented him  
from  concentrating2 if his soldiers    
were assembled1 they were without unity4
    ,if there be a chance of victory1   
move2 if there be no chance of  success1
 stand fast4    ,if ,i were asked how a 
powerful and united force of the enemy  
should be  met1 ,i would say3 lay hands 
on what the enemy cherishes and he will 
conform to our desires4    ,in war1     
above all1 speed sustains the spirit of 
the troops4 ,strike  before the enemy is
 ready2 and attack his unpreparedness   
from an  unexpected quarter4    ,with   
regard to war in foreign lands4 ,when   
strangers in a far country  the soldiers
 are united and are proof against       
defeat4 ,plunder fertile  plains so that
 the army is fed2 be careful of the     
health of the  soldiers2 do not tire    
them uselessly2 unite their minds2 store

 up  strength2 plan well and secretly4  
,if there be no refuge the soldiers     
will not fly from death4    ,if there be
 no alternative but death1 the soldiers 
exert themselves to  the utmost4    ,in 
desperate places1 soldiers lose the     
sense of fear4    ,if there be no place 
of refuge1 there will be no wavering4   
,if deeply involved in the enemy's      
country1 there is unity4    ,if it be   
unavoidable1 the soldiers will fight    
their hardest4 ,even  without warnings  
they are vigilant2 they comply without  
insistence2  without stipulations they  
are tractable2 without explicit         
instructions  they will trust the       
general and obey him4    ,prohibit the  
discussion of signs and omens1 and      
remove the soldiers'  doubts2 then to   
the moment of death they will be        
undistracted4    ,riches are denied the 
soldiers1 not because money is a bad    
thing2 old  age is forbidden them1 but  
not because long life is evil4          
,hardships  and danger are the proper   

lot of the soldier4    ,when the order  
for attack is given1 the collars of     
those who are  sitting may be wet with  
tears2 tears may roll down the cheeks of
 those  reclining2 yet these men1 in a  
desperate place1 will fight with the    
courage of ,chu and ,kuei4    ,soldiers 
should be used like the snakes on ,mt4  
,chang2 which1 if you hit  on the head1 
the tail will strike you2 if you hit the
 tail1 the head  will strike you2 if you
 strike its middle1 head and tail will  
strike  you together4    ,should any one
 ask me whether men can be made to move 
like these  snakes1 ,i say1 yes4 ,the   
men of ,wu and ,yueh hate each other2   
yet1 if  they cross a river in the same 
boat and a storm overtake them1 they    
help each other like the two hands4     
,the horses may be tied1 and the chariot
 wheels sunk in the mud2 but  that does 
not prevent flight4    ,universal       
courage and unity depend on good        
management4    ,the best results from   
both the weak and strong are obtained by

 a proper  use of the ground4    ,the   
skilful warrior can lead his army1 as a 
man leads another by the  hand1 because 
he places it in a desperate position4   
,the general should be calm1            
inscrutable1 just and prudent4 ,he      
should  keep his officers and men in    
ignorance of his plans1 and inform no   
one  of any changes or fresh departures4
 ,by changing his camps1 and taking     
devious and unexpected routes1 his plans
 cannot be guessed4    ,as one taking   
away the ladder from under those mounted
 upon the roof1  so acts the general    
when his men are assembled to fight4 ,he
 penetrates  into the heart of the      
enemy's country and then divulges his   
plans4 ,he  drives the army hither and  
thither like a flock of sheep1 knowing  
not  whither they go4    ,therefore the 
general should assemble the armies1 and 
place them in a  desperate position4    
,the different natures of the ,nine     
,grounds2 the suiting of the means to   
the occasion2 the hearts of men3 these  

are things that must be studied4        
,when deep in the interior of a hostile 
country1 there is cohesion2 if  only on 
the borders1 there is distraction4 ,to  
leave home and cross the  borders is to 
be free from interference4    ,on       
distracting ground1 unite the soldiers' 
minds4    ,on disturbing ground1 keep   
together4    ,on disputed ground1 try to
 take the enemy in rear4    ,on         
intersecting ground1 look well to the   
defences4    ,on path-ridden ground1    
cultivate intercourse4    ,on           
deeply-involved ground be careful of    
supplies4    ,on difficult ground1 do   
not linger4    ,on enclosed ground1     
close the path of escape4    ,on death  
ground1 show the soldiers that there is 
no chance of survival4    ,it is the    
nature of soldiers to defend when       
surrounded1 to fight with  energy when  
compelled thereto1 to pursue the enemy  
if he retreat4    ,he cannot treat with 
other rulers who knows not their        
ambitions4    ,he who knows not mountain

 and forest2 cliffs2 ravines2 lakes and 
marshes2 cannot conduct an army4    ,he 
who does not use guides1 cannot take    
advantage of the ground4    ,he who has 
not a complete knowledge of the ,nine   
,grounds1 cannot gain  military         
dominion4    ,the great general1 when   
attacking a powerful nation1 prevents   
the enemy  from concentrating his hosts4
    ,he overawes the enemy so that other
 states cannot join against him4    ,he 
does not struggle for the favour of     
other states2 nor is he careful  of     
their rights4 ,he has confidence in     
himself1 and awes the enemy4            
,therefore he easily takes the fortress1
 or reduces the country to  subjection4 
,in the bestowal of rewards1 or in his  
orders1 he is not bound by  ancient     
rule4    ,he manages his forces as      
though they were one man4    ,orders    
should direct the soldiers2 but while   
what is advantageous  should be made    
known1 what is disadvantageous should be
 concealed4    ,if the forces be plunged

 into danger1 there is survival2 from   
death  ground there is retrieval2 for   
the force in danger gains the victory4  
,discover the enemy's intentions by     
conforming to his movements4 ,when      
these are discovered1 then1 with one    
stroke1 the general may be killed1  even
 though he be one hundred leagues       
distant4    ,when war is declared1 close
 the barriers2 destroy passports2       
prevent  the passage of the enemy's     
spies2 conduct the business of the      
government with vigilance4    ,take     
immediate advantage of the enemy's      
weakness2 discover what he most  values1
 and plan to seize it4    ,shape your   
plans according to rule1 and the        
circumstances of the enemy4    ,at first
 behave with the discretion of a maiden2
 then1 when the enemy  gives an opening1
 dart in like a rabbit4    ,the enemy   
cannot defend himself4          ,,xii   
,,assault ,,by ,,fire      ,sun the     
,master said3--    ,there are five ways 
of attack by fire3    ,the first is     

called barrack burning2 the second1     
commissariat burning2  the third1       
equipment burning2 the fourth1 store    
burning2 the fifth1 the  company        
burning4    ,the moment for the fire    
assault must be suitable4 ,further1     
appliances  must always be kept at hand4
    ,there is a time and day proper for 
the setting and carrying out of the     
fire assault2 namely3 such time as the  
weather is dry2 and a day when  the moon
 is in the quarters of the stars ,chi1  
,pi1 ,i1 ,chen3 for these  are days of  
wind4    ,regard well the developments  
that will certainly arise from the fire1
  and act upon them4 ,when fire breaks  
out inside the enemy's camp1 thrust     
upon him with all speed from without2   
but if his soldiers be quiet1  wait1 and
 do not attack4    ,when the fire is at 
its height1 attack or not1 as           
opportunity may arise4    ,if the       
opportunity be favourable1 set fire to  
the enemy's camp1 and do  not wait for  
it to break out from within4    ,when   

fire breaks out on the windward side1 do
 not attack from the  leeward4    ,wind 
that rises in the day lasts long4 ,wind 
that rises in the night  time quickly   
passes away4    ,the peculiarities of   
the five burnings must be known1 and the
 calendar  studied1 and1 if the attack  
is to be assisted1 the fire must be     
unquenchable4    ,if water is to assist 
the attack1 the flood must be           
overwhelming4    ,water may isolate or  
divide the enemy2 fire may consume his  
camp2 but  unless victory or possession 
be obtained1 the enemy quickly recovers1
  and misfortunes arise4 ,the war drags 
on1 and money is spent4    ,let the     
enlightened lord consider well2 and the 
good general keep the  main object in   
view4 ,if no advantage is to be gained  
thereby1 do not  move2 without prospect 
of victory1 do not use the soldiers2 do 
not  fight unless the state be in       
danger4    ,war should not be undertaken
 because the lord is in a moment of     
passion4 ,the general must not fight    

because there is anger in his heart4    
,do not make war unless victory may be  
gained thereby2 if there be  prospect of
 victory1 move2 if there be no prospect1
 do not move4    ,for passion may change
 to gladness1 anger passes away2 but a  
country1  once overturned1 cannot be    
restored2 the dead cannot be brought to 
life4    ,wherefore it is written1 the  
enlightened lord is circumspect1 and    
the good general takes heed2 then is the
 state secure1 and the army  victorious 
in battle4          ,,xiii    ,,the     
,,employment ,,of ,,spies      ,sun the 
,master said3--    ,calling #ajj1jjj men
 to arms1 and transporting them a       
hundred leagues1  is such an undertaking
 that in one day #a1jjj taels of the    
citizens' and  nobles' money are spent2 
commotions arise within and without the 
state2  carriers fall down exhausted on 
the line of march of the army2 and the  
occupations of #gjj1jjjad homes are     
upset4    ,again1 for years the armies  
may face each other2 yet the issue may  

depend on a single day's victory4       
,wherefore1 by grudging slight expense  
in titles and salaries to spies1  to    
remain in ignorance of the enemy's      
circumstances1 is to be without         
humanity4 ,such a person is no general2 
he is no assistance to his lord2  he is 
no master of victory4    ,the           
enlightened ruler and the wise general  
who act1 win1 and are  distinguished    
beyond the common1 are informed         
beforehand4    ,this knowledge is not to
 be got by calling on gods and demons2  
nor does  it come of past experience nor
 calculation4 ,it is through men that   
knowledge of the enemy is gained4       
,now the five kinds of spies are these3 
village spies1 inner spies1  converted  
spies1 death spies1 living spies4    ,if
 these five means be employed           
simultaneously1 none can discover  their
 working4 ,this is called the           
,mysterious ,thread3 it is the ,lord's  
,treasure4    ,village spies are such   
people of the country as give           

information4    ,inner spies are those  
of the enemy's officials employed by us4
    ,converted spies are those of the   
enemy's spies in our pay4    ,death#ae  
spies are sent to misinform the enemy1  
and to spread false  reports through our
 spies already in the enemy's lines4    
,living spies#af return to report4      
,in connection with the armies1 spies   
should be treated with the  greatest    
kindness2 and in dealing out reward1    
they should receive the  most generous  
treatment4 ,all matters relating to     
spies are secret4    ,without infinite  
capacity in the general1 the employment 
of spies is  impossible4 ,their         
treatment requires benevolence and      
uprightness4  ,except they be observed  
with the closest attention1 the truth   
will not  be obtained from them4        
,wonderful indeed is the power of spies4
    ,there is no occasion when they     
cannot be used4    ,if a secret matter  
be spoken of before the time is ripe1   
the spy who  told the matter1 and the   

man who repeated the same1 should be put
 to  death4    ,if desirous of attacking
 an army2 of besieging a fortress2 or of
  killing a certain person2 first of    
all1 learn the names of the general  in 
charge2 of his right-hand#ag men2 of    
those who introduce visitors  to the    
,presence2 of the gate keeper and the   
sentries4 ,then set the  spies to watch 
them4    ,seek out the enemy's spies who
 come to spy on us2 give them money2    
cause them to be lodged and cared for2  
and convert them to the service4        
,through them we are enabled to obtain  
spies among the enemy's villagers  and  
officials4    ,by means of the converted
 spy1 we can construct a false story for
 the  death spy to carry to the enemy4  
,it is through the converted spy that we
 are able to use the five  varieties1 to
 their utmost advantage2 therefore he   
must be liberally  treated4    ,in      
ancient times the rise to power of the  
province of ,yin was due  to ,ichih1 who
 was sent to the country of ,hsia4      

,likewise during the  foundation of the 
state of ,chu1 ,luya lived among the    
people of ,shang4    ,wherefore1        
intelligent rulers and wise generals use
 the cleverest men  as spies1 and       
invariably acquire great merit4 ,the spy
 is a necessity to  the army4 ,upon him 
the movement of the army depends4       
,,the ,,sayings ,,of ,,wutzu            
,,introduction      ,now ,wu1 albeit    
clothed in the raiment of a scholar1 was
 a man skilled  in the art of war4      
,and ,wen1 ,lord of ,wei1 came unto him 
and said3--    ,i am a man of peace1    
caring not for military affairs4    ,and
 ,wu said3--    ,your actions are       
witnesses of your mind2 why do your     
words say not  what is in your heart8   
,you do prepare and dress hides and     
leather through the four seasons1       
ornamenting them with red lacquer and   
the figures of panthers and  elephants2 
which give not warmth in winter1 neither
 in summer1  coolness4 ,moreover1 you   
make halberds1 #bdah feet long1 and     

pikes #ab  feet long1 and leather       
7covered7 chariots so large as to fill  
up the  gateways1 wheels with ornament1 
and naves capped with leather4 ,now1    
these are neither beautiful to the eye  
nor light in the chase2 ,i know  not for
 what use my lord makes these things4   
,but1 although provided with these      
instruments of war1 if the leader be    
not competent1 a brooding hen might as  
well strike a badger1 or a dog  with    
young challenge the tiger3 the spirit of
 encounter may be present1  but there is
 no end but death4    ,in ancient times1
 the ,prince ,chengsang cultivated      
virtue1 and put away  military things1  
and his kingdom fell4    ,the ,prince   
,yuhu put his trust in numbers1 and     
delighted in war and was  driven from   
the throne4    ,therefore the           
enlightened ruler should ponder over    
these things2  encourage learning and   
virtue in the kingdom1 and be prepared  
against  war from without4    ,to       
hesitate before the enemy is not a cause

 for righteousness2 remorse  for the    
fallen is not true humanity4    ,and    
when ,lord ,wen heard these words1 he   
himself spread a seat1 and his  wife    
offered up a cup1 and ,wu was appointed 
general before the altar4    ,now1 in   
the defence of ,hsihe against different 
states there were fought  seventy-six   
great fights1 of which sixty-four were  
complete victories1  and the remainder  
undecided4 ,and the kingdom grew and    
stretched #a1jjj  leagues on every side1
 which was all due to the virtue of ,wu4
          ,i    ,,the ,,government ,,of 
,a ,,country      ,and ,wu the ,master  
said3--    ,the mighty rulers of old    
first trained their retainers1 and then 
extended their regard to their outlying 
feudatories4    ,there are four         
discords3--    ,discord in the state3   
then never make war4    ,discord in the 
army3 then do not strike camp4          
,discord in the camp3 then do not       
advance to attack4    ,discord in the   
battle array3 then seek not to decide   

the issue4    ,therefore1 wise rulers   
who would employ their subjects in great
  endeavours1 should first establish    
harmony among them4    ,lend not a ready
 ear to human counsellors1 but lay the  
matter before  the altar2 seek inside   
the turtle1#ai and consider well the    
time and  season4 ,then1 if all be well1
 commit ourselves to the undertaking4   
,if the people know that their lord is  
careful of their lives1 and  laments    
their death beyond all else2 then1 in   
the time of danger1 the  soldiers       
advance1 and1 advancing1 find glory in  
death2 and in survival  after retreat1  
dishonour4    ,the ,master said3--      
,the ,way must follow the only true     
path3 righteousness lies at the root  of
 achievement and merit4    ,the object  
of stratagem is to avoid loss and gain  
advantage4    ,the object of government 
is to guard enterprise and to preserve  
the  state4    ,if conduct depart from  
the ,way1 and the undertaking accord not
 with  righteousness1 then disaster     

befalls the mighty4    ,therefore1 wise 
men maintain order by keeping in the    
,way1 and governing  with righteousness2
 they move with discretion1 and with    
benevolence  they make the people       
amenable4    ,if these four virtues be  
practised1 there is prosperity2 if they 
be  neglected1 there is decay4    ,for1 
when ,lord ,tang of ,cheng defeated     
,lord ,chieh1 the people of ,hsia       
rejoiced1 and when ,wu of ,chou defeated
 ,lord ,chou1 the people of  ,yin were  
not discomfited4 ,and this was because  
it was ordained by  ,providence and     
human desire4    ,the ,master said3--   
,in the government of a country and     
command of an army1 the inculcation  of 
propriety1 stimulation of righteousness1
 and the promotion of a  sense of shame 
are required4    ,when men possess a    
sense of shame1 they will attack with   
resolution  when in strength1 and when  
few in number defend to the last4       
,but while victory is easy in attack1 it
 is difficult in defence4    ,now1 of   

the fighting races below heaven2 those  
who gained five  victories have been    
worn out2 those who have won four       
victories have  been impoverished2 three
 victories have given dominion2 two     
victories  have founded a kingdom2 and  
upon one victory an empire has been     
established4    ,for those who have     
gained power on earth by many victories 
are few2 and  those who have lost it1   
many4    ,the ,master said3--    ,the   
causes of war are five3--    ,first1    
ambition2 second1 profit2 third1        
overburdened hate2 fourth1  internal    
disorder2 fifth1 famine4    ,again1 the 
natures of war are five3--    ,first1 a 
righteous war2 second1 a war of might2  
third1 a war of  revenge2 fourth1 a war 
of tyranny2 fifth1 an unrighteous war4  
,the prevention of tyranny and the      
restoration of order is just2 to  strike
 in reliance on numbers is oppression2  
to raise the standard for  reasons of   
anger is a war of revenge2 to quit      
propriety1 and seize  advantage is      

tyranny2 when the state is disordered   
and the people worn  out1 to harbour    
designs1 and set a multitude in motion1 
is a war of  unrighteousness4    ,there 
is a way of overcoming each of these    
five4    ,righteousness is overcome by  
propriety2 might by humanity2 revenge by
  words2 tyranny by deception2          
unrighteousness by strategy4    ,lord   
,wen asked and said3--    ,i would know 
the way to control an army1 to measure  
men1 and make the  country strong4      
,wu answered and said3--    ,the        
enlightened rulers of antiquity         
respected propriety between  sovereign  
and people2 established etiquette       
between high and low2  settled officials
 and citizens in close accord2 gave     
instruction in  accordance with custom2 
selected men of ability1 and thereby    
provided  against what should come to   
pass4    ,in ancient times1 ,prince     
,huan of ,chi assembled #ej1jjj men at  
arms1 and  became chief among the       
princes2 ,prince ,wen of ,chin put      

#dj1jjj mighty  men in the van1 and     
gained his ambition2 ,prince ,mu of     
,chin gathered  together #cj1jjj        
invincibles1 and subdued his            
neighbouring foes4  ,wherefore1 the     
princes of powerful states must consider
 their people1  and assemble the valiant
 and spirited men by companies4         
,those who delight to attack1 and to    
display their valour and fealty  should 
be formed in companies4    ,those       
skilful in scaling heights1 or covering 
long distances1 and who  are quick and  
light of foot must be collected in      
companies4    ,retainers who have lost  
their rank1 and who are desirous of     
displaying  their prowess before their  
superiors should be gathered into       
companies4    ,those who have abandoned 
a castle1 or deserted their trust1 and  
are  desirous of atoning for their      
misconduct1 should be collected and     
formed into companies4    ,these five   
bodies form the flower of the army4     
,with #c1jjj of such  troops1 if they   

issue from within1 an encompassing enemy
 can be burst  asunder2 if they enter   
from without1 a castle can be           
overthrown4    ,lord ,wen asked and     
said3--    ,i desire to know how to fix 
the battle array1 render defence secure1
  and attack with certainty of victory4 
,wu answered and said3--    ,to see with
 the eye is better than ready words4    
,yet1 ,i say1 if the  wise men be put in
 authority and the ignorant in low      
places1 then the  army is already       
arranged4    ,if the people be free from
 anxiety about their estates1 and love  
their  officials1 then defence is       
already secure4    ,if all the lieges be
 proud of their lord1 and think ill of  
neighbouring  states1 then is the battle
 already won4    ,the ,lord ,wen once   
assembled a number of his subjects to   
discuss affairs  of state3 and none     
could equal him in wisdom1 and when he  
left the  council chamber his face was  
pleased4    ,then ,wu advanced and      
said3--    ,in ancient times1 ,lord     

,chuang of ,chu once consulted with his 
lieges1  and none were like unto him in 
wisdom2 and when the ,lord left the     
council chamber his countenance was     
troubled4 ,then the ,duke ,shen asked   
and said3 ,why is my ,lord troubled8    
,and he answered3 ,i have heard  that   
the world is never without sages1 and   
that in every country there  are wise   
men2 that good advisers are the         
foundation of an empire2 and  friends of
 dominion4 ,now1 if ,i1 lacking wisdom1 
have no equal among  the multitude of my
 officers1 dangerous indeed is the state
 of ,chu4 ,it  grieves me that whereas  
,prince ,chuang of ,chu was troubled in 
a like  case my ,lord should be pleased4
    ,and hearing this ,lord ,wen was    
inwardly troubled4          ,,ii        
,,estimation ,,of ,,the ,,enemy         
,and ,lord ,wen said to ,wu3--    ,chin 
threatens us on the west2 ,chu surrounds
 us on the south2 ,chao  presses us in  
the north2 ,chi watches us in the east2 
,yen stops our  rear1 and ,han is posted

 in our front4 ,thus1 the armies of six 
nations  encompass us on every side1 and
 our condition is very unpropitious4    
,canst thou relieve my anxiety8    ,wu  
answered and said3--    ,the path of    
safety of a state lies first of all in  
vigilance4 ,now my  ,lord has already   
taken warning1 wherefore misfortunes are
 yet distant4    ,let me state the      
habits of these six countries4 ,the     
forces of ,chi are  weighty but without 
solidity2 the soldiers of ,chin are     
scattered1 and  fight each of his own   
accord3 the army of ,chu is well        
ordered1 but  cannot endure3 the        
soldiers of ,yen defend well1 but are   
without dash3  the armies of the three  
,chins are well governed1 but cannot be 
used4    ,the nature of ,chi is stubborn
 and the country rich1 but prince and   
officials are proud and luxurious1 and  
neglectful of the common people2        
government is loose and rewards not     
impartial2 in one camp there are  two   
minds2 the front is heavy1 but the rear 

is light4 ,therefore it is  ponderous   
without stability4 ,to attack it1 the   
force must be divided  into three parts1
 and1 by threatening it on three sides1 
its front can  be broken4    ,the nature
 of ,chin is strong1 the country rugged1
 and the government  firm2 rewards and  
punishments just1 the people            
indomitable1 and all  have the fighting 
spirit2 wherefore1 when separated1 each 
fights of his  own accord4    ,to defeat
 this people1 they must first be tempted
 by gain to leave  their cause1 so that 
the soldiers1 greedy of profit1 desert  
their  general3 then1 taking advantage  
of their disobedience1 their scattered  
forces can be chased1 ambushes laid1    
favourable opportunities taken1  and    
their general captured4    ,the nature  
of ,chu is weak1 its territory wide1 the
 government weak1  and the people       
exhausted2 the troops are well ordered  
but of short  endurance4    ,the way to 
defeat them is to assault their camp1   
throw it into  confusion and crush their

 spirit1 advance softly1 and retire     
quickly2  tire them out1 avoid a serious
 encounter1 and they may be defeated4   
,the nature of ,yen is straightforward2 
its people are cautious1 loving  courage
 and righteousness1 and without guile2  
wherefore they defend but  are not      
daring4    ,the way to defeat them is to
 draw close and press them2 tease them  
and  pass to a distance2 move quickly1  
and appear in the rear1 thus causing    
bewilderment to their officers and fear 
in their ranks4 ,our chariots  and      
horsemen will act with circumspection   
and avoid encounter4 ,thus  their       
general can be captured4    ,the three  
,chins are the middle kingdom3 their    
nature is peaceful  and their rule just4
 ,their people are tired of war2 their  
troops are  trained1 but their leaders  
are despised2 pay is small1 and the     
soldiers  lack the spirit of sacrifice1 
thus they are well governed but cannot  
be  used4    ,the way to defeat them is 
to threaten them from afar4 ,if a       

multitude  attack--defend2 if they      
retreat--pursue1 and tire them out4     
,in every army there are mighty warriors
 with strength to lift the  ,censer1    
swifter of foot than the war horse2 who 
can take the enemy's  standard1 or slay 
his general4 ,if such men be selected1  
and set apart1  cared for and honoured1 
they are the life of the army4    ,those
 who use the five arms#bj with skill1   
who are clever1 strong and  quick1 and  
careless of the enemy1 should be given  
rank and decoration1  and used to decide
 the victory4 ,their parents and        
families should be  cared for1          
encouraged by rewards1 and kept in fear 
of punishment4 ,these  men consolidate  
the battle array2 their presence causes 
endurance4    ,if these men be well     
selected1 double their number can be    
defeated4    ,and ,lord ,wen said3--    
,it is good6    ,wu the ,master said3-- 
,in the estimation of the enemy there   
are eight cases when1 without           
consulting the oracles1 he may be       

attacked4    ,first1 an enemy who1 in   
great wind and cold1 has risen early1   
started  forth across ice and rivers1   
and braved stress and hardships4        
,second1 an enemy who1 in the height of 
summer1 and in great heat1 has  risen   
early1 has travelled incessantly1 is    
hungry and without water1  and is       
striving to reach a distance4    ,third1
 an enemy who has been encamped long in 
one place1 who is  without provisions1  
when the farmers are vexed and          
indignant1 who  has suffered frequent   
calamities1 and whose officers are      
unable to  establish confidence4        
,fourth1 when the enemy's funds are     
exhausted1 fuel and fodder scarce2  when
 the heavens have been overcast by long 
continued rain2 when there  is the      
desire to loot1 but no place to loot    
withal4    ,fifth1 when their numbers   
are few2 when water is scarce2 when men 
and  horses are scourged by pestilence1 
and from no quarter is succour at  hand4
    ,sixth1 when night falls1 and the   

way is yet far2 when officers and men   
are worn out and fearful1 weary and     
without food1 and have laid aside  their
 armour and are resting4    ,seventh1   
when the general's authority is weak1   
the officials false1  and the soldiers  
unsettled2 when their army has been     
alarmed1 and no  help is forthcoming4   
,eighth1 when the battle formation is   
not yet fixed1 or camp pitched2  when   
climbing a hill1 or passing through a   
difficult place2 when half  is hidden   
and half exposed4    ,an enemy in these 
situations may be smitten without       
hesitation4    ,there are six enemies1  
that1 without consulting oracles1 should
 be  avoided4    ,first1 wide and vast  
territories1 and a large and rich       
population4    ,second1 where the       
officials care for the people1 and      
bestow bountiful  favours and rewards4  
,third1 where rewards are well deserved1
 punishment accurately  apportioned1 and
 operations undertaken only when the    
time is fitting4    ,fourth1 where merit

 is recognised and given rank1 wise men 
appointed1  and ability employed4       
,fifth1 where the troops are many and   
their weapons excellent4    ,sixth1 when
 help is at hand on every side1 or from 
a powerful ally4    ,for1 if the enemy  
excel in the foregoing1 he must be      
avoided without  hesitation4 ,as it is  
written1 if it be judged good1 advance2 
if it be  known to be difficult1        
retreat4    ,and ,lord ,wen asked and   
said3--    ,i desire to know how the    
interior of the enemy can be known from 
his  outer appearance2 the form of his  
camp by observing his advance1 and  how 
victory may be determined8    ,and ,wu  
answered and said3--    ,if the coming  
of the enemy be reckless like roaring   
waters1 his  banners and pennons        
disordered1 and horses and men          
frequently looking  behind1 then ten can
 be struck with one4 ,panic will        
certainly seize  them4    ,before the   
various princes have assembled1 before  
harmony has been  established between   

lord and lieges1 before ditches have    
been dug1 or  regulations established1  
and the army is alarmed2 wishing to     
advance1  but unable2 wishing to        
retreat1 but unable3 then the force can 
strike  twice their numbers1 and in a   
hundred fights there is no fear of      
retreat4    ,lord ,wen asked3--    ,how 
can the enemy be certainly defeated8    
,wu answered and said3--    ,make       
certain of the enemy's real condition   
and quickly strike his  weak point2     
strike an enemy who has just arrived    
from afar1 before his  ranks are        
arranged2 or one who has eaten and has  
not completed his  dispositions2 or an  
enemy who is hurrying about1 or is      
busily occupied2  or has not made       
favourable use of the ground1 or has let
 pass the  opportunity2 or one who has  
come a long distance1 and those in rear 
are  late and have not rested4          
,strike an enemy who is half across     
waters2 or who is on a difficult  or    
narrow road2 or whose flags and banners 

are in confusion2 or who is  frequently 
changing position2 or whose general is  
not in accord with  the soldiers2 or who
 is fearful4    ,all such should be     
assaulted by the picked men2 and the    
remainder of  the army should be        
divided1 and follow after them4 ,they   
may be attacked  at once without        
hesitation4          ,,iii    ,,control 
,,of ,,the ,,army      ,lord ,wen       
said3--    ,what is of first importance 
in operations of war8    ,wu answered   
and said3--    ,lightness1 of which     
there are four natures1 ,weight1 of     
which there  are two natures1 and       
,confidence must be clearly             
comprehended4    ,and ,wen said3--      
,what are these8    ,and ,wu answered3--
    ,if the way be easy1 the horses are 
light of foot2 if the horses be  light  
of foot1 the chariots travel freely2 if 
the chariots travel  easily1 men can    
ride in them without difficulty2 if the 
men be free  to move1 the fight         
prospers4 ,if the difficult and easy    

ways be known1  the horses are          
lightened2 if the horses be fed at      
proper intervals1  the chariots are     
swift2 if there be plenty of oil on the 
axles of the  chariots1 the riders are  
quickly conveyed2 if the spears be sharp
 and  the armour strong1 the men make   
the fight easy4    ,large rewards in    
advance1 heavy punishment in retreat1   
and impartiality  in their bestowal are 
required4    ,he who well understands   
these things is the master of victory4  
,and ,lord ,wen asked and said3--    ,by
 what means can the army gain the       
victory8    ,and ,wu answered3--    ,the
 foundation of victory is good          
government4    ,again1 ,wen asked and   
said3--    ,is it not determined by     
numbers8    ,and ,wu replied3--    ,if  
laws and orders be not clear2 if rewards
 and punishments be not  just2 if the   
bell be sounded and they halt not1 or   
drum be beaten and  men do not advance2 
even if there be a hundred thousand men 
at arms1  they are of no avail4         

,where there is order1 then there is    
propriety at rest1 and dignity in       
motion2 none can withstand the attack1  
and retreat forbids pursuit2  motion is 
regulated1 and movements to right and   
left are made in answer  to the signal2 
if the ranks be cut asunder1 formation  
is preserved2  if scattered1 they are   
maintained2 in fortune or in danger1    
there is  unity2 if a number be         
collected1 they cannot be separated2    
they may be  used but not wearied2 in   
whatever situation they are placed1     
nothing  under heaven can withstand     
them4 ,the army may be called a father  
and  his children4    ,and ,wu said3--  
,in marching1 movements and halts must  
be properly adjusted1 suitable          
occasions for rationing not missed2 the 
strength of men and horses  not         
exhausted4 ,if these three things be    
observed1 the commands of  the superior 
can be carried out2 if the commands of  
the superior be  carried out1 order is  
maintained4 ,if advances and halts be   

without  method1 victualling unsuitable1
 horses and men tired and weary--neither
  unsaddled or housed--it is because the
 orders cannot be obeyed2  if the orders
 be set aside1 there is disorder in the 
camp1 and in  battle--defeat4    ,wu the
 ,master said3--    ,on that depository 
of corpses1 the battlefield1 if there be
 certain  expectation of death1 there is
 life2 if there be happy expectation of 
life1 there is death4 ,the good general 
is like unto one sitting in  a leaking  
ship1 or lying under a burning roof2 the
 wisest man cannot  contrive against    
him2 the strongest man cannot destroy   
his composure2  and the enemy's         
onslaught can be withstood4 ,for        
procrastination is  the greatest enemy  
of the general2 disasters to the army   
are born of  indecision4    ,wu the     
,master said3--    ,men meet their death
 from lack of ability or unskilfulness4 
,wherefore  training is the first       
requirement of war4 ,one man with a     
knowledge of  war can teach ten2 ten men

 skilled in war can teach one hundred2  
one  hundred can teach one thousand2 one
 thousand can teach ten thousand2  and  
ten thousand men can train an army4     
,an enemy from a distance should be     
awaited1 and struck at short range2  an 
enemy that is tired should be met in    
good order2 hunger should  be opposed by
 full bellies2 the battle formation     
should be round or  square1 the men     
should kneel or stand2 go or remain2    
move to the right  or left2 advance or  
retire2 concentrate or disperse2 close  
or extend  when the signal is given4    
,all these changes must be learnt1 and  
the weapons distributed4 ,this is  the  
business of the general4    ,wu the     
,master said3--    ,in the teaching of  
war1 spears are given to the short2 bows
 and  catapults to the tall2 banners and
 standards to the strong2 the  bell and 
drum to the bold2 fodder and provisions 
to the feeble2 the  arrangement of the  
plan to the wise4 ,men of the same      
district should  be united2 and groups  

and squads should help each other4 ,at  
one beat  of the drum the ranks are put 
in order2 at two beats of the drum1     
formation will be made2 at three beats  
of the drum1 food will be  issued2 at   
four beats of the drum1 the men will    
prepare to march2 at  five beats of the 
drum1 ranks will be formed2 when the    
drums beat  together1 then the standards
 will be raised4    ,and ,lord ,wen     
asked and said3--    ,what is the way of
 marching and halting an army8    ,and  
,wu answered3--    ,natural ovens and   
dragons' heads should be avoided4       
,natural ovens are  the mouths of large 
valleys4 ,dragons' heads are the        
extremities of  large mountains4 ,the   
green dragons 7banners7 should be placed
 on the  left1 and the white tigers on  
the right2 the red sparrows in front2   
the  snakes and tortoises behind2 the   
pole star 7standard7 above2 and the     
soldiers will look to the standard4     
,when going forth to battle1 the        
direction of the wind must be  studied2 

if blowing in the direction of the      
enemy1 the soldiers will  be assembled  
and follow the wind2 if a head wind1 the
 position will be  strengthened1 and a  
wait made for the wind to change4       
,and ,lord ,wen asked and said3--    ,in
 what way should horses be treated8     
,and ,wu answered and said3--    ,the   
places where they are kept should be    
made comfortable2 fodder  should be     
suitable and timely4 ,in winter their   
stables should be  warmed1 and in summer
 sheltered from the heat2 their coats   
clipped1  their feet carefully pared1   
their attention directed so that they   
be not alarmed1 their paces regulated1  
and their going and halting  trained2   
horses and men should be in accord1 and 
then the horses can be  used4 ,the      
harness1 the saddle1 bit1 bridle1 and   
reins must be strong2  if the horse be  
without vice at the beginning1 he can be
 used to the  end2 if the horse be      
hungry it is good2 if his belly be full1
 his value  decreases2 if the sun be    

falling and the way still long1 dismount
  frequently4 ,for it is proper that the
 men be worked1 but the horses  must be 
used with discretion1 so that they may  
be prepared should the  enemy suddenly  
attack us4    ,if these things be well  
known1 then there is free passage under 
heaven4          ,,iv    ,,qualities    
,,of ,,the ,,general      ,wu the       
,master said3--    ,the leader of the   
army is one who is master of both arms  
and letters4  ,he who is both brave and 
tender can be entrusted with troops4    
,in the popular estimation of generals1 
courage alone is regarded2              
nevertheless1 courage is but one of the 
qualifications of the leader4  ,courage 
is heedless in encounter2 and rash      
encounter1 which is ignorant  of the    
consequences1 cannot be called good4    
,there are five matters which leaders   
must carefully consider4    ,first1     
reason2 second1 preparation2 third1     
determination2 fourth1  vigilance2      
fifth1 simplicity4    ,with reason1 a   

multitude can be controlled like a small
 number4    ,preparedness sees an enemy 
outside the gate4    ,determination     
before the enemy has no thought of life4
    ,even after a victory1 vigilance    
behaves as before the first encounter4  
,simplicity ensures few regulations1 and
 preserves order4    ,when the leader   
receives his orders1 he forthwith       
departs4 ,not until  the enemy has been 
vanquished does he speak of return4     
,this is the duty  of the general4      
,wherefore1 from the day of departure of
 the army1 the general seeks  glory in  
death1 and dreams not of return in      
dishonour4    ,wu the ,master said3--   
,in war there are four important        
influences4    ,first1 spirit2 second1  
ground2 third1 opportunity2 fourth1     
force4    ,the military value of the    
nation's forces--of one hundred times   
ten  thousand fighting men--depends upon
 the personality of one man alone2  this
 is called the influence of spirit4     
,when the road is steep and narrow1 when

 there are famous mountains and         
fastnesses where ten men can defend and 
one thousand cannot pass them  by2 such 
is the influence of ground4    ,when    
spies have been skilfully sown1 and     
mounted men pass to and from  the       
enemy's camp1 so that his masses are    
divided1 his sovereign and  ministers   
vexed with each other1 and superiors and
 inferiors mutually  censorious2 this is
 the moment of opportunity4    ,when the
 linch-pins are secure1 the oars and    
sweeps ready for use in  the boats1 the 
armed men trained for war1 and the      
horses exercised1 we  have what is      
called the influence of force4    ,he   
who understands these four matters has  
the qualifications of a  general4       
,furthermore1 dignity1 virtue1          
benevolence1 courage1 are needed  to    
lead the troops1 to calm the multitude1 
to put fear in the enemy1  to remove    
doubts4 ,when orders are issued1 the    
subordinates do not defy  them4         
,wheresoever the army is1 that place the

 enemy avoids4 ,if these  four virtues  
be present1 the country is strong2 if   
they be not present1  the country is    
overthrown4    ,of such is the good     
general4    ,wu the ,master said3--     
,the use of drums and bells is to       
attract the ear2 of flags1 standards1   
and banners to strike the eye2 of laws  
and penalties to put fear in the  heart4
    ,to attract the ear the sound must  
be clear2 to strike the eye the  colours
 must be bright4 ,the heart is awed by  
punishment1 therefore  punishment must  
be strict4    ,if these three matters be
 not ordered1 the state may1            
peradventure1  be preserved1 but defeat 
by the enemy is certain4 ,therefore1 as 
it has  been said 7if these three things
 be present71 there is no departing     
from the commands of the general2 when  
he orders1 there is no going  back from 
death4    ,wu the ,master said3--       
,the secret of war is1 first1 to know   
who is the enemy's general1 and  to     
judge his ability4 ,if our plans depend 

on his dispositions1 then  success will 
be achieved without toil4    ,if their  
general be stupid1 and heedlessly       
trustful1 he may be enticed  by fraud2  
if he be avaricious and careless of his 
fame1 he may be  bribed with gifts4 ,if 
he make unconsidered movements without  
plan1 he  should be tired out and placed
 in difficulties4 ,if the superiors be  
wealthy and proud1 and the inferiors    
avaricious and resentful1 they  should  
be set against each other4 ,an enemy    
that is undetermined1 now  advancing and
 then retreating1 whose soldiers have   
nought wherein to  put their trust1     
should be alarmed1 and put to flight4   
,when an enemy thinks lightly of the    
general1 and desires to return  home1   
the easy roads should be blocked1 and   
the difficult and narrow  roads opened2 
await their coming and capture them4    
,if their advance be easy and retreat   
difficult1 await their coming and  then 
advance against them4    ,if their      
advance be difficult and retreat easy1  

then press and strike  them4    ,an army
 that is camped in marshy ground1 where 
there are no  water-courses1 and long   
and frequent rains1 should be inundated4
    ,an army that is camped in wild     
marshes1 covered with dark and          
overhanging grass and brambles1 and     
swept by frequent high winds1  should be
 overthrown by fire4    ,an army that   
has halted long without moving2 whose   
general and  soldiers have grown        
careless1 and neglect precautions1      
should be  approached by stealth1 and   
taken by surprise4    ,lord ,wen asked1 
saying3--    ,if the two armies be      
facing each other1 and the name of the  
enemy's  general unknown1 in what manner
 can we discover it8    ,and ,wu        
answered and said3--    ,a brave man of 
low degree1 lightly but well equipped1  
should be  employed4 ,he should think   
only of flight and naught of advantage4 
,then1  if he observe the enemy's       
pursuit1 if there be first a halt and   
then  an advance1 order is established4 

,if we retreat and the enemy pursue1    
but pretend not to be able to overtake  
us1 see an advantage but pretend  not to
 be aware of it1 then their general may 
be called a wise general1  and conflict 
with him must be avoided4 ,if their army
 be full of uproar2  their banners and  
standards disordered1 their soldiers    
going about  or remaining of their own  
accord1 some in line1 others in column2 
if  such an enemy be eager to pursue1   
and see an advantage which they are     
desperate to seize1 then their general  
is a fool3 even if there be a  host1    
they may be taken4          ,v          
,,suiting ,,the ,,occasion      ,lord   
,wen asked and said3--    ,if strong    
chariots1 good horses1 strong and       
valiant soldiers suddenly  meet the     
enemy1 and are thrown into confusion1   
and ranks broken1 what  should be done8 
,and ,wu answered and said3--    ,in    
general1 the method of fighting is to   
effect order in daylight by  means of   
flags and banners1 pennons and batons2  

at night by gongs and  drums1 whistles  
and flutes4 ,if a signal be made to the 
left1 the troops  move to the left2 if  
to the right1 they move to the right4   
,advance is  made at the sound of the   
drum2 halt at the sound of the gong2 one
 blast  of the whistle is for advance1  
two for the rally4 ,if those who disobey
  be cut down1 the forces are subject to
 authority4 ,if officers and  soldiers  
carry out orders1 a superior enemy      
cannot exist2 no position  is           
impregnable in the attack4    ,lord ,wen
 asked and said3--    ,what is to be    
done if the enemy be many and we be few8
    ,and ,wu answered and said3--       
,avoid such an enemy on open ground1 and
 meet him in the narrow way2  for1 as it
 is written1 if #a is to stand against  
#a1jjj1 there is naught  better than a  
pass2 if #aj are to hold against #ajj1  
there is nothing  better than a steep   
place2 if #a1jjj are to strike #aj1jjj1 
there is  nothing better than a         
difficult place4 ,if a small force1 with

 beat  of gong and drum1 suddenly arise 
in a narrow way1 even a host will  be   
upset4 ,wherefore it is written3 ',he   
who has a multitude seeks the  plain1   
and he who has few seeks the narrow     
way4'    ,and ,lord ,wen asked and      
said3--    ,a mighty host1 strong and   
courageous1 which is on the defence with
 a  mountain behind1 a precipice        
between1 high ground on the right1 and  
a river on the left1 with deep moats1   
and high walls1 and which has           
artillery2 whose retreat is like the    
removal of a mountain1 advance  like the
 hurricane1 and whose supplies are in   
abundance1 is an enemy  against whom    
long defence is difficult4 ,in effect1  
what should be done  in such a case8    
,and ,wu answered and said3--    ,this  
indeed is a great question1 whose issue 
depends1 not upon the  might of chariot 
and horse1 but upon the schemes of a    
wise man4    ,let #a1jjj chariots and   
#aj1jjj horse1 well equipped and with   
foot-men  added to them1 be divided into

 five armies1 and a road allotted to    
each  army4    ,then if there be five   
armies1 and each army take a different  
road1 the  enemy will be puzzled1 and   
know not in what quarter to be prepared4
 ,if  the enemy's defence be strong and 
united1 send envoys quickly to him  to  
discover his intention4 ,if he listen to
 our advices1 he will strike  camp and  
withdraw4 ,but1 if he listen not to our 
advice1 but strikes  down the messenger1
 and burns his papers1 then divide and  
attack  from five quarters4 ,if         
victorious1 do not pursue2 if defeated1 
flee  to a distance4 ,if feigning       
retreat1 proceed slowly1 and1 if the    
enemy  approach1 strike swiftly4    ,one
 army will hold the enemy in front1 with
 another cut his rear1  two more with   
gags in their mouths#ba will attack his 
weak point1  whether on the right or on 
the left4 ,if five armies thus make     
alternate  onslaughts1 success is       
certain4    ,this is the way to strike  
strength4    ,and ,lord ,wen asked and  

said3--    ,if the enemy draw near and  
encompass us1 and we would retreat1 but 
there is no way1 and in our multitude   
there is fear1 what should be  done8    
,and ,wu answered and said3--    ,in    
such a case1 if we be many and they be  
few1 divide and fall upon  them2 if the 
enemy be many and we be few1 use        
stratagem and act  according to         
opportunity2 and if opportunities be    
untiringly seized1  even if the enemy be
 many1 he will be reduced to subjection4
    ,lord ,wen asked and said3--    ,if1
 in a narrow valley with steep places on
 either side1 the enemy be  met1 and    
they are many and we are few1 what      
should be done8    ,and ,wu answered and
 said3--    ,if they be met among hills1
 woods1 in deep mountains1 or wide fens1
  advance quickly1 retire swiftly1 and  
hesitate not4 ,if the enemy be  suddenly
 met among high mountains or deep       
valleys1 be the first to  strike the    
drum and fall upon them4 ,let bow and   
cross bow advance2  shoot and capture2  

observe the state of their ranks2 and1  
if there be  confusion1 do not hesitate 
to strike4    ,lord ,wen asked and      
said3--    ,if the enemy be suddenly met
 in a narrow place with high mountains  
on  either side1 and advance and retreat
 are alike impossible1 what should  be  
done in such a case8    ,and ,wu        
answered and said3--    ,this is called 
,war in valleys where numbers are of no 
avail4 ,the  ablest officers should be  
collected1 and set against the enemy4   
,men  light of foot and well armed      
should be placed in front2 the chariots 
divided2 the horsemen drawn up1 and     
placed in ambush on four sides1  with   
many leagues between1 and without       
showing their weapons4 ,then1  the enemy
 will certainly make his defence firm1  
and neither advance  or retreat4        
,whereupon1 the standards will be       
raised1 and the ranks of  banners shown1
 the mountains left1 and camp pitched in
 the plain4    ,the enemy will then be  
fearful1 and should be challenged by    

chariot  and horse1 and allowed no rest4
    ,this is the method of fighting in  
valleys4    ,and ,lord ,wen asked and   
said3--    ,if the enemy be met in a    
marsh where the water is out1 so that   
the  wheels of the chariots sink in1 and
 the shafts be covered1 and the         
chariots and horsemen overcome by the   
waters1 when there are no boats  or     
oars1 and it is impossible either to    
advance or retreat1 what should  be done
 in such a case8    ,and ,wu answered   
and said3--    ,this is called water    
fighting4 ,chariots and horsemen cannot 
be used1  and they must be put for a    
time on one side4 ,go up to the top of a
 high  place1 and look out to the four  
quarters4 ,then the state of the waters 
will certainly be seen2 their extent1   
and the deep places and shallows  fully 
ascertained4 ,then1 by stratagem1 the   
enemy may be defeated4    ,if the enemy 
should cross the waters he should be    
engaged when half  over4    ,and ,lord  
,wen asked and said3--    ,if there has 

been long continued rain so that the    
horses sink1 and the  chariots cannot   
move2 if the enemy appear from four     
quarters1 and the  forces are           
frightened1 what is the course in such a
 case8    ,and ,wu answered and said3-- 
,when wet and overcast1 the chariots    
should halt2 when fine and dry1  they   
should arise4 ,seek height1 and avoid   
low places2 drive the strong  chariots1 
and choose well the road on which to    
advance or halt4 ,if the  enemy suddenly
 arise1 immediately pursue them4        
,lord ,wen asked and said3--    ,if our 
fields and pastures be suddenly         
pillaged1 and our oxen and  sheep taken1
 what should be done8    ,and ,wu       
answered and said3--    ,lawless enemies
 that arise are to be feared2 defend    
well and do not  reply4 ,when1 at       
sunset1 they seek to withdraw1 they will
 certainly  be overladen and fearful4   
,striving to return quickly to their    
homes1  connection will be lost4 ,then  
if they be pursued and attacked1 they   

can  be overthrown4    ,wu the ,master  
said3--    ,the way of attacking the    
enemy and investing his castle is as    
follows3--    ,when the outlying        
buildings have been taken1 and the      
assaulting  parties enter the innermost 
sanctuary1 make use of the enemy's      
officials1 and take charge of their     
weapons4 ,let the army on no account    
fell trees or enter dwellings1 cut the  
crops1 slay the six domestic  animals1  
or burn the barns2 and show the people  
that there is no cruel  desire4 ,those  
who wish to surrender1 should be        
received and freed from  anxiety4       
,,vi    ,,encouragement ,,of ,,the      
,,troops      ,and ,lord ,wen asked and 
said3--    ,if punishment be just and   
reward impartial1 is victory thereby    
gained8    ,and ,wu answered and said3--
    ,i cannot speak of all the things   
that concern justice and impartiality1  
but on these alone dependence cannot be 
placed4    ,if the people hear the word 
of command1 or listen to the order with 

rejoicing2 if1 when the army be raised1 
and a multitude assembled1 they  go     
forth gladly to the fight2 if1 in the   
tumult of the fight1 when  blade crosses
 blade1 the soldiers gladly die2 upon   
these three things  can the lord of the 
people place his trust4    ,and ,lord   
,wen said3--    ,how can this be brought
 about8    ,and ,wu answered and said3--
    ,seek out merit1 advance and reward 
it1 and encourage those without  fame4  
,accordingly ,lord ,wen set seats in the
 garden of the palace in three  rows1   
and made a feast unto his chief         
retainers4 ,in the first row were  set  
those of chief merit1 and on the table  
were placed the best meats  and precious
 utensils4 ,those of medium merit were  
set in the middle  row1 and the utensils
 on the table were fewer in number4     
,those without  merit were set in the   
last row1 and utensils of no value were 
put  before them4 ,and when the feast   
was over1 and they had all departed1    
the parents1 wives1 and children of     

those with merit were given  presents   
outside the gates of the palace         
according to their degree4    ,further1 
messengers were sent yearly with gifts  
to condole with the  parents of those   
who had lost a son in the service of the
 state1 and to  show that they were had 
in remembrance4    ,and after this was  
carried out for three years1 the people 
of ,chin  gathered an army1 and came as 
far as the ,western ,river4 ,and when   
the  soldiers of ,wei heard this1       
without waiting for orders1 they armed  
themselves and fell upon them2 and they 
that went forth were #aj1jjj in  number4
    ,and ,lord ,wen called ,wu and      
said3--    ,the words that you spoke    
unto me1 have they not indeed been      
carried  out8    ,and ,wu answered and  
said3--    ,i have heard that there are 
men1 great and small2 souls1 grand and  
feeble4    ,as a trial1 let #ej1jjj men1
 without merit1 be collected1 and placed
  under my command against the country  
of ,chin4 ,if we fail1 the state  will  

be the laughing-stock among the princes1
 and its power under  heaven will be    
lost4 ,if a desperate robber be hidden  
in a wide plain1  and #a1jjj men be     
pursuing him1 their glances will be     
furtive like the  owl1 looking backward 
like the wolf1 for they are in fear of  
harm from  a sudden onslaught4    ,one  
desperate man can put fear in the hearts
 of a thousand4 ,now1  if this host of  
#ej1jjj men become as a desperate thief1
 and are led  against ,chin1 there is   
nought to fear4    ,on hearing these    
words ,lord ,wen agreed1 and adding     
further #ejj chariots  and #c1jjj horse1
 the hosts of ,chin were overthrown1 all
 being due to  the encouragement of the 
troops4    ,on the day before the battle
 ,wu gave orders to the forces1         
saying3--    ,the army will attack the  
enemy's chariots1 horse and foot1 in    
accordance with our commands4 ,if the   
chariots do not capture the  enemy's    
chariots1 or the horse those of the     
enemy's1 or the foot the  enemy's       

footmen1 even if their army be          
overthrown1 no merit will be  gained4   
,therefore on the day of the battle1 the
 orders were simple1 and fear of  ,wei  
shook the heavens4          ,,index     
,a     ,abnormal manoeuvres1 #ca1 #cb   
,advance1 followed by retirement1 a     
lure1 #ea     ,advantages1 the five1 #de
     ,ally1 war to be avoided1 if enemy 
has powerful1 #ia     ,altar1 ,wu made  
general before1 #gg2     difficult      
matters to be laid before1 #gh          
,ambition1 one of five causes of war1   
#hj     ,ambush1 likely places for enemy
 to be in1 #di     ,ammunition1 lack of1
 may cause disaster1 #da     ,anger of  
officers1 cause of1 #ea2     not a fit  
reason for battle1 #fi     ,animals1 the
 six domestic1 to be preserved by       
besiegers1 #aae     ,apologies1 what    
implied1 by general who offers1 #eb     
,archers1 employment of1 in sieges1 #be1
 note     ,armies1 five1 alternate      
onslaughts by1 #aaa     ,armistice1 what
 betokened by sudden desire for1 #ea    

,armour1 cost of upkeep of1 #ba2     and
 of renewing1 #bb2     condition of1 an 
influence in battle1 #id     ,arms1     
profession of1 not highly regarded in   
,china1 #i2     the five1 #hh1 note     
,army1 control of the1 #ic-ajj2         
orderly1 likened to father and children1
 #if     ,articles of ,suntzu1 #ag-gd   
,assault1 by stratagem1 #be     ,attack1
 proportionate number required for1 #bf2
     on undefended positions1 #ce2      
place of1 to be kept secret1 #cg2       
five ways of1 by fire1 #fg-fh2     eight
 cases of1 #hi2     reckless1 #ib       
,b     ,banners1 use of1 to inspirit    
troops1 #i2     used1 in day fighting1  
#dc2     enemy's lines not to be        
attacked where waving1 #dc-dd2          
changing of1 #ea2     to be entrusted to
 strong men1 #ih2     ,wutzu on         
attraction of1 #ajd1 #ajh     ,barrack  
burning1 #fg     ,batons1 in day        
fighting1 #ajh     ,battle1 the ,order  
of1 #bh-cj     ,beacons1 in night       
fighting1 #dc     ,beasts1 startled1    

indicate stealthy approach1 #ej         
,bell1 use of1 in war1 #ca2     a signal
 to halt1 #ca1 note2     ,wutzu on1 #ie2
     to be entrusted to the bold1 #ih2  
use of1 attracts ear1 #ajd              
,benevolence1 quality needed by general1
 #ajc     ,birds1 rising of1 indicates  
ambush1 #ej2     clustering of1 round   
position1 shows it unoccupied1 #ea      
,bluster in ,general1 #eb     ,bogs1    
movement of troops regarding1 #di       
,booty1 exhaustion betrayed by disregard
 of1 #ea     ,bows1 weapons for tall    
men1 #ih     ,broken ground1 #ed        
,burning barrack1 commissariat1         
equipment1 store1 and company1 #fg-fh   
,c     ,calamities1 six1 among troops1  
#ee     ,camp1 safe position for1 #dg2  
skilful changes of1 #fc     ,castle1    
,wutzu's counsel for investing1 #aae    
,catapults1 weapons for tall men1 #ih   
,causes of war1 #hj                     
,cautiousness-over1 one of five         
dangerous faults for general1 #df       
,chang ,mt41 illustration of snakes of1 

#fb     ,changes1 the ,nine1 #dd-df     
,chariots1 number of1 required1 #bj-ba2 
cost of renewing1 #bb2     rewards for  
taking from enemy1 #bc2     advance of  
light1 #ej2     great size of1 #gf2     
axles of1 to be well oiled1 #id         
,cheng1 ,lord ,tang1 of1 #gi            
,chengsang1 ,prince1 #gf     ,chi1      
estimation of forces of1 #he2     nature
 of1 #hf     ,chieh1 ,lord1 #gi         
,chin1 nature of1 #hf2                  
unsuccessfully opposes ,wei1 #aag-aah   
,chins1 the three1 #hg-hh     ,china1   
profession of arms not highly regarded  
in1 #i2     large rivers of1 affect     
military operations1 #ab     ,chinese1  
greatly affected by climate1 #i         
,chinese literature1 place of ,suntzu   
and ,wutzu in1 #g     ,chinese wars1    
patriotism not a factor in1 #h          
,chou1 ,wu1 of1 #gi     ,chu1 courage   
of1 #fb2     foundation of state of1    
#gd2     want of endurance of army of1  
#he     ,chuang1 of ,chu1 holds         
consultation1 #hd     ,chuyin1 use of1  

in sieges1 #be1 and note                
,circumspection1 circumstances          
requiring1 #eb     ,cohesion of troops1 
in interior of hostile country1 #fd     
,colours must be bright1 in war1 #ajd   
,commander1 professional1 in ,china1 #i 
,commissariat burning1 #fg              
,confidence1 importance of1 in          
operations1 #id     ,contention1 ground 
of1 #eh     ,continuity of military     
principles illustrated1 #ab     ,control
 of army1 #ic-ajj     ,converted spies1 
#ga     ,cooking pots may betray end of 
resources1 #ea-eb     ,cost of war1 #ba2
     of supplying army at distance1 #bb 
,courage1 universal1 dependent on good  
management1 #fc2     not the only       
attribute necessary to general1 #aja2   
but nevertheless essential1 #ajc        
,cowardly1 place of the1 in action1 #dc 
,d     ,daylight fighting1 use of flags1
 banners1 pennons1 and batons in1 #ajh  
,death1 when only alternative1 ensures  
exertion1 #fa     ,death ground1 #eh2   
fighting on1 #fj2     soldiers must     

recognise conditions of1 #fd     ,death 
spies1 #ga1 #gb     ,declaration of war1
 action following1 #ff     ,decoration  
for skill in five arms1 #hh     ,defeat1
 internal causes of1 #bh2     skilful   
soldiers make impossible1 #bh2     army 
destined to1 trusts in chance1 #cj2     
causes of1 #ee-ef     ,defence1 long1   
difficulties in1 #aaj     ,defensive    
warfare1 when victory unattainable1 #bh2
     skill in1 #bh-bi     ,deficiency1  
defence compelled by1 #bh     ,despair1 
energy born of1 wins victory1 #ae       
,desperate enemy not to be pressed1 #dd 
,determination1 one of five important   
matters for general1 #aja1 #ajb         
,dignity1 essential for general1 #ajc   
,discipline1 one of seven important     
matters in war1 #ah2     perfection of1 
leads to simulation1 #cc     ,discussion
 of omens1 forbidden1 #fa     ,disorder1
 a cause of defeat1 #if     ,disputed   
ground1 action regarding1 #fd           
,distracting ground1 action regarding1  
#fd     ,disturbing ground1 action      

regarding1 #fd     ,dragons1 green      
7banners71 #ii     ,dragons' heads      
7mountain extremities71 #ii     ,drum1  
use of1 #ca2     in night fighting1 #dc2
     sounds for advance1 #ie2           
meaning of different beats of1 #ih2     
to be entrusted to the bold1 #ih2       
,wutzu on the1 #ajd1 #ajh     ,dust1    
spurts1 masses1 columns and clouds of1  
meaning of1 #ej       ,e     ,ear1 to be
 attracted in war1 #ajd     ,earth1 one 
of five indispensable matters in war1   
#ag1 #ah2     the ninth1 #bi1 and note  
,elements1 five1 #ci1 and note          
,emptiness and strength1 #cd-ci         
,enclosed ground1 #eh2     stratagem to 
be used on1 #fj2     action regarding1  
#fd     ,enemies1 six to be avoided1    
#ij-ia     ,equipment1 umbrella part of 
,chinese soldier's1 #i     ,estimation  
of enemy1 #ef2     ,wutzu on1 #he-ic    
,exhaustion1 result of lateness in      
field1 #cd2     avoided by good tactics1
 #ce2     shown by disregard of booty1  
#ea     ,expectation of life or death1  

#if     ,eye1 to be struck in war1 #ajd 
,f     ,famine1 a cause of war1 #hj     
,faults1 five1 dangerous for generals1  
#df     ,feast1 given by ,wen to guests 
with high1 medium1 and deficient merit1 
#aag     ,feints1 use of1 #cf1 #ch      
,fens1 advance in wide1 #aab            
,fighting races1 consequences of        
victories by1 #hj     ,fire1 five modes 
of assault by1 #fg-fh2     attack on    
enemy in overgrown marsh land by1 #ajf  
,flag1 use of1 in war1 #ca2     in day  
fighting1 #dc2     change of1 #ea2      
,wutzu on use of1 #ajd     ,flanking 7or
 reserve7 force1 #ab     ,flat country1 
disposal of troops in1 #dh     ,flutes1 
,wutzu on use of1 #ajh     ,fodder1     
charge of1 given to the feeble1 #ih     
,food1 taken from enemy1 #bb2           
obtained by skilful general1 #bc2       
killing of horses for1 #ea2     attack  
on enemy without1 #ij2     charge of1   
given to the feeble1 #ih     ,force1 one
 of four important influences in war1   
#ajb1 #ajc     ,foreign lands1 war in1  

#fj     ,formation-battle1 #ig          
,frontal attack1 #aa       ,g           
,general1 interference with1            
ill-advised1 #aj2     ability of1 one of
 seven important matters1 #ah2          
skilful1 is steadfast in ,way and ,law1 
#cj2     as ,god of ,war changes        
tactics1 #ci2     must know the ,nine   
,changes1 #de2     five faults dangerous
 for1 #df2     what implied by exceeding
 graciousness of1 #eb2     blustering   
and obsequious1 #eb2     strange to     
troops1 #eb2     weak and amiable1 #ee2 
calamities due to defects in1 #ee2      
unable to estimate enemy1 #ef2          
anxious for people's welfare1 #ef2      
must be calm1 inscrutable1 just1 and    
prudent1 #fc2     conceals plans1 #fc2  
must have topographical knowledge and   
use guides1 #fe2     bestows rewards    
discreetly1 #ff2     is not actuated by 
anger1 #fi2     should be in accord with
 soldiers1 #ic2     must not            
procrastinate1 #ig2     ,wutzu on       
qualities of1 #aja-ajg2     five matters

 important for1 #aja2     of the enemy  
to be appraised1 #ajd2     action in    
accordance with judgment of enemy's1    
#aje2     how to judge enemy's1 #ajf-ajg
     ,gongs1 use of1 in war1 #ajh       
,government of a country1 #gg-hd2       
object of1 #gi2     good1 foundation of 
victory1 #ie     ,ground1 influence of1 
in war1 #ab2     marshy1 to be avoided  
for camp1 #dd2     action in mountainous
 and wooded1 #de2     disposal of troops
 on high1 marshy1 flat1 sunny1 steep1   
boggy1       and tangled1 #dg-di2       
object of enemy encamped on open1 #di2  
,suntzu on1 #ec-fg2     open1 #ec-ed2   
broken1 #ed2     suspended1 #ed2        
defiles in1 #ed2     precipitous1 #ed2  
the handmaid of victory1 #ef2           
results from good use of1 #fc2     one  
of four important influences in war1    
#ajb1 #ajc2     inundation of enemy on  
marshy1 #ajf     ,grounds1 the ,nine1   
#eh-fg2     action with regard to1 #fd2 
knowledge of1 necessary to general1 #fe 
,guests1 entertainment of1 costly in    

war1 #ba     ,guides1 employment of1    
necessary1 #db1 #fe       ,h            
,halberd1 one of the five arms1 #hh1    
note     ,halberds1 great length of1    
#ge-gf     ,harness1 must be strong in  
all details1 #ajj     ,health of troops1
 consideration for1 #dh     ,heat1      
attack on enemy who has endured1 #hi    
,heaven1 one of five indispensable      
matters in war1 #ag1 #ah     ,heaven1   
the ,ninth1 #bi1 note     ,highways1    
when not to interrupt1 #ei     ,horses1 
killed for food1 #ea2     care for1 #id2
     treatment of1 #ii-ajj     ,hsia1   
#gc     ,hsihe1 defence of1 #gg         
,huangti1 cause of victory by1 #dh      
,humane treatment ensures obedience1 #ec
     ,hunger1 how shown1 by use of      
weapons1 #ea2     how to meet1 in case  
of enemy1 #ig       ,i     ,ichih1 #gc  
,ignorance1 three ways of1 embarrassing 
to armies1 #bf2     of enemy causes     
defeat1 #bg     ,impartiality1 ,wutzu   
on1 #aaf     ,impetuosity1 blind1       
dangerous fault in general1 #df         

,indispensable matters1 five1 ,suntzu   
on1 #ag     ,indulgence1 ill effects of1
 #eg     ,influences1 four important1 in
 war1 #ajb     ,initiative1 disadvantage
 of1 on suspended ground1 #ed     ,inner
 spies1 #ga     ,internal disorder1 a   
cause of war1 #hj     ,intersecting     
ground1 #eh2     action on1 #fd         
,inundation of enemy1 on marshy ground1 
#ajf     ,invincible1 how ancient       
masters made armies1 #bh     ,involved  
ground1 #eh1 #ei2     action regarding1 
#ei1 #fd       ,j     ,japan1 ,sun and  
,wu revered in1 #ad     ,japanese       
tactics1 unlike ,chinese1 #aj2          
commentators on ,chinese literature1 #ad
     ,javelin1 one of the five arms1    
#hh1 note     ,justice1 importance of1  
in rewards and punishment1 #ah2         
,wutzu on1 #aaf       ,k     ,kingdom1  
the ,middle1 #hg-hh     ,kuei1 courage  
of1 #fb       ,l     ,lateness in field1
 cause of exhaustion1 #cd     ,law1 the1
 one of five indispensable matters in   
war1 #ag2     includes partition and    

ordering of troops1 #ah2     for        
defeating a country1 or taking it1      
without strife1 #bd2     touching the   
rule1 measure1 tables1 and scales1 and  
the foretelling       of victory1 #cj   
,leader1 one of five indispensable      
matters in war1 #ag4     7,see ,general7
     ,letters1 general should be master 
of1 #aja     ,light esteem of enemy1    
result of1 #eb     ,lightness1          
importance of1 in operations1 #ic2      
four natures of1 #ic-id     ,literature1
 ,chinese1 place of ,suntzu and ,wutzu  
in1 #g2     ,japanese commentators on1  
#ad2     thought compressed in1 #ad     
,living spies1 #ga1 #gb     ,lu1 number 
of men in1 #bd1 note     ,luya1 #gd     
,m     ,manoeuvre1 battle avoided by1   
#aa2     normal and abnormal1 #ca1 #cb2 
master in art of1 #dj     ,march1       
forced1 #da2     should be calm1 like   
forest1 #db     ,marshes1 unsuitable for
 camp1 #dd2     disposal of troops      
regarding1 #dh2     attack by fire of   
enemy encamped in1 #ajf2     inundation 

of enemy in1 #ajf     ,measure1 the     
second law of war1 #cj     ,meres1      
ambush to be expected in1 #di           
,merit1 recognition of1 by enemy1 #ia2  
to be sought1 advanced1 and rewarded1   
#aaf2     ,lord ,wen discriminates      
between guests with and without1 #aag   
,messengers1 enemy's movements revealed 
by1 #ea     ,midday1 time for spirits of
 troops to flag1 #dc     ,middle        
,kingdom1 the1 #hg-hh     ,might1 war   
of1 #ha     ,modification of military   
plans1 #ai     ,moon1 in quarters       
suitable for attack by fire1 #fg-fh     
,moral of troops1 #h2     use of banners
 to maintain1 #i     ,motion of troops1 
dignified1 #ie     ,mountain warfare1   
disposal of troops in1 #dg              
,mountains1 advance among1 #aab         
,movement of troops1 #dg-ec     ,mu1    
,prince of ,chin1 example of1 #hb       
,mysterious ,thread1 the1 #ga           
,mystery1 supposed to surround art of   
war1 #ad       ,n     ,night1 fighting  
in1 #dc2     voices calling in1 #ea     

,nine ,changes1 the1 #dd-df     ,nine   
,grounds1 the1 #eh-fg2     action with  
regard to1 #fd2     knowledge of1       
necessary to general1 #fe     ,normal   
manoeuvres1 #ca1 #cb     ,numbers1      
proportionate1 needed to attack and to  
divide1 #bf2     subdivision of1 #ca2   
superiority of1 an economy of strength1 
#cg2     no certain mark of strength1   
#eb2     ,prince ,yuhu's trust in1 #gf2 
tactics regarding differences in1 #aji2 
of no avail in war in valleys1 #aab     
,o     ,obedience ensured by humane     
conduct1 #ec2     early training in1 #ec
     ,obsequiousness in general1 #eb    
,officers1 when angered by soldiers1    
#ea2     weak with strong soldiers1 and 
vice versa1 #ee     ,officials1 who have
 care for people1 #ia     ,omens1       
discussion of1 to be forbidden1 #fa     
,open ground1 movement on1 #ec-ed       
,opportunity1 one of four important     
influences in war1 #ajb1 #ajc           
,oracles1 cases for attack1 when        
needless to consult1 #hi     ,order of  

,battle1 the1 #bh-cj     ,order1        
importance of1 #ie     ,outlet1 for     
retiring enemy1 #dd2     from enclosed  
ground1 #ei     ,ovens1 natural 7mouths 
of valleys71 #ii       ,p     ,pass1    
when to meet enemy in1 #aji             
,passages1 narrow1 avoidance of1 #di    
,path-ridden ground1 #eh-ei             
,patriotism1 not a factor in ,chinese   
wars1 #h     ,penalties1 ,wutzu on1 #ajd
     ,pennons1 ,wutzu on use of1 #ajh   
,pestilence1 attack on enemy who        
endures1 #ij     ,pike1 one of five     
arms1 #hh1 note     ,pillage by enemy1  
,wutzu on1 #aae     ,plan of campaign1  
modifications in1 #ai     ,pole star    
7standard71 #ii     ,population1 told by
 tables of laws of war1 #cj2            
division of1 into military groups1 #gj1 
note2     cases of enemy's large1 #ij   
,precipitous ground1 occupation of1 #ed 
,preparation1 one of five important     
matters for general1 #aja-ajb           
,pretence1 war a thing of1 #ai          
,procedure1 military1 #dj               

,procrastination1 evil of1 in war1 #ig  
,profit1 a cause of war1 #hj            
,punishment1 frequent1 what betokened   
by1 #eb2     when ordered by strange    
general1 #eb       ,q     ,qualities1 of
 the general1 #aja-ajg       ,r         
,rank1 for those skilful in five arms1  
#hh     ,reason1 one of five important  
matters for general1 #aja               
,regard-over1 for troops1 dangerous     
fault1 #df     ,relaxation of troops1   
#ee     ,repulse1 resulting from        
general's incapacity1 #ee               
,requirements of war1 #bj-ba            
,reserve 7or flanking7 force1 #ab       
,rest1 propriety in1 #ie     ,rewards1  
justice in according1 #ah2     for those
 who take advantage of enemy1 #bc2      
frequent1 show lack of discipline1 #eb2 
general's freedom in bestowing1 #ff2    
for families of skilful in five arms1   
#hh2     consequence of enemy's wise    
bestowal of1 #ia2     in advance1 #id2  
to be given to merit1 #aaf     ,revenge1
 war of1 #ha     ,riches1 why denied to 

soldiers1 #fa     ,right-hand men1 #gc1 
and note     ,righteous war1 #ha        
,righteousness1 overcome by propriety1  
#ha2     at root of achievement and     
merit1 #gi     ,rivers of ,china affect 
operations1 #ab2     encampment on1     
inundation1 and poisoning of1 #ab2      
not to be crossed when turbulent1 #di2  
observation of drawers from1 #ea        
,roads to avoid1 #de     ,rule1 as to   
survey of land1 #cj2     general above1 
in bestowing rewards1 #ff2     modified 
by circumstances1 #fg       ,s          
,sanctuary1 reckoning in1 before        
fighting1 #bj     ,scales1 in laws of   
war1 #cj     ,secret of war1 ,wutzu on1 
#ajd     ,secret1 ground of approaching 
attack to be kept1 #cg     ,shen1 ,duke1
 #hd     ,shield1 one of five arms1 #hh1
 note     ,siege1 not to be undertaken1 
if avoidable1 #be2     misfortunes      
entailed by1 #be     ,simplicity1 one of
 five important matters for leader1     
#aja1 #ajb     ,simulation1 use of1 #cc 
,situation1 important matter in war1 #ag

     ,snakes 7banners71 #ii             
,soldiers1 training of1 #ah2            
strength of1 #ah     ,sparrows1 red     
7banners71 #ii     ,spears1 weapons for 
short men1 #ih     ,spies1 estimation   
of1 in ,china1 #ac2     ,suntzu on power
 of1 #ac-ad2     on titles and salaries 
to1 #gj2     five kinds of1 #ga2     of 
enemy1 #gc2     skillfully sown1 #ajc   
,spirit of troops1 #ca-cd2     compared 
to torrent1 #cc2     good fighter seeks 
victory from1 #cd2     keen in morning1 
#dc2     sustained by speed1 #fj2       
influence of1 #ajb     ,stables1 care   
of1 #ii     ,standard of ,takeda        
,shingen1 #db1 note     ,standards to be
 entrusted to strong men1 #ih2          
,wutzu on use of1 #ajd     ,strata1     
,chinese division of earth and sky into 
nine1 #bi1 note     ,stratagem1 the     
attack by1 #bd-bg2     use of1 on       
enclosed ground1 #fj2     importance of1
 in war1 #ag     ,strategy1 secrets of1 
#bj2     how to outwit enemy by1 #bd2   
assault by1 #be2     in offering        

apparent advantage1 #ce2     not to be  
repeated1 if victorious1 #ci     ,steep 
place1 advantage of1 #aji     ,store    
burning1 #fg     ,strength1 first in    
field husbands1 #cd2     economy of1    
#cg2     ways of husbanding1 #dc        
,strong1 place of1 with cowardly1 #dc   
,sun4 7,see ,suntzu47     ,sunny ground1
 #i     ,suntzu1 place of1 in ,chinese  
literature1 #g2     on march of army1   
#i2     on offensive action1 #aj2       
tactics of1 unlike ,japanese1 #aj2      
disinterested comments on war by1       
#ab-ac2     revered in ,japan1 #ad2     
influence of1 in late ,japanese war1    
#ae2     not patriot1 but strategist1   
#ae2     story told of1 #ae-af2         
,articles of1 #ag-gd2     on five       
indispensable matters1 #ag2     on      
operations of war1 #bj-bc2     on attack
 by stratagem1 #bd-bg2     on ,order of 
,battle1 #bh-cj2     on spirit of       
troops1 #ca-cd2     on emptiness and    
strength1 #cd-ci2     on battle tactics1
 #dj-dd2     on the ,nine ,changes1     

#dd-df2     on movement of troops1      
#dg-ec2     on ground1 #ec-eg2     on   
the ,nine ,grounds1 #eh-fg2     on      
assault by fire1 #fg-fi2     on the     
employment of spies1 #gj-gd             
,surprise1 case of enemy taken by1 #ajf 
,survey of land1 #cj     ,suspended     
ground1 #ed     ,swamps1 movements      
regarding1 #di     ,sympathy1 between   
general and soldiers1 #ec2              
consequences of1 #ef-eg       ,t        
,tables of population1 #cj     ,tactics1
 skill in change of1 #ci2     difficulty
 of military1 #dj2     battle1 #dj-dd   
,takeda ,shingen1 words on standard of1 
#db1 note     ,tang1 ,lord1 of ,cheng1  
#gi     ,temper1 quick1 dangerous fault 
in general1 #df     ,tigers1 white      
7banners71 #ii     ,tortoises 7banners71
 #ii     ,training1 one of seven        
important military matters1 #ah2        
,wutzu esteems first requirement in war1
 #ig     ,transport1 loss of1 through   
bad tactics1 #da     ,trees1 movement   
among1 #di-ej     ,truce1 apologies     

betray anxiety for1 #eb     ,tsu1 number
 of men in1 #bd1 note     ,turtle1      
enquiry by1 #gh1 and note     ,tyranny1 
war of1 #ha       ,u     ,umbrella1 part
 of ,chinese soldier's equipment1 #i    
,uniformity1 brought about by authority1
 #ec     ,unity results from position of
 troops in enemy's land1 #fa            
,unrighteous war1 #ha       ,v          
,valleys1 movement of troops regarding  
steep1 #di2     advance in1 #aab2       
war in1 #aab     ,victory1 how to       
foretell1 #ah2     instruments of1 #ba2 
the object of war1 #bc1 #fi2     five   
heralds of1 #bg2     skillful soldiers  
ensure1 #bh2     not always real        
success1 #bi2     how to calculate1 #cj2
     spirit1 great factor in1 #cd2      
ground handmaid of1 #ef2     good       
government foundation of1 #ie           
,vigilance1 when especially necessary1  
#eb2     one of five important matters  
for general1 #aja1 #ajb     ,village    
spies1 #ga     ,virtue of the prince1   
one of seven important matters1 #ah2    

essential for general1 #ajc             
,virtues1 the five1 comprised in ,the   
,way1 #ag1 note     ,voices in night1   
signification of1 in war1 #ea       ,w  
,waggons1 cost of upkeep of1 #ba        
,war1 evils in train of1 #ab-ac2     a  
thing of pretence1 #ai2     requirements
 of1 #bj-ba2     quick accomplishment   
of1 desirable1 #ba1 #bb2     evils of1  
should be realised1 #bb2                
victory--not long operations--object of1
 #bc2     supreme art of1 #bd2     no   
fixity in spirit of1 #ci2     action on 
declaration of1 #ff2     five causes of1
 #hj2     five natures of1 #ha2     ways
 of overcoming five natures of1 #ha     
,water1 army likened to1 #ci2     troops
 in relation to1 #dg2     observation of
 drawers of1 #ea2     isolation or      
division of enemy by1 #fh-fi2     attack
 on enemy who lacks1 #hi2     striking  
of enemy when half across1 #ic1 #aad    
,way1 the1 an indispensable matter in   
war1 #ag2     skillful leader steadfast 
in1 #cj2     ,wutzu on1 #gh-gi          

,weapons1 the five1 #hh1 note2          
condition of enemy's important1 #ia2    
distribution of1 to tall1 short1 strong1
 bold1 feeble1 and wise1 #ih     ,wei1  
,wen1 ,lord of1 #ge2     army of1       
opposes that of ,chin1 #aag-aah2        
victory by1 #aai     ,wen1 ,prince of   
,chin1 example of1 #hb     ,wen1 ,lord  
of ,wei1 questions ,wutzu1 #ge2         
result of questioning by1 #gg2          
addresses further questions1 #ha1 #hc1  
#he1 #ia1 #ib1 #ic1 #id1 #ie1 #ih1 #ii1 
#ajf1 #ajh1 #aji1 #aaa1 #aab1 #aac1     
#aad1 #aae1 #aaf2     treatment by1 of  
guests with great1 medium1 and deficient
 merit1 #aag2     proposal by ,wutzu to1
 #aah     ,whistles1 ,wutzu on use of1  
#ajh     ,wind1 question of1 in assault 
by fire1 #fh2     attack on enemy who   
has encountered1 #hi2     direction of1 
to be studied1 #ii     ,woods1 advance  
among1 #aab     ,words1 big or smooth1  
meaning of1 #ej     ,wu1 number of men  
in1 #bd1 note     ,wu1 soldiers of1 #ch2
     hatred between men of1 and those of

 ,yueh1 #fb     ,wutzu1 place of1 in    
,chinese literature1 #g2                
offensive-defensive tactics of1 #aj2    
comments disinterestedly on war1 #ab-ac2
     revered in ,japan1 #ad2            
influence of1 in late ,japanese war1    
#ae2     not patriot1 but strategist1   
#ae2     instance of low moral character
 of1 #af2     sayings of1 #ge-aai2     a
 scholar1 but skilled in war1 #ge2      
made general before altar1 #gg2     on  
controlling army1 selecting men1 and    
strengthening country1 #ha-hb2     on   
distribution of men1 #hb2     on battle 
array1 #hc2     gives instance of ,lord 
,chuang of ,chu1 #hd2     sayings on    
estimation of the enemy1 #he-ic2     on 
eight cases of attack1 #hi2     on six  
enemies to avoid1 #ij-ia2     on        
judgment of enemy's condition1 #ib2     
on best time for attack1 #ib-ic2     on 
control of army1 #ic-ajj2     on        
maintenance of order1 #if2     on       
expectation of life or death1 #if2      
on training1 #ig2     on treatment of   

horses1 #ii2     on qualities of        
general1 #aja-ajg2     on four important
 influences of war1 #ajb2     on use of 
bells1 drums1 flags1 standards1 banners1
 laws1 and       penalties1 #ajd2     on
 secret of war1 #ajd2     advice for    
case of troops in confusion1 #ajh2      
on numerical differences1 #aji2     on  
division of troops into five armies1    
#aaj-aaa2     on differences of         
position1 #aab2     on war in valleys1  
#aab2     on water fighting1 #aad2      
on fighting after long rain1 #aad2      
on pillage by enemy1 #aae2     on       
investing a castle1 #aae2     on        
impartiality1 #aaf2     success of      
counsels of1 #aai       ,y     ,yang1   
principle in ,chinese philosophy1 #ah1  
note     ,yen1 estimation of soldiers   
of1 #he-hf2     nature of1 #hg     ,yin1
 principle in ,chinese philosophy1 #ah1 
note     ,yin1 province of1 #gc         
,yin1 even number1 #gf1 note     ,yueh1 
continually at war with ,wu1 #ch1 note  
,yuhu1 ,prince1 #gf                     

,,printed ,,at ,,the ,,edinburgh        
,,press1 #i ,,and #aa ,,young ,,street  
,,footnotes3    #a ,the five virtues of 
humanity1 righteousness1 propriety1     
wisdom and  faith are known as ,the     
,way4    #b ,the ,yin and ,yang are the 
two principles into which natural       
phenomena are divided in ,chinese       
philosophy4 ,yin is the masculine1      
active1 or light principle1 and ,yang is
 the feminine1 passive1 or dark         
principle4 ,in this connection1 day and 
night1 rain1 mist and wind are          
designated4    #c ,the ,chinese army    
consisted of #ab1ejj1 the lu of #ejj1   
tsu of #ej1  and the wu of #e men4    #d
 ,the ,chuyin was a large tower or work 
constructed to give command  over the   
interior of the enemy's fortress4       
,high poles were also erected1 from the 
top of which archers1 each  encased in  
an arrow-proof box and raised by a rope 
and pulley1 shot at  the besieged4    #e
 ,literally #ith heaven1 and #ith earth4
 ,the ,chinese divided the earth  and   

sky each into #i strata4    #f ,an      
animal's coat is thinnest in autumn4    
#g ,the drum was used to beat the       
assembly and in the advance1 the bell   
as a signal to halt4 ,flags were of two 
kinds1 signalling flags and             
distinguishing banners4    #h ,the      
normal and the abnormal refer to what in
 modern phrase are  termed the frontal  
or holding force and the flanking or    
surprise force4    #i ,the five cardinal
 tastes are1 acridity1 bitterness1      
sourness1  sweetness and saline taste4  
#aj ,sun1 as has been said1 was a man of
 ,wu4 ,wu and ,yueh were  continually at
 war4    #aa ,wood1 fire1 earth1 metal  
and water4    #ab ,this passage was     
written on the standard of ,takeda      
,shingen1 one of  ,japan's most famous  
generals4    #ac ,this and the following
 are so called because the men are      
continually thinking of1 and slipping   
back to their homes4    #ad ,the        
population was divided1 for military    
purposes1 into groups of  eight         

families4 ,in time of war1 each group   
sent one man into the field1  furnished 
his wants1 and provided for his family4 
,therefore if #ajj1jjj  men are taken1  
#gjj1jjj homes are affected4    #ae ,so 
called because they are put to death    
when the enemy finds out  that he has   
been tricked4    #af ,messengers and    
others1 who do not disguise their       
identity1 are  included under this      
heading4    #ag ,literally1 right and   
left men1 i4e4 they who sat on either   
side4    #ah ,all numbers connected with
 weapons were ,yin1 that is to          
say--even1  or belonging to the negative
 principle of ,chinese philosophy from  
their  connection with death4    #ai    
,the back of a turtle was burnt1 and the
 answer was ascertained by  the manner  
in which the shell split4    #bj        
,halberd1 shield1 javelin1 pike1 and    
short pike4    #ba ,silently4           
99      99      99      99      99      
99          ,transcriber's note3        
,every effort has been made to replicate

 this text as faithfully as             
possible4        ,,oe ligatures have    
been expanded4        ,the following is 
a list of changes made to the original4 
,the first line is the original line1   
the second the corrected one4           
,page #dj3        reap advantage2 the   
wrangles of a multitude are frought with
 peril4      reap advantage2 the        
wrangles of a multitude are fraught with
 peril4        ,page #ib3        ,chi   
answered and said3--      ,wu answered  
and said3--        ,page #ie3        ,by
 what means can the army gain the       
victory8      ,by what means can the    
army gain the victory8        ,page     
#aji3        ,and ,lord ,wu asked and   
said3--      ,and ,lord ,wen asked and  
said3--