art of war-第1章
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SUN TZU ON THE ART OF WAR
THE OLDEST MILITARY TREATISE IN THE WORLD
Translated from the Chinese with Introduction
and Critical Notes
BY
LIONEL GILES； M。A。
Assistant in the Department of Oriental Printed Books and MSS。
in the British Museum
First Published in 1910
…
To my brother
Captain Valentine Giles； R。G。
in the hope that
a work 2400 years old
may yet contain lessons worth consideration
by the soldier of today
this translation
is affectionately dedicated。
…
INTRODUCTION
Sun Wu and his Book
…
Ssu…ma Ch‘ien gives the following biography of Sun Tzu： ＇1＇
Sun Tzu Wu was a native of the Ch‘i State。 His ART OF
WAR brought him to the notice of Ho Lu； ＇2＇ King of Wu。 Ho
Lu said to him： 〃I have carefully perused your 13 chapters。
May I submit your theory of managing soldiers to a slight
test？〃
Sun Tzu replied： 〃You may。〃
Ho Lu asked： 〃May the test be applied to women？〃
The answer was again in the affirmative； so arrangements
were made to bring 180 ladies out of the Palace。 Sun Tzu
divided them into two companies； and placed one of the King's
favorite concubines at the head of each。 He then bade them
all take spears in their hands； and addressed them thus： 〃I
presume you know the difference between front and back； right
hand and left hand？〃
The girls replied： Yes。
Sun Tzu went on： 〃When I say 〃Eyes front；〃 you must
look straight ahead。 When I say 〃Left turn；〃 you must face
towards your left hand。 When I say 〃Right turn；〃 you must
face towards your right hand。 When I say 〃About turn；〃 you
must face right round towards your back。〃
Again the girls assented。 The words of command having
been thus explained； he set up the halberds and battle…axes
in order to begin the drill。 Then； to the sound of drums； he
gave the order 〃Right turn。〃 But the girls only burst out
laughing。 Sun Tzu said： 〃If words of command are not clear
and distinct； if orders are not thoroughly understood； then
the general is to blame。〃
So he started drilling them again； and this time gave
the order 〃Left turn；〃 whereupon the girls once more burst
into fits of laughter。 Sun Tzu： 〃If words of command are
not clear and distinct； if orders are not thoroughly
understood； the general is to blame。 But if his orders ARE
clear； and the soldiers nevertheless disobey； then it is the
fault of their officers。〃
So saying； he ordered the leaders of the two companies
to be beheaded。 Now the king of Wu was watching the scene
from the top of a raised pavilion； and when he saw that his
favorite concubines were about to be executed； he was greatly
alarmed and hurriedly sent down the following message： 〃We
are now quite satisfied as to our general's ability to handle
troops。 If We are bereft of these two concubines； our meat
and drink will lose their savor。 It is our wish that they
shall not be beheaded。〃
Sun Tzu replied： 〃Having once received His Majesty's
commission to be the general of his forces； there are certain
commands of His Majesty which； acting in that capacity； I am
unable to accept。〃
Accordingly； he had the two leaders beheaded； and
straightway installed the pair next in order as leaders in
their place。 When this had been done； the drum was sounded
for the drill once more； and the girls went through all the
evolutions； turning to the right or to the left； marching
ahead or wheeling back； kneeling or standing； with perfect
accuracy and precision； not venturing to utter a sound。 Then
Sun Tzu sent a messenger to the King saying： 〃Your soldiers；
Sire； are now properly drilled and disciplined； and ready for
your majesty's inspection。 They can be put to any use that
their sovereign may desire； bid them go through fire and
water； and they will not disobey。〃
But the King replied： 〃Let our general cease drilling
and return to camp。 As for us； We have no wish to come down
and inspect the troops。〃
Thereupon Sun Tzu said： 〃The King is only fond of
words； and cannot translate them into deeds。〃
After that； Ho Lu saw that Sun Tzu was one who knew how
to handle an army； and finally appointed him general。 In the
west； he defeated the Ch‘u State and forced his way into
Ying； the capital； to the north he put fear into the States
of Ch‘i and Chin； and spread his fame abroad amongst the
feudal princes。 And Sun Tzu shared in the might of the King。
About Sun Tzu himself this is all that Ssu…ma Ch‘ien has to
tell us in this chapter。 But he proceeds to give a biography of
his descendant； Sun Pin； born about a hundred years after his
famous ancestor's death； and also the outstanding military genius
of his time。 The historian speaks of him too as Sun Tzu； and in
his preface we read： 〃Sun Tzu had his feet cut off and yet
continued to discuss the art of war。〃 ＇3＇ It seems likely； then；
that 〃Pin〃 was a nickname bestowed on him after his mutilation；
unless the story was invented in order to account for the name。
The crowning incident of his career； the crushing defeat of his
treacherous rival P‘ang Chuan； will be found briefly related in
Chapter V。 ss。 19； note。
To return to the elder Sun Tzu。 He is mentioned in two
other passages of the SHIH CHI：
In the third year of his reign ＇512 B。C。＇ Ho Lu； king of
Wu； took the field with Tzu…hsu ＇i。e。 Wu Yuan＇ and Po P‘ei；
and attacked Ch‘u。 He captured the town of Shu and slew the
two prince's sons who had formerly been generals of Wu。 He
was then meditating a descent on Ying ＇the capital＇； but the
general Sun Wu said： 〃The army is exhausted。 It is not yet
possible。 We must wait〃。。。。 ＇After further successful
fighting；＇ 〃in the ninth year ＇506 B。C。＇； King Ho Lu
addressed Wu Tzu…hsu and Sun Wu； saying： 〃Formerly； you
declared that it was not yet possible for us to enter Ying。
Is the time ripe now？〃 The two men replied： 〃Ch‘u's general
Tzu…ch‘ang； ＇4＇ is grasping and covetous； and the princes of
T‘ang and Ts‘ai both have a grudge against him。 If Your
Majesty has resolved to make a grand attack； you must win
over T‘ang and Ts‘ai； and then you may succeed。〃 Ho Lu
followed this advice； ＇beat Ch‘u in five pitched battles and
marched into Ying。＇ ＇5＇
This is the latest date at which anything is recorded of Sun
Wu。 He does not appear to have survived his patron； who died
from the effects of a wound in 496。
In another chapter there occurs this passage： ＇6＇
From this time onward； a number of famous soldiers
arose； one after the other： Kao…fan； ＇7＇ who was employed by
the Chin State； Wang…tzu； ＇8＇ in the service of Ch‘i； and Sun
Wu； in the service of Wu。 These men developed and threw
light upon the principles of war。
It is obvious enough that Ssu…ma Ch‘ien at least had no
doubt about the reality of Sun Wu as an historical personage； and
with one exception； to be noticed presently； he is by far the
most important authority on the period in question。 It will not
be necessary； therefore； to say much of such a work as the WU
YUEH CH‘UN CH‘IU； which is supposed to have been written by Chao
Yeh of the 1st century A。D。 The attribution is somewhat
doubtful； but even if it were otherwise； his account would be of
little value； based as it is on the SHIH CHI and expanded with
romantic details。 The story of Sun Tzu will be found； for what
it is worth； in chapter 2。 The only new points in it worth
noting are： （1） Sun Tzu was first recommended to Ho Lu by Wu
Tzu…hsu。 （2） He is called a native of Wu。 （3） He had previously
lived a retired life； and his contemporaries were unaware of his
ability。
The following passage occurs in the Huai…nan Tzu： 〃When
sovereign and ministers show perversity of mind； it is impossible
even for a Sun Tzu to encounter the foe。〃 Assuming that this
work is genuine （and hitherto no doubt has been cast upon it）； we
have here the earliest direct reference for Sun Tzu； for Huai…nan
Tzu died in 122 B。C。； many years before the SHIH CHI was given to
the world。
Liu Hsiang （80…9 B。C。） says： 〃The reason why Sun Tzu at the
head of 30；000 men beat Ch‘u with 200；000 is that the latter were
undisciplined。〃
Teng Ming…shih informs us that the surname 〃Sun〃 was
bestowed on Sun Wu's grandfather by Duke Ching of Ch‘i ＇547…490
B。C。＇。 Sun Wu's father Sun P‘ing； rose to be a Minister of State
in Ch‘i； and Sun Wu himself； whose style was Ch‘ang…ch‘ing； fled
to Wu on account of the rebellion which was being fomented by the
kindred of T‘ien Pao。 He had three sons； of whom the second；
named Ming； was the father of Sun Pin。 According to this account
then； Pin was the grandson of Wu； which； considering that Sun
Pin's victory over Wei was gained in 341 B。C。； may be dismissed
as chronological impossible。 Whence these data were obtained by
Teng Ming…shih I do not know； but of course no reliance whatever
can be placed in them。
An interesting document which has survived from the close of
the Han period is the short preface written by the Great Ts‘ao
Ts‘ao； or Wei Wu Ti； for his edition of Sun Tzu。 I shall give it
in full：
I have heard that the ancients used bows and arrows to
their advantage。 ＇10＇ The SHU CHU mentions 〃the army〃 among
the 〃eight objects of government。〃 The I CHING says：
〃'army' indicates firmness and justice； the experienced
leader will have good fortune。〃 The SHIH CHING says： 〃The
King rose majestic in his wrath； and he marshaled his
troops。〃 The Yellow Emperor； T‘ang the Completer and Wu Wang
all used spears and battle…axes in order to succor their
generation。 The SSU…MA FA says： 〃If one man slay another of
set purpose； he himself may rightfully be slain。〃 He who
relies solely on warlike measures shall be exterminated； he
who relies solely on peaceful measures shall perish。
Instances of this are Fu Ch‘ai ＇11＇ on the one hand and Yen
Wang on the other。 ＇12＇ In military matters； the Sage's rule
is normally to keep the peace； and to move his forces only
when occasion requires。 He will not use armed force unless
driven to it by necessi
