1
孫子武者，齊人也。 以兵法見於吳王闔廬。 闔廬曰：「子之十三篇，吾盡觀之矣，可以小試勒兵乎？」 對曰：「可。」 闔廬曰：「可試以婦人乎？」 曰：「可。」 於是許之，出宮中美女，得百八十人。 孫子分為二隊，以王之寵姬二人各為隊長，皆令持戟。 令之曰：「汝知而心與左右手背乎？」 婦人曰：「知之。」 孫子曰：「前，則視心； 左，視左手； 右，視右手； 後，即視背。」 婦人曰：「諾。」 約束既布，乃設鈇鉞，即三令五申之。 於是鼓之右，婦人大笑。 孫子曰：「約束不明，申令不熟，將之罪也。」 復三令五申而鼓之左，婦人復大笑。 孫子曰：「約束不明，申令不熟，將之罪也； 既已明而不如法者，吏士之罪也。」 乃欲斬左右隊長。 吳王從臺上觀，見且斬愛姬，大駭。 趣使使下令曰：「寡人已知將軍能用兵矣。 寡人非此二姬，食不甘味，願勿斬也。」 孫子曰：「臣既已受命為將，將在軍，君命有所不受。」 遂斬隊長二人以徇。 用其次為隊長，於是復鼓之。 婦人左右前後跪起皆中規矩繩墨，無敢出聲。 於是孫子使使報王曰：「兵既整齊，王可試下觀之，唯王所欲用之，雖赴水火猶可也。」 吳王曰：「將軍罷休就舍，寡人不願下觀。」 孫子曰：「王徒好其言，不能用其實。」 於是闔廬知孫子能用兵，卒以為將。 西破彊楚，入郢，北威齊晉，顯名諸侯，孫子與有力焉。
Sun Wu, known as Sun Tzu, was a man of Qi. He presented his military strategies to King Helü of Wu. King Helü said, “I have read all thirteen of your chapters. May we try drilling the troops on a small scale?” He replied: “Yes.” King Helü said, “May we try it with the palace women?” He said: “Yes.” So he was permitted to do so. One hundred eighty palace ladies were selected. Sun Tzu divided the women into two teams, appointing the king's two favorite consorts as captains of each team, and ordered all of them to carry halberds. He asked them, “Do you know where your heart, your left hand, your right hand, and your back are?” The women said: “Yes.” Sun Tzu said, “When I say forward, look toward the chest; when I say left, look to the left hand; when I say right, look to the right hand; when I say back, look behind you.” The women replied: “Yes.” Once the regulations were promulgated, he set up the executioner's axe and halberd, and repeated the commands three times while explaining them five times. Then he beat the drum for turning right, and the women burst out laughing. Sun Tzu said: “If the regulations are unclear and the commands unfamiliar, it is the general's fault.” He repeated the commands three times and explained them five times again, then beat the drum for turning left, and the women burst out laughing once more. Sun Tzu said: “If the regulations are unclear and the commands unfamiliar, it is the general's fault; once they are clear but not followed, it is the officers' and soldiers' fault.” He was about to execute the two team leaders. King Helü watched from the terrace above. When he saw that his beloved consorts were about to be executed, he was badly alarmed. He hurriedly sent a messenger down with orders, saying: “I already know the general can use troops. Without these two consorts, my food has no flavor. Please do not execute them.” Sun Tzu said: “I have already received the command to serve as general. When in the army, there are some of the sovereign's orders that a general does not accept.” He proceeded to execute the two team leaders as an example to the army. He appointed their deputies as team leaders, then beat the drum again. The women moved left and right, forward and back, kneeling and standing—all conformed perfectly to the rules and regulations. None dared make a sound. Then Sun Tzu sent a messenger to report to the king, saying: “The troops are now well-ordered. Your Majesty can come down to observe them. Whatever you wish to use them for—even charging into water or fire—they will do it.” King Helü said, “General, please retire to your quarters. I do not wish to come down and observe.” Sun Tzu said, “The king only enjoys the theory but cannot put it into practice.” Thus, Helü knew that Sun Tzu could command troops, and at last he appointed him general. He broke the powerful state of Chu in the west and entered Ying. In the north he awed Qi and Jin, making his name illustrious among the feudal lords—Sun Tzu played a role in this.
2
孫武既死，後百餘歲有孫臏。 臏生阿鄄之閒，臏亦孫武之後世子孫也。 孫臏嘗與龐涓俱學兵法。 龐涓既事魏，得為惠王將軍，而自以為能不及孫臏，乃陰使召孫臏。 臏至，龐涓恐其賢於己，疾之，則以法刑斷其兩足而黥之，欲隱勿見。
More than a century after Sun Wu died, Sun Bin appeared. Sun Bin was born between A and Juan. He, too, was a descendant of Sun Wu's lineage. Sun Bin had once studied military strategy together with Pang Juan. After Pang Juan entered Wei's service and became a general under King Hui of Wei, he considered himself no match for Sun Bin and secretly summoned him. When Bin arrived, Pang Juan feared that he was the better man, resented him, and had him punished by amputating his feet and branding his face, intending to keep him hidden from sight.
3
齊使者如梁，孫臏以刑徒陰見，說齊使。 齊使以為奇，竊載與之齊。 齊將田忌善而客待之。 忌數與齊諸公子馳逐重射。 孫子見其馬足不甚相遠，馬有上、中、下、輩。 於是孫子謂田忌曰：「君弟重射，臣能令君勝。」 田忌信然之，與王及諸公子逐射千金。 及臨質，孫子曰：「今以君之下駟與彼上駟，取君上駟與彼中駟，取君中駟與彼下駟。」 既馳三輩畢，而田忌一不勝而再勝，卒得王千金。 於是忌進孫子於威王。 威王問兵法，遂以為師。
When a Qi envoy came to Liang, Sun Bin, then serving as a convict laborer, met him secretly and persuaded him. The Qi envoy thought him extraordinary and secretly took him back to Qi. The Qi general Tian Ji treated him well and hosted him as a guest. Tian Ji often raced chariots with the Qi nobles and wagered heavily. Sun Bin saw that their horses were not very different in speed and were divided into upper, middle, and lower grades. So Sun Bin said to Tian Ji, “My lord frequently wagers heavily on the races. I can make you win.” Tian Ji believed him and wagered a thousand jin with the king and the nobles. When it came time for the race, Sun Bin said: “Now use your lowest team against their highest, your highest against their middle, and your middle against their lowest.” When the three races were over, Tian Ji had lost one but won two, and in the end he won the king’s thousand jin. So Tian Ji recommended Sun Bin to King Wei. King Wei questioned him about military strategy and appointed him as his teacher.
4
其後魏伐趙，趙急，請救於齊。 齊威王欲將孫臏，臏辭謝曰：「刑餘之人不可。」 於是乃以田忌為將，而孫子為師，居輜車中，坐為計謀。 田忌欲引兵之趙，孫子曰：「夫解雜亂紛糾者不控棬，救鬬者不搏撠，批亢擣虛，形格勢禁，則自為解耳。 今梁趙相攻，輕兵銳卒必竭於外，老弱罷於內。 君不若引兵疾走大梁，據其街路，衝其方虛，彼必釋趙而自救。 是我一舉解趙之圍而收獘於魏也。」 田忌從之，魏果去邯鄲，與齊戰於桂陵，大破梁軍。
Afterward, Wei attacked Zhao. Zhao was in dire straits and requested aid from Qi. King Wei of Qi wanted to appoint Sun Bin as general, but Sun Bin declined, saying, “A man who has suffered punishment cannot serve.” So they appointed Tian Ji as general and Sun Bin as advisor. Sun Bin rode in a supply wagon, seated there and making plans. Tian Ji wanted to lead troops to Zhao, but Sun Bin said, “One who untangles a snarl does not seize the fist; one who rescues a brawl does not strike the head. Strike where they are exposed and hit the void; block their form and check their momentum, and they will resolve themselves. Now Liang and Zhao are attacking each other—their light troops and elite soldiers must be exhausted outside, the old and weak weary inside. My lord would do better to lead the army swiftly toward Daliang, occupy its roads, and strike where Wei is exposed. They will surely abandon Zhao and come back to save themselves. In this way we can lift the siege of Zhao in one stroke and take advantage of Wei's exhaustion.” Tian Ji followed this advice. Wei indeed abandoned Handan, fought Qi at Guiling, and was badly defeated.
5
後十三歲，魏與趙攻韓，韓告急於齊。 齊使田忌將而往，直走大梁。 魏將龐涓聞之，去韓而歸，齊軍既已過而西矣。 孫子謂田忌曰：「彼三晉之兵素悍勇而輕齊，齊號為怯，善戰者因其勢而利導之。 兵法，百里而趣利者蹶上將，五十里而趣利者軍半至。 使齊軍入魏地為十萬灶，明日為五萬灶，又明日為三萬灶。」 龐涓行三日，大喜，曰：「我固知齊軍怯，入吾地三日，士卒亡者過半矣。」 乃棄其步軍，與其輕銳倍日并行逐之。 孫子度其行，暮當至馬陵。 馬陵道陜，而旁多阻隘，可伏兵，乃斫大樹白而書之曰「龐涓死于此樹之下」。 於是令齊軍善射者萬弩，夾道而伏，期曰「暮見火舉而俱發」。 龐涓果夜至斫木下，見白書，乃鉆火燭之。 讀其書未畢，齊軍萬弩俱發，魏軍大亂相失。 龐涓自知智窮兵敗，乃自剄，曰：「遂成豎子之名！」 齊因乘勝盡破其軍，虜魏太子申以歸。 孫臏以此名顯天下，世傳其兵法。
Thirteen years later, Wei and Zhao attacked Han, and Han urgently appealed to Qi. Qi sent Tian Ji as general, and he marched straight toward Daliang. When the Wei general Pang Juan heard this, he left Han and returned, but the Qi army had already passed by and gone west. Sun Bin said to Tian Ji: “The troops of the three Jin states are fierce and brave by nature, and they look down on Qi. Qi has a reputation for cowardice. Good warriors exploit the enemy's momentum and guide it to their own advantage. The Art of War says: one who races a hundred li for advantage will lose his general; one who races fifty li will have only half his army arrive. Have the Qi army enter Wei territory and make ten thousand cooking fires; the next day, make five thousand; the day after that, three thousand.” After Pang Juan had marched for three days, he was delighted and said: “I knew the Qi army was cowardly. After only three days in our territory, more than half their soldiers have deserted.” He abandoned his infantry and pursued them with his light elite, doubling the pace of the march. Sun Tzu calculated their march route—they should arrive at Maling by dusk. The Maling road was narrow, with many obstacles and defiles on the sides, suitable for ambushing troops. They stripped a large tree white and wrote on it: “Pang Juan dies beneath this tree.” Then Sun Bin ordered ten thousand of Qi's best crossbowmen to lie in ambush on both sides of the road, setting the signal: “When you see fire at dusk, all fire together.” Pang Juan indeed arrived beneath the stripped tree at night, saw the pale writing, and lit a torch to read it. Before he had finished reading the writing, the Qi army's ten thousand crossbows all fired, and the Wei army fell into chaos and scattered. Pang Juan knew his stratagems were exhausted, and his army was defeated, so he cut his own throat, saying, “Now I have made that boy famous!” Qi pressed its victory, completely destroyed the Wei army, captured Crown Prince Shen, and returned. Sun Bin thereby became famous throughout the world, and his military strategy was handed down through later ages.
6
吳起者，衛人也，好用兵。 嘗學於曾子，事魯君。 齊人攻魯，魯欲將吳起，吳起取齊女為妻，而魯疑之。 吳起於是欲就名，遂殺其妻，以明不與齊也。 魯卒以為將。 將而攻齊，大破之。
Wu Qi was a man of Wei who loved military affairs. He had once studied under Zengzi and later served the lord of Lu. When Qi attacked Lu, Lu wanted to appoint Wu Qi as general, but because Wu Qi had married a Qi woman, Lu suspected him. Wu Qi then sought to establish his reputation, so he killed his wife to show that he had no tie to Qi. Lu finally appointed him as general. As general, he attacked Qi and greatly defeated them.
7
魯人或惡吳起曰：「起之為人，猜忍人也。 其少時，家累千金，游仕不遂，遂破其家，鄉黨笑之，吳起殺其謗己者三十餘人，而東出衛郭門。 與其母訣，齧臂而盟曰：『起不為卿相，不復入衛。』 遂事曾子。 居頃之，其母死，起終不歸。 曾子薄之，而與起絕。 起乃之魯，學兵法以事魯君。 魯君疑之，起殺妻以求將。 夫魯小國，而有戰勝之名，則諸侯圖魯矣。 且魯衛兄弟之國也，而君用起，則是棄衛。」 魯君疑之，謝吳起。
Some men of Lu spoke ill of Wu Qi, saying, “In his conduct, he is a suspicious and cruel man. In his youth, his family had accumulated a thousand jin. He sought office but did not succeed, exhausting his family fortune. When the villagers laughed at him, Wu Qi killed more than thirty of those who had slandered him and went east through the Wei city gate. He bid farewell to his mother, bit his arm, and swore: “If I do not become a minister or chancellor, I will not return to Wei.” So he served Zengzi. After some time, his mother died, but Wu Qi did not go home. Zengzi despised him for this and broke off relations with him. Wu Qi then went to Lu, studied military methods, and served the Lord of Lu. The Lord of Lu suspected him, so Wu Qi killed his wife to seek the generalship. Lu is a small state. If it wins renown for victory in battle, the feudal lords will covet it. Moreover, Lu and Wei are brother states, yet if my lord employs him, that is to abandon Wei.” The lord of Lu grew suspicious and dismissed Wu Qi.
8
吳起於是聞魏文侯賢，欲事之。 文侯問李克曰：「吳起何如人哉？」 李克曰：「起貪而好色，然用兵司馬穰苴不能過也。」 於是魏文候以為將，擊秦，拔五城。
Wu Qi then heard of Marquis Wen of Wei’s worthiness and wished to enter his service. Marquis Wen asked Li Ke: “What kind of man is Wu Qi?” Li Ke said: “Wu Qi is greedy and fond of women, but in using troops, even Sima Rangju cannot surpass him.” Marquis Wen of Wei therefore appointed him general, attacked Qin, and captured five cities.
9
起之為將，與士卒最下者同衣食。 臥不設席，行不騎乘，親裹贏糧，與士卒分勞苦。 卒有病疽者，起為吮之。 卒母聞而哭之。 人曰：「子卒也，而將軍自吮其疽，何哭為？」 母曰：「非然也。 往年吳公吮其父，其父戰不旋踵，遂死於敵。 吳公今又吮其子，妾不知其死所矣。 是以哭之。」
When Wu Qi was general, he shared clothing and food with the lowest soldiers. He did not lay out mats when sleeping, did not ride when marching, personally wrapped the provisions, and shared hardship with the soldiers. When a soldier had a festering sore, Wu Qi sucked out the pus for him. When the soldier’s mother heard this, she wept for him. Someone said: “Your son is a soldier, and the general himself sucked his sore. Why do you weep?” The mother said: “It is not that. In previous years Lord Wu sucked my husband's sore, and my husband fought without turning back until he died on the battlefield. Now Lord Wu has sucked my son's sore as well. I do not know where my son will die. That is why I weep for him.”
10
文侯以吳起善用兵，廉平，盡能得士心，乃以為西河守，以拒秦、韓。
Marquis Wen considered Wu Qi skilled in using troops, incorruptible, fair, and fully able to win the soldiers’ hearts, so he appointed him governor of Xihe to resist Qin and Han.
11
魏文侯既卒，起事其子武侯。 武侯浮西河而下，中流，顧而謂吳起曰：「美哉乎山河之固，此魏國之寶也！」 起對曰：「在德不在險。 昔三苗氏左洞庭，右彭蠡，德義不修，禹滅之。 夏桀之居，左河濟，右泰華，伊闕在其南，羊腸在其北，修政不仁，湯放之。 殷紂之國，左孟門，右太行，常山在其北，大河經其南，修政不德，武王殺之。 由此觀之，在德不在險。 若君不修德，舟中之人盡為敵國也。」 武侯曰：「善。」
After Marquis Wen of Wei died, Wu Qi served his son Marquis Wu. Marquis Wu floated down the Yellow River, and in midstream he turned to Wu Qi and said: “How beautiful are these mountain and river defenses! This is Wei's treasure!” Wu Qi replied: “It depends on virtue, not on natural defenses. In ancient times the Three Miao tribes had Dongting Lake on the left and Pengli Lake on the right. They did not cultivate virtue and righteousness, so Yu destroyed them. Xia Jie resided with the Yellow River on the left and Mount Tai on the right, Yique Pass to the south and Yangchang to the north. He practiced unbenevolent government, so Tang exiled him. King Zhou of Yin had Mengmen Pass on the left and the Taihang Mountains on the right, Changshan to the north and the great river flowing south. He practiced unvirtuous government, so King Wu killed him. From this we can see that it depends on virtue, not on natural defenses. If my lord does not cultivate virtue, everyone aboard this boat will become your enemy.” Marquis Wu said: “Excellent.”
12
（即封）吳起為西河守，甚有聲名。 魏置相，相田文。 吳起不悅，謂田文曰：「請與子論功，可乎？」 田文曰：「可。」 起曰：「將三軍，使士卒樂死，敵國不敢謀，子孰與起？」 文曰：「不如子。」 起曰：「治百官，親萬民，實府庫，子孰與起？」 文曰：「不如子。」 起曰：「守西河而秦兵不敢東鄉，韓趙賓從，子孰與起？」 文曰：「不如子。」 起曰：「此三者，子皆出吾下，而位加吾上，何也？」 文曰：「主少國疑，大臣未附，百姓不信，方是之時，屬之於子乎？ 屬之於我乎？」 起默然良久，曰：「屬之子矣。」 文曰：「此乃吾所以居子之上也。」 吳起乃自知弗如田文。
Thereupon Wu Qi was appointed governor of Xihe, and he gained great renown. Wei appointed a chancellor: Chancellor Tian Wen. Wu Qi was displeased and said to Tian Wen: “May I compare achievements with you?” Tian Wen said, “Very well.” Wu Qi said: “Commanding the three armies, making soldiers gladly die for you, and keeping enemy states from daring to plot—who compares to me?” Tian Wen said: “I do not match you.” Wu Qi said: “Managing the hundred officials, drawing close to the people, and filling the treasuries—who compares to me?” Tian Wen said: “I do not match you.” Wu Qi said, “Guarding Xihe so that Qin troops dare not advance east, and making Han and Zhao come as guests—who compares to me?” Tian Wen said: “I do not match you.” Wu Qi said: “In these three matters you are all below me, yet your position is above mine. Why?” Tian Wen said, “The lord is young, the state is unsettled, the great ministers are not yet attached, and the people do not yet trust—at such a time, should the state be entrusted to you? Or should it be entrusted to me?” Wu Qi was silent for a long time, then said, “It should be entrusted to you.” Tian Wen said, “This is why I stand above you.” Wu Qi then realized that he was not Tian Wen’s equal.
13
田文既死，公叔為相，尚魏公主，而害吳起。 公叔之仆曰：「起易去也。」 公叔曰：「柰何？」 其仆曰：「吳起為人節廉而自喜名也。 君因先與武侯言曰：『夫吳起賢人也，而侯之國小，又與彊秦壤界，臣竊恐起之無留心也。』 武侯即曰：『柰何？』 君因謂武侯曰：『試延以公主，起有留心則必受之。 無留心則必辭矣。 以此卜之。』 君因召吳起而與歸，即令公主怒而輕君。 吳起見公主之賤君也，則必辭。」 於是吳起見公主之賤魏相，果辭魏武侯。 武侯疑之而弗信也。 吳起懼得罪，遂去，即之楚。
After Tian Wen died, Gongsun became chancellor, married a Wei princess, and plotted against Wu Qi. Gongsun's servant said: “Wu Qi can be easily removed.” Gongsun said, “What is to be done?” His servant said, “Wu Qi is frugal and takes pride in his reputation. My lord should first speak to Marquis Wu, saying, “Wu Qi is a worthy man, but your lordship's state is small and borders powerful Qin. I privately fear that he may not remain devoted to Wei.” Marquis Wu will immediately say, “What then?” My lord should then say to Marquis Wu, “Try offering him the princess in marriage. If he is devoted, he will certainly accept. If he has no intention of staying, he will certainly decline. Use this to test him. My lord should summon Wu Qi to your house, and then have the princess show anger and treat you contemptuously. When Wu Qi sees the princess treating you with contempt, he will certainly decline.” So Wu Qi saw the princess treating the Wei chancellor with contempt, and he indeed declined Marquis Wu's offer. Marquis Wu suspected a plot but did not fully believe it. Fearing punishment, Wu Qi left and went to Chu.
14
楚悼王素聞起賢，至則相楚。 明法審令，捐不急之官，廢公族疏遠者，以撫養戰鬬之士。 要在彊兵，破馳說之言從橫者。 於是南平百越； 北并陳蔡，卻三晉； 西伐秦。 諸侯患楚之彊。 故楚之貴戚盡欲害吳起。 及悼王死，宗室大臣作亂而攻吳起，吳起走之王尸而伏之。 擊起之徒因射刺吳起，并中悼王。 悼王既葬，太子立，乃使令尹盡誅射吳起而并中王尸者。 坐射起而夷宗死者七十餘家。
King Dao of Chu had long heard that Wu Qi was worthy; when he arrived, he was made chancellor of Chu. He clarified the laws, made the orders precise, abolished superfluous offices, dismissed distant members of the royal clan, and used the savings to support and train fighting men. His aim was to strengthen the army and break the influence of itinerant persuaders who argued for vertical and horizontal alliances. In this way, he pacified the Baiyue in the south; to the north, he annexed Chen and Cai and drove back the three Jin; in the west he attacked Qin. The feudal lords feared Chu’s strength. For this reason, the nobles of Chu all wanted to harm Wu Qi. When King Dao died, the royal clansmen and great ministers rebelled and attacked Wu Qi. Wu Qi fled to the king's corpse and threw himself upon it. Those who attacked him shot and stabbed Wu Qi, and also struck King Dao. After King Dao was buried, the crown prince ascended and ordered the chief minister to execute everyone who had shot at Wu Qi and struck the king’s corpse. More than seventy families were executed, and their clans were exterminated, for shooting at Wu Qi.
15
太史公曰：世俗所稱師旅，皆道孫子十三篇，吳起兵法，世多有，故弗論，論其行事所施設者。 語曰：「能行之者未必能言，能言之者未必能行。」 孫子籌策龐涓明矣，然不能蚤救患於被刑。 吳起說武侯以形勢不如德，然行之於楚，以刻暴少恩亡其軀。 悲夫！
The Grand Historian says: The military works commonly cited in the world all discuss Sun Tzu’s thirteen chapters and Wu Qi’s Art of War. These circulate widely, so I will not discuss them here. A saying goes, “Those who can act are not necessarily able to speak; those who can speak are not necessarily able to act.” Sun Bin clearly outplotted Pang Juan, yet he could not escape early from the disaster of mutilation. Wu Qi explained to Marquis Wu that terrain was less important than virtue, yet when he put his ideas into practice in Chu he was harsh, cruel, and lacking in benevolence, and so he lost his life. Alas!