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 Tzu Wu was a man from Qi. He presented his military strategies to King Helü of Wu. Helü said: 'I have completely read your thirteen chapters. Could you conduct a small test of drilling troops?' He replied: 'Yes.' Helü said: 'Could you test with 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 commanded them, saying: 'Do you know your heart and your left and right hand and back?' The women said: 'Yes.' Sun Tzu said: 'When marching forward, look at the heart; when turning left, look at the left hand; when turning right, look at the right hand; when retreating, look at the back.' 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, and seeing that his beloved consorts were about to be executed, he was greatly alarmed. He hurriedly sent a messenger down with orders, saying: 'I already know the general can use troops. Without these two consorts, my food loses all flavor. Please do not execute them.'' Sun Tzu said: 'I have already received the command to be general. When in the army, there are some of the sovereign's orders that the 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 likes the theory but cannot apply the reality.' Thus Helü knew Sun Tzu could use troops and finally appointed him as 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。
After Sun Wu died, more than a century later there was Sun Bin. Bin was born between Ao and Juan. Bin was also a descendant of Sun Wu's lineage. Sun Bin once studied military strategy together with Pang Juan. After Pang Juan served Wei and became General to Marquis Hui, he felt his abilities did not match Sun Bin's, so he secretly summoned Sun Bin. When Bin arrived, Pang Juan feared he was more worthy than himself, resented him, and had his feet cut off and tattooed his face, wanting to hide him away and not let him be seen.
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。
A Qi envoy came to Liang, and Sun Bin, as a criminal laborer, secretly met with him and persuaded him. The Qi envoy considered him extraordinary and secretly carried him back to Qi. The Qi general Tian Ji treated him well and hosted him as a guest. Ji often raced chariots with the Qi nobles and wagered heavily. Sun Tzu saw that their horses' speeds were not far apart, with horses divided into upper, middle, lower, and lowest grades. So Sun Tzu said to Tian Ji: 'My lord wagers heavily in chariot 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 Tzu said: 'Now use your lowest chariot against their highest, your highest against their middle, your middle against their lowest.' After the three rounds were complete, Tian Ji lost one round but won two, and ultimately won the king's thousand jin. So Ji recommended Sun Tzu to King Wei. King Wei asked about military strategy and appointed him as 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 Bin declined, saying: 'A mutilated criminal cannot.' So they appointed Tian Ji as general and Sun Tzu as advisor, riding in the supply wagon, seated and making plans. Tian Ji wanted to lead troops to Zhao, but Sun Tzu said: 'Those who unravel tangles do not grab the fist; those who save fighters do not strike the head. Strike the flanks and attack where empty, block their momentum and restrict their position, 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 should lead troops and swiftly march to Daliang, occupy their thoroughfares, and strike their vulnerable points—they will surely abandon Zhao and come to their own rescue. This way we can lift Zhao's siege with one stroke and gain exhausted troops from Wei.'' Tian Ji followed this, and Wei indeed left Handan and fought Qi at Guiling, suffering a great defeat.
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 to go, directly marching to Daliang. Wei general Pang Juan heard of it, left Han and returned, but the Qi army had already passed and gone west. Sun Tzu said to Tian Ji: 'The troops of the three Jin states are fierce and brave by nature and look down on Qi. Qi has a reputation for cowardice. Good warriors exploit their momentum and guide it advantageously. Military strategy says: those who pursue advantage a hundred li lose their general; those who pursue advantage fifty li arrive with half their army. Have the Qi army enter Wei territory and make ten thousand cooking fires, the next day five thousand, the day after three thousand.'' Pang Juan marched three days and was greatly pleased, saying: 'I knew the Qi army was cowardly. Entering our territory three days, more than half their soldiers have deserted.' He abandoned his infantry and with his light elite doubled their march to pursue them. 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 cut a large tree white and wrote on it: 'Pang Juan dies beneath this tree.' Then they ordered the Qi army's best archers with ten thousand crossbows to lie in ambush along the road, setting a time: 'When you see fire at dusk, all fire together.' Pang Juan indeed arrived at night beneath the cut tree, saw the white writing, and lit a torch to read it. He had not finished reading the writing when the Qi army's ten thousand crossbows all fired, and the Wei army fell into great chaos and scattered. Pang Juan knew his wisdom was exhausted and his troops defeated, so he cut his own throat, saying: 'This fulfills the reputation of that boy!' Qi took advantage of the victory to completely destroy their army, capturing Wei's crown prince Shen and returning. Sun Bin thereby became famous throughout the world, and his military strategy was transmitted through the 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 from Wei. He was fond of military affairs. He once studied under Zengzi and served the Lord of Lu. When Qi attacked Lu, Lu wanted to appoint Wu Qi as general, but Wu Qi had taken a Qi woman as wife, so Lu suspected him. Wu Qi then wanted to establish his reputation, so he killed his wife to show he had no connection with 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 Lu people spoke ill of Wu Qi, saying: 'Qi is a suspicious and cruel person. In his youth, his family had accumulated a thousand jin. He sought office but did not succeed, so he squandered his family fortune. The villagers laughed at him. Wu Qi killed more than thirty of those who slandered him and left east through the Wei city gate. He bid farewell to his mother, bit his arm and swore: 'If I do not become prime minister, I will not return to Wei.' So he served Zengzi. After some time, his mother died, but Qi did not return. Zengzi despised him and broke relations with him. Qi then went to Lu and studied military strategy to serve the Lord of Lu. The Lord of Lu suspected him, so Qi killed his wife to seek the generalship. Lu is a small state, and if it has the name of victory in battle, the feudal lords will covet Lu. Moreover, Lu and Wei are brother states, yet the lord employs Qi, which means abandoning Wei.'' The Lord of Lu suspected him 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 that Marquis Wen of Wei was worthy and wanted to serve him. Marquis Wen asked Li Ke: 'What kind of person is Wu Qi?' Li Ke said: 'Qi is greedy and fond of women, but in using troops, even Sima Rangju cannot surpass him.' So Marquis Wen of Wei appointed him as general and attacked Qin, capturing 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 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, Qi sucked it for him. The soldier's mother heard and 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's not that. In previous years Lord Wu sucked my husband's sore, and my husband fought without turning back and died on the battlefield. Now Lord Wu sucks my son's sore again. I don't know where my son will die.'' So she wept 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 and fair, able to completely win the soldiers' hearts, so he appointed him governor of the Xhe region 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, Qi served his son Marquis Wu. Marquis Wu floated down the Yellow River, and in midstream turned to say to Wu Qi: 'How beautiful are the mountain and river fortifications—this is Wei's treasure!' 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 in this boat will become the enemy state's people.'' 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。
He appointed Wu Qi as governor of the Xhe region, and he had great renown. Wei appointed a chancellor: Chancellor Tian Wen. Wu Qi was displeased and said to Tian Wen: 'May I discuss merits with you?' Tian Wen said: 'Acceptable.' Qi said: 'Commanding the three armies, making soldiers gladly die for you, enemy states not daring to plot—who compares to me?' Wen said: 'I do not match you.' Qi said: 'Managing the hundred officials, being close to the ten thousand people, filling the treasuries—who compares to me?' Wen said: 'I do not match you.' Qi said: 'Guarding Xhe so Qin troops dare not face east, making Han and Zhao submit as guests—who compares to me?' Wen said: 'I do not match you.' Qi said: 'In these three matters you are all below me, yet your position is above mine. Why?' Wen said: 'The lord is young, the state uncertain, ministers not yet attached, the people not yet trusting—at such a time, should it be entrusted to you or to me?' Should it be entrusted to me?'' Qi was silent for a long time, then said: 'It should be entrusted to you.'' Wen said: 'This is why I am above you.'' Wu Qi then realized he was not equal to Tian Wen.
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 the Wei princess, and harmed Wu Qi. Gongsun's servant said: 'Qi can be easily removed.' Gongsun said: 'How?' His servant said: 'Qi is frugal and self-satisfied with his reputation. My lord should first speak to Marquis Wu: 'Wu Qi is a worthy person, but your lordship's state is small and borders strong Qin. I privately fear Qi may not be wholeheartedly devoted.'' Marquis Wu will say: 'What then?' My lord should say to Marquis Wu: 'Try offering him the princess in marriage. If Qi is devoted, he will certainly accept. If he has no devotion he will certainly decline.' Use this to divine it.'' My lord should summon Wu Qi and bring him home, then have the princess become angry and insult you. When Wu Qi sees the princess insulting you, he will certainly decline.'' So Wu Qi saw the princess insulting the Wei chancellor and indeed declined Marquis Wu. Marquis Wu suspected it but did not believe. Wu Qi feared punishment, so he 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 Qi was worthy, and upon his arrival appointed him chancellor of Chu. He clarified the laws and examined the commands, abolished unnecessary officials, dismissed distant royal clansmen, to nurture and fight with the soldiers. He emphasized strengthening the troops, rejecting the words of the strategists who spoke of alliances and confederacies. Thus he pacified Baiyue in the south; annexed Chen and Cai in the north, drove back the three Jin; attacked Qin in the west. The feudal lords feared Chu's strength. Therefore Chu's nobles all wanted to harm Wu Qi. When King Dao died, the royal clansmen and ministers rebelled and attacked Wu Qi. Wu Qi fled to the king's corpse and lay upon it. Those attacking Qi then shot and stabbed Wu Qi, also hitting King Dao. After King Dao was buried, the crown prince ascended and had the chief minister execute all those who shot Wu Qi and hit the king's corpse. Those executed for shooting Qi and whose clans were exterminated numbered more than seventy families.
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: What the world commonly calls military works all discuss Sun Tzu's thirteen chapters and Wu Qi's military strategy. The world has many, so I will not discuss them, but will discuss their actions and achievements. The saying goes: 'Those who can act may not be able to speak, those who can speak may not be able to act.' Sun Tzu clearly strategized against Pang Juan, yet could not early save himself from punishment. Wu Qi explained to Marquis Wu that terrain depends on virtue, yet when he acted in Chu he was harsh and cruel, lacking benevolence, and lost his life. Alas!