Chapter 8: 九变篇 (Jiǔ Biàn Piān) - The Nine Variations
孙子曰:凡用兵之法,将有九变。Sūn Zǐ yuē: Fán yòng bīng zhī fǎ, jiàng yǒu jiǔ biàn.
Sun Tzu said: In the art of war, the general must be adept at nine variations.
不得已而用之,称兵而动。Bù dé yǐ ér yòng zhī, chēng bīng ér dòng.
Only when necessary should one engage in action, moving troops carefully.
途有所不由,军有所不击,城有所不攻,地有所不争。Tú yǒu suǒ bù yóu, jūn yǒu suǒ bù jī, chéng yǒu suǒ bù gōng, dì yǒu suǒ bù zhēng.
There are roads not to be followed, armies not to be attacked, cities not to be besieged, and terrain not to be contested.
将之任,知兵之道者,必虑敌之情。Jiàng zhī rèn, zhī bīng zhī dào zhě, bì lǜ dí zhī qíng.
A general, knowing the art of war, must always consider the enemy’s situation.
无势则困,有势则利。Wú shì zé kùn, yǒu shì zé lì.
Without momentum, one is trapped; with momentum, one gains advantage.
故明将所以动而静者,敌不可测也。Gù míng jiàng suǒ yǐ dòng ér jìng zhě, dí bù kě cè yě.Thus, the wise general’s movements are unpredictable to the enemy.
Vocabulary List for Chapter 8
Chinese | Pinyin | English Meaning |
九变 | jiǔ biàn | nine variations |
用兵 | yòng bīng | waging war, using troops |
将 | jiàng | general |
不得已 | bù dé yǐ | no other choice, necessity |
称兵 | chēng bīng | move troops |
动 | dòng | act, move |
途 | tú | road, path |
不由 | bù yóu | not to follow |
不击 | bù jī | not to attack |
不攻 | bù gōng | not to besiege |
不争 | bù zhēng | not to contend |
任 | rèn | responsibility, role |
兵之道 | bīng zhī dào | the way of war |
必虑 | bì lǜ | must consider |
敌之情 | dí zhī qíng | enemy’s situation |
无势 | wú shì | without momentum |
有势 | yǒu shì | with momentum |
明将 | míng jiàng | wise general |
动而静 | dòng ér jìng | act and remain calm |
不可测 | bù kě cè | unpredictable |
Comments