孙子曰:凡治众如治寡,分数是也。
Sun Tzu said,‘ The management of a large force is
the same as the management of a small force. It is only a
matter of organization.
斗众如斗寡,形名是也。
Whether one fights against a large force or a small
force the guiding principle is the same. It is a matter of
using arrays and signals.
三军之众,可使必受敌而无败者,奇正是
也。
In order to ensure the success of meeting the attacks
of the enemy, the fighting forces should be judiciously
divided into regulars and reservists.
兵之所加,如以瑕投卵者,虚实是也。
when one delivers attacks on the enemy the impact
should be forcible like a grindstone crushing eggs. In
order to be able to do thus he must ascertain the strength
and weakness of the enemy.
凡战者,以正合,以奇胜。
In every battle the regulars should be used at the
commencement of fighting but only a judicious use ofthereservists can ensure victory.
故善出奇者,无穷如天地,不竭如江河。
终而复始,日月是也。死而复生,四时是也。
The adept in marshaling the reservists is as re-
sourceful as heaven, earth and rivers; as versatile as sun
and moon; and as perennial as the four seasons.
声不过五,五声之变,不可胜听也。
There are not more than five musical notes yet
combinations of these notes produce an endless number
of melodies.
色不过五,五色之变,不可胜观也。
There are not more than five colours yet com-
binations of these colours produce an endless number of
beautiful objects.
味不过五,五味之变,不可胜尝也。
There are not more than five flavours yet com-
binations of these flavours produce an endless number of
palatable food.
战势不过奇正,奇正之变,不可胜穷也。
奇正相生,如循环之无端。孰能穷之?
Similarly in delivering attacks one's choice is con-
fined to using either the regulars or the reservists, yet the
variation is endless. One may lead to the other like mov-
ing in a circle and never reaching the end.Indeed who
can know all possible variatoins?
激水之疾,至于漂石者,势也。鸷鸟之疾,
至于毁折者,节也。
It is the sudden push that enables rushing torrents to
move stones. It is the correct timing that enables flying
falcons to pounce upon preys。
是故善战者,其势险,其节短。势如 弩,
节如发机。
Similarly the adept in warfare attacks with terrific
speed and perfect timing. His readiness to stage a push is
like a taut bow and his timing is like releasing a trigger.
纷纷纭纭,斗乱而不可乱也;浑浑沌沌,
形圆而不可败也。
The movements of the troops may have the ap-
pearance of confusion and disorder but in reality every-
thing is done accordibg to rule and order.
乱生于治,怯生于勇,弱生于强。
To be able to simulate disorder one must possess dis-
cipline. To be able to simulate fear one must possess
courage. To be able to simulate weakness one must possess
strength.
治乱,数也;勇怯,势也;强弱,形也。
Order or disorder depends on organization; Courage
or fear depends on the manner an advance is being
pushed. Strength or weakness depends on appearance.
故善动敌者,形之,敌必从之;予之,敌必
取之;以利动之,以卒待之。
He who knows how to weary the enemy keeps them
chasing about by deceitful appearances. He would pur-
posely give away something which the enemy are eager
to accept. He would make them leave their position by
holding out baits so that his men could ambush them.
故善战者,求之于势,不责于人。故能择
人而任势。任势者,其战人也,如转木石;木
石之性,安则静,危则动,方则止,圆则行。
The adept in warfare always seeks victory from an
opportune situation, and relies little on the efforts of the
individuals. He chooses men to fit the situation. In this
his action is comparable to moving logs and stones. It is
the nature of logs and stones that when they are placed
on a secure base they tend to remain firm;when they are
placed on an insecure base they tend to shift about; when
they are cornered they tend to stand still; and when they
are round they tend to roll about.
故善战人之势,如转圆石于千仞之山者,势
也。
The adept in warfare is able to push his army in a
manner comparable to the onrush of round stones rolling
down from a mountain slope of thousands of feet high-
due to momentum.'
译文
孙子说:要做到管理人数多的军队,如同管
理人数少的军队一样容易,这是组织、编制的问
题。要做到指挥人数众多的军队作战,如同指挥
人数少的军队一样容易,这是通讯、指挥的问
题。全国军队之多,要使其一旦遭受敌人袭击而
不致失败,这是「奇正」的战术变化问题。军队
进攻敌人,要能像以石击卵那样,所向无敌,这
是「避虚就实」的正确运用问题。大凡作战,一
般都是以正兵当敌,以奇兵取胜(注一)。所以
善于出奇制胜的将帅,其战法如天地那样变化无
穷,像江何那样奔流不竭。入而复出,就像日月
运行一样;过去了又再来,就像四季更替一般。
乐音不过五个音阶,可是五个音阶的变化,却听
不胜听;颜色不过五种,可是五种颜色的变化,
却看不胜看;味道不过五种,可是五种味道的变
化,却尝不胜尝。作战的态式不过「奇」、「
正」,可是奇正的变化(注二),却是不可穷尽
的。奇正相互转化,就像顺著圆环旋转那样,无
始无终,谁能穷尽它呢?湍急的流水,飞快地奔
流,以致能漂移石块,这是由於水势强大的缘
故;凶猛的飞鸟,以飞快的速度搏击,以致能捕
杀鸟兽,这是由於节奏恰当的关系。所以善於指
挥作战的人,他所造成的态势是险峻的,他所掌
握的节奏是短促的(注三)。这种态势,就像张
满的弓弩;这种节奏,犹如触发弩机。在旌旗纷
纷、人马纭纭的混乱状态中作战,必须使自己的
部队不发生混乱;在浑沌不清的情况下打仗,必
须把部队部署得四面八方都能应付自如,使敌人
无法败我。「示敌混乱,战前必须有严格的训
练;示敌怯懦,战前必须有勇敢的素质;示敌弱
小,战前必须有强大的兵力」。「治乱」是组织
指挥的问题;「勇怯」,是态势的优劣问题;「
强弱」是军事力量的表现问题(注四)。所以,
善於调动敌人的将帅,伪装假像迷惑敌人,敌人
必乌其调动;予敌以刮,敌人必为其所诱。以小
利去调动敌人,以伏兵待机掩击敌人。所以,善
於作战的人,要依靠有利的态势取胜,而不从人
身上苛求责任。因而他就能选到适当人材,利用
有利的形势。善於「任势」的人,他指挥将士作
战,就像转动木头和石头一样。木头和石头的特
性,放在平坦的地方比较稳定,放在陡斜的地方
就容易滚动;方的呆板不动,圆的滚动灵活。所
以善於指挥作战的人所造成的有利态势,就像把
圆石从八百丈的高山上飞滚下来那样。这就是所
谓的「势」!
(注一)这里的“分数”是组织编制的意思。因为
制定编制,把军队组织起来,所以管理
就容易了。“形名”就是旌旗、金鼓等指
挥记号。约好了讯号,指挥多数人作战
就像指挥少数人一样容易了。“奇正”就
是军队部署问题。因为把军队区分成了“
奇兵”和“正兵”,即区分成担任警戒的
部队和集中机动的部队,这样纵然遭到
敌人突然的袭击,也有保障不至於失
败,而能灵活地应付情况。“虚实”就是
强弱的意思,因为集中我们主要的优势
力量(实),去打敌人的弱点(虚),自
然就像用石头去打鸡蛋那样容易了。
(注二):“以正合,以奇胜”的意思是:用次要的
箝制部队从正面去抓住敌人,用主要的
突击部队出敌不意从侧后去打击敌人的
弱点。中国古代所谓“五音”即宫、商、
角、徵、羽,加上两个变音,实际上和现
代的七个音阶完全相同。“五色”即:
红、黄、蓝、白、黑。“五味”即:咸、
酸、苦、辣、甜。孙子用五音、五色和五
味的变化无穷、来形容“奇”“正”的变
化,也是无穷无尽的。
(注三)这里“其节短”的意思是集中兵力,做好
准备,把部队隐蔽地接近敌人,缩短突
击距离,这样,进攻就能非常迅速而突
然,使敌人来不及作有效的抵抗。
(注四)这一段意思是说:本来严整的军队,如
果骄傲松懈,管理不严,号令不明,就会
变成混乱;本来勇敢的官兵,如杲轻敌
冒进遭到失败,士气受挫,就会变成怯
懦;本来优势的军队,如果犯了严重的
错误,就会被削弱变成劣势的。这里,孙
子指出:治、乱、勇、怯、强、弱等对立
的范畴,是能相互推移转化的。转化的
关键,在於将帅主观的能动性;要使军
队严整,就要有严密的组织和纪律;要
使军队勇敢作战,就要造成一种有利的
态势;要使敌弱我强,就要使我军处於
有利的地位,迫使敌人陷於不利的形势
中。