Chapter 11 of Sunzi

孙Sūn子zǐ曰yuē：用yòng兵bīng之zhī法fǎ，有yǒu散sàn地dì，有yǒu轻qīng地dì，有yǒu争zhēng地dì，有yǒu交jiāo地dì，有yǒu衢qú地dì，有yǒu重zhòng地dì，有yǒu泛fàn地dì，有yǒu围wéi地dì，有yǒu死sǐ地dì。

Sun Tzu said: In the art of war, there are nine types of terrain: the terrain of dispersion, the light terrain, the contested terrain, the terrain of communication, the terrain of convergence, the serious terrain, the difficult terrain, the encircled terrain, and the desperate terrain.

诸zhū侯hóu自zì战zhàn其qí地dì者zhě，为wéi散sàn地dì；入rù人rén之zhī地dì不bù深shēn者zhě，为wéi轻qīng地dì；我wǒ得dé亦yì利lì，彼bǐ得dé亦yì利lì者zhě，为wéi争zhēng地dì；我wǒ可kě以yǐ往wǎng，彼bǐ可kě以yǐ来lái者zhě，为wéi交jiāo地dì；诸zhū侯hóu之zhī地dì三sān属shǔ，先xiān至zhì而ér得dé天tiān下xià众zhòng者zhě，为wéi衢qú地dì；入rù人rén之zhī地dì深shēn，背bèi城chéng邑yì多duō者zhě，为wéi重zhòng地dì；山shān林lín、险xiǎn阻zǔ、沮jǔ泽zé，凡fán难nán行xíng之zhī道dào者zhě，为wéi泛fàn地dì；所suǒ由yóu入rù者zhě隘ài，所suǒ从cóng归guī者zhě迂yū，彼bǐ寡guǎ可kě以yǐ击jī吾wú之zhī众zhòng者zhě，为wéi围wéi地dì；疾jí战zhàn则zé存cún，不bù疾jí战zhàn则zé亡wáng者zhě，为wéi死sǐ地dì。

A terrain is called 'of dispersion' when a prince fights on his own territory. A terrain is called 'light' when one penetrates little deeply into enemy territory. A terrain is called 'contested' when it is advantageous for us as well as for the enemy. A terrain is called 'of communication' when we can go there and the enemy can come there. A terrain is called 'of convergence' when it is adjacent to three states and the first who occupies it gains the support of all. A terrain is called 'serious' when one penetrates deeply into enemy territory, leaving many cities behind. A terrain is called 'difficult' when it consists of mountains, forests, marshes, or steep paths. A terrain is called 'encircled' when the entrance is narrow and the exit is winding, allowing a small enemy force to defeat a large one. A terrain is called 'desperate' when one can only survive by fighting quickly.

是shì故gù散sàn地dì则zé无wú战zhàn，轻qīng地dì则zé无wú止zhǐ，争zhēng地dì则zé无wú攻gōng，交jiāo地dì则zé无wú绝jué，衢qú地dì则zé合hé交jiāo，重zhòng地dì则zé掠lüè，泛fàn地dì则zé行xíng，围wéi地dì则zé谋móu，死sǐ地dì则zé战zhàn。

On a terrain of dispersion, do not engage in battle. On a light terrain, do not stop. On contested terrain, do not launch an assault. On a terrain of communication, do not cut your communications. On a terrain of convergence, form alliances. On serious terrain, plunder resources. On difficult terrain, advance without stopping. On encircled terrain, use stratagems. On desperate terrain, fight fiercely.

古gǔ之zhī善shàn用yòng兵bīng者zhě，能néng使shǐ敌dí人rén前qián后hòu不bù相xiāng及jí，众zhòng寡guǎ不bù相xiāng恃shì，贵guì贱jiàn不bù相xiāng救jiù，上shàng下xià不bù相xiāng收shōu，卒zú离lí而ér不bù集jí，兵bīng合hé而ér不bù齐qí。

The ancient masters of the art of war knew how to divide enemy forces, preventing the front and rear from supporting each other, large and small units from aiding each other, officers and soldiers from helping each other, troops from gathering, and formations from uniting.

合hé于yú利lì而ér动dòng，不bù合hé于yú利lì而ér止zhǐ。敢gǎn问wèn敌dí众zhòng而ér整zhěng将jiàng来lái，待dài之zhī若ruò何hé曰yuē：先xiān夺duó其qí所suǒ爱ài则zé听tīng矣yǐ。

Act when it is advantageous, stop when it is not. If the enemy is numerous and well-organized, how can you counter him? Answer: Take away what he cherishes, and he will obey.

兵bīng之zhī情qíng主zhǔ速sù，乘chéng人rén之zhī不bù及jí。由yóu不bù虞yú之zhī道dào，攻gōng其qí所suǒ不bù戒jiè也yě。

The nature of war demands speed. Exploit the enemy's vulnerabilities, attack where he is not on guard.

凡fán为wéi客kè之zhī道dào，深shēn入rù则zé专zhuān。主zhǔ人rén不bù克kè，掠lüè于yú饶ráo野yě，三sān军jūn足zú食shí。谨jǐn养yǎng而ér勿wù劳láo，并bìng气qì积jī力lì，运yùn兵bīng计jì谋móu，为wéi不bù可kě测cè。

When an army invades a territory, the deeper it penetrates, the more determined it is. If the defenders cannot defeat it, it plunders the rich countryside to feed its troops. You must take care of the soldiers without exhausting them, concentrate their energy, and maneuver in an unpredictable way.

投tóu之zhī无wú所suǒ往wǎng，死sǐ且qiě不bù北běi。死sǐ焉yān不bù得dé，士shì人rén尽jìn力lì。

Cast your troops into a situation from which there is no escape, and they will prefer to die fighting rather than flee. When there is no escape, the soldiers fight until death.

兵bīng士shì甚shèn陷xiàn则zé不bù惧jù，无wú所suǒ往wǎng则zé固gù，深shēn入rù则zé拘jū，不bù得dé已yǐ则zé斗dòu。

When soldiers are deeply engaged, they fear nothing. Without escape, they fight fiercely. In enemy territory, they are united. Cornered, they fight desperately.

是shì故gù其qí兵bīng不bù修xiū而ér戒jiè，不bù求qiú而ér得dé，不bù约yuē而ér亲qīn，不bù令lìng而ér信xìn，禁jìn祥xiáng去qù疑yí，至zhì死sǐ无wú所suǒ之zhī。

Thus, the troops do not need to be disciplined to be cautious, nor motivated to be loyal, nor bound by oaths to be united, nor commanded to obey. They reject superstitions and doubts, and fight to the death without hesitation.

吾wú士shì无wú余yú财cái，非fēi恶wù货huò也yě；无wú余yú命mìng，非fēi恶wù寿shòu也yě。

My soldiers have no surplus wealth, not that they despise possessions; they do not seek to save their lives, not that they despise longevity.

令lìng发fā之zhī日rì，士shì卒zú坐zuò者zhě涕tì沾zhān襟jīn，偃yǎn卧wò者zhě涕tì交jiāo颐yí，投tóu之zhī无wú所suǒ往wǎng，诸zhū刿guì之zhī勇yǒng也yě。

On the day the orders are given, the soldiers sitting have tears in their eyes, those lying down weep profusely. But once cast into a situation without escape, they fight with the courage of Zhuo.

故gù善shàn用yòng兵bīng者zhě，譬pì若ruò率shuài然rán。率shuài然rán者zhě，常cháng山shān之zhī蛇shé也yě。击jī其qí首shǒu则zé尾wěi至zhì，击jī其qí尾wěi则zé首shǒu至zhì，击jī其qí中zhōng则zé首shǒu尾wěi俱jù至zhì。

A good general commands his troops like the Shuaran serpent of Mount Chang. Struck at the head, its tail comes to the rescue; struck at the tail, its head comes to the rescue; struck in the middle, head and tail come together.

敢gǎn问wèn兵bīng可kě使shǐ如rú率shuài然rán乎hū？曰yuē可kě。

Can the troops be made to act like the Shuaran serpent? Answer: Yes.

夫fú吴Wú人rén与yǔ越Yuè人rén相xiāng恶wù也yě，当dāng其qí同tóng舟zhōu而ér济jì而ér遇yù风fēng，其qí相xiāng救jiù也yě如rú左zuǒ右yòu手shǒu。

The people of Wu and Yue detest each other, but when they are in the same boat and encounter a storm, they help each other like the left hand helps the right.

是shì故gù方fāng马mǎ埋mái轮lún，未wèi足zú恃shì也yě；齐qí勇yǒng如rú一yī，政zhèng之zhī道dào也yě；刚gāng柔róu皆jiē得dé，地dì之zhī理lǐ也yě。

Thus, tying horses and burying the wheels of chariots is not enough to ensure cohesion. Unity and courage come from good leadership. Exploiting strengths and weaknesses comes from the use of terrain.

故gù善shàn用yòng兵bīng者zhě，携xié手shǒu若ruò使shǐ一yī人rén，不bù得dé已yǐ也yě。

A good general unites his troops like one man, because they have no choice.

将jiàng军jūn之zhī事shì，静jìng以yǐ幽yōu，正zhèng以yǐ治zhì，能néng愚yú士shì卒zú之zhī耳ěr目mù，使shǐ之zhī无wú知zhī；易yì其qí事shì，革gé其qí谋móu，使shǐ人rén无wú识shí；易yì其qí居jū，迂yū其qí途tú，使shǐ民mín不bù得dé虑lǜ。

The task of the general is to remain calm and mysterious, just and organized. He must deceive the senses of his soldiers, change their tasks and plans so they do not understand, modify their positions and routes so they cannot anticipate.

帅shuài与yǔ之zhī期qī，如rú登dēng高gāo而ér去qù其qí梯tī；帅shuài与yǔ之zhī深shēn入rù诸zhū侯hóu之zhī地dì，而ér发fā其qí机jī。若ruò驱qū群qún羊yáng，驱qū而ér往wǎng，驱qū而ér来lái，莫mò知zhī所suǒ之zhī。

The general gives his orders as if making his men climb a height before removing the ladder. He leads them deeply into enemy territory, then triggers the mechanism. He guides them like a shepherd leads a flock, making them go and come without knowing where they are going.

聚jù三sān军jūn之zhī众zhòng，投tóu之zhī于yú险xiǎn，此cǐ谓wèi将jiàng军jūn之zhī事shì也yě。

Gathering the three armies and casting them into a dangerous situation, that is the task of the general.

九jiǔ地dì之zhī变biàn，屈qū伸shēn之zhī利lì，人rén情qíng之zhī理lǐ，不bù可kě不bù察chá也yě。

The variations of the nine types of terrain, the advantages of flexibility and firmness, and the principles of human psychology—all this cannot be ignored.

凡fán为wéi客kè之zhī道dào，深shēn则zé专zhuān，浅qiǎn则zé散sàn。去qù国guó越yuè境jìng而ér师shī者zhě，绝jué地dì也yě；四sì彻chè者zhě，衢qú地dì也yě；入rù深shēn者zhě，重zhòng地dì也yě；入rù浅qiǎn者zhě，轻qīng地dì也yě；背bèi固gù前qián隘ài者zhě，围wéi地dì也yě；无wú所suǒ往wǎng者zhě，死sǐ地dì也yě。

In general, an invading army is determined if it penetrates deeply, and disperses if it stays on the surface. Leaving one's country to invade another is isolated terrain. When roads are open in all directions, it is a terrain of convergence. Penetrating deeply is serious terrain. Penetrating little deeply is light terrain. Having a solid rear and a narrow front is encircled terrain. Having no way out is desperate terrain.

是shì故gù散sàn地dì吾wú将jiàng一yī其qí志zhì，轻qīng地dì吾wú将jiàng使shǐ之zhī属shǔ，争zhēng地dì吾wú将jiàng趋qū其qí后hòu，交jiāo地dì吾wú将jiàng谨jǐn其qí守shǒu，衢qú地dì吾wú将jiàng固gù其qí结jié，重zhòng地dì吾wú将jiàng继jì其qí食shí，泛fàn地dì吾wú将jiàng进jìn其qí途tú，围wéi地dì吾wú将jiàng塞sè其qí阙quē，死sǐ地dì吾wú将jiàng示shì之zhī以yǐ不bù活huó。

On a terrain of dispersion, I unite the wills. On light terrain, I strengthen cohesion. On contested terrain, I fall back on the enemy's rear. On a terrain of communication, I secure the defenses. On a terrain of convergence, I consolidate alliances. On serious terrain, I ensure supplies. On difficult terrain, I advance the troops. On encircled terrain, I block the gaps. On desperate terrain, I show that there is no escape.

故gù兵bīng之zhī情qíng：围wéi则zé御yù，不bù得dé已yǐ则zé斗dòu，过guò则zé从cóng。

The nature of the troops is such that, encircled, they defend themselves; cornered, they fight; in extreme difficulty, they obey.

是shì故gù不bù知zhī诸zhū侯hóu之zhī谋móu者zhě，不bù能néng预yù交jiāo；不bù知zhī山shān林lín、险xiǎn阻zǔ、沮jǔ泽zé之zhī形xíng者zhě，不bù能néng行xíng军jūn；不bù用yòng乡xiāng导dǎo，不bù能néng得dé地dì利lì。

He who does not know the plans of the princes cannot form alliances. He who does not know mountains, forests, dangers, and marshes cannot march an army. He who does not use local guides cannot exploit the terrain.

四sì五wǔ者zhě，一yī不bù知zhī，非fēi霸bà王wáng之zhī兵bīng也yě。

Ignoring one of these five points, it is not an army worthy of a hegemon king.

夫fú霸bà王wáng之zhī兵bīng，伐fá大dà国guó，则zé其qí众zhòng不bù得dé聚jù；威wēi加jiā于yú敌dí，则zé其qí交jiāo不bù得dé合hé。

The armies of a hegemon king, when attacking a great state, prevent its troops from gathering; by imposing their power on the enemy, they prevent its allies from aiding it.

是shì故gù不bù争zhēng天tiān下xià之zhī交jiāo，不bù养yǎng天tiān下xià之zhī权quán，信xìn己jǐ之zhī私sī，威wēi加jiā于yú敌dí，则zé其qí城chéng可kě拔bá，其qí国guó可kě隳huī。

Thus, he does not seek to curry favor with other states, nor cultivate their influence, but relies on his own strength and imposes his power on the enemy, which allows him to take its cities and overthrow its state.

施shī无wú法fǎ之zhī赏shǎng，悬xuán无wú政zhèng之zhī令lìng。犯fàn三sān军jūn之zhī众zhòng，若ruò使shǐ一yī人rén。

He grants extraordinary rewards, gives unexpected orders, and directs the three armies like one man.

犯fàn之zhī以yǐ事shì，勿wù告gào以yǐ言yán；犯fàn之zhī以yǐ害hài，勿wù告gào以yǐ利lì。

He engages them in actions without explaining, exposes them to danger without speaking of the advantages.

投tóu之zhī亡wáng地dì然rán后hòu存cún，陷xiàn之zhī死sǐ地dì然rán后hòu生shēng。

He casts them into a desperate situation so that they may survive, places them in a deadly position so that they may fight to live.

夫fú众zhòng陷xiàn于yú害hài，然rán后hòu能néng为wéi胜shèng败bài。

It is when they are pushed to the brink of danger that the troops can win victory.

故gù为wéi兵bīng之zhī事shì，在zài顺shùn详xiáng敌dí之zhī意yì，并bìng敌dí一yī向xiàng，千qiān里lǐ杀shā将jiàng，是shì谓wèi巧qiǎo能néng成chéng事shì。

Thus, in the art of war, one must discern the enemy's intentions, concentrate one's forces at a single point, and kill his general at a thousand li away. This is the skill that leads to success.

是shì故gù政zhèng举jǔ之zhī日rì，夷yí关guān折zhé符fú，无wú通tōng其qí使shǐ，厉lì于yú廊láng庙miào之zhī上shàng，以yǐ诛zhū其qí事shì。

On the day the decision is made, one must close the passes, destroy the safe-conduct seals, cut off relations with envoys, and take strict measures in the ancestral temples to carry out the enterprise.

敌dí人rén开kāi阖hé，必bì亟qì入rù之zhī，先xiān其qí所suǒ爱ài，微wēi与yǔ之zhī期qī，践jiàn墨mò随suí敌dí，以yǐ决jué战zhàn事shì。

When the enemy shows a weakness, one must quickly exploit it, seize what he cherishes, and adapt his plans to the enemy's movements to decide the outcome of the battle.

是shì故gù始shǐ如rú处chǔ女nǚ，敌dí人rén开kāi户hù；后hòu如rú脱tuō兔tù，敌dí不bù及jí拒jù。

At the beginning, be as calm as a maiden so that the enemy opens his doors; afterward, be as swift as a fleeing hare so that the enemy cannot resist.