Chapter 1 – Sentence 2

Giles:

The art of war, then, is governed by five constant factors, to be taken into account in one’s deliberations, when seeking to determine the conditions obtaining in the field. These are: (1) The Moral Law; (2) Heaven; (3) Earth; (4) The Commander; (5) Method and discipline.

 

Goldwater:

How shall we investigate war? The DaoDeJing identifies the 5 stages of the Dao, the principles of which we will use as the basis for investigation. We will use calculations to compare the opposing generals in terms of the principles of the Dao. From this, we will be able to understand their respective situations. The 5 stages of the Dao are 1) the Dao, 2) the Heavens, 3) the Earth, 4) the Generals, and 5) Organization.

 

Traditional Chinese

故經之以五事，校之以計，
而索其情：一曰道，二曰天，
三曰地，四曰將，五曰法。

 

Simplified Chinese

故经之以五事，校之以计，
而索其情：一曰道，二曰天，
三曰地，四曰将，五曰法。

 

Pin Yin

gù jīng zhī yǐ wǔ shì; jiào zhī yǐ jì,
ér suǒ qí qíng: yī yuē dào, èr yuē tiān,
sān yuē dì, sì yuē jiàng, wǔ yuē fǎ.

 

故經之以五事，校之以計，而索其情，
一曰道，二曰天，三曰地，四曰將，五曰法。
Therefore the book per 5 things,
comparing them per calculation,
understand their situations,
1 says Dao, 2 says Heavens,
3 says Earth, 4 says general, 5 says organization.

 

故 經 之 以 五 事，
Therefore book the *1 per 5 things,

 

校 之 以 計，
comparing them *1 per calculation,

 

而 索 其 情，
*2 understand their situations,

 

一 曰 道， 二 曰 天，
1 says Dao, 2 says Heavens,

 

三 曰 地， 四 曰 將，
3 says Earth, 4 says General,

 

五 曰 法。
5 says Organization.

 

Therefore, the book (as) per (the) 5 things,
(and) comparing them (as) per calculation,
(can) understand their situations,
1 says Dao, 2 says Heavens,
3 says Earth, 4 says general,
5 says organization.

Therefore, (how shall we investigate?) The book
(the DaoDeJing) {on the basis of} (the) 5 things (in it),
(and) comparing them (the opposing generals)
{on the basis of} calculation, (we can) understand their
(respective) situations. (The 5 things given in the book are)
1) (the) Dao, 2) (the) Heavens, 3) (the) Earth,
4) (the) Generals, (and) 5) Organization.

How shall we investigate war? The DaoDeJing identifies the 5 stages of the Dao, the principles of which we will use as the basis for investigation. We will use calculations to compare the opposing generals in terms of the principles of the Dao. From this, we will be able to understand their respective situations. The 5 stages of the Dao are 1) the Dao, 2) the Heavens, 3) the Earth, 4) the Generals, and 5) Organization.

Comments:

1. 之 is a very versatile word. It is primarily used in modern times to show possession and to introduce subordinate clauses. The English equivalents for the 2 uses in this sentence are different. In the first case, it is emphasizing the preceding noun, similar to ‘the’ in English. In the second case, it is being used as a direct object pronoun, equivalent to ‘them’.

2. 而 is used to indicate that the clause that follows will be the last clause of the series, to be followed by a period or a semicolon.

3. The Dao is a notion that represents 5 stages, 5 subdivisions, 5 primary principles, 5 distinctions. Sunzi refers to these as the ‘5 things’, for want of a simpler word.

4. In the second sentence of this book, it is already clear that the book is based on an acceptance of the basic priniciples of the Dao, which were originally introduced in the DaoDeJing. Prevous translators seem to skip over this part, although some have alluded to it incidentally. For an introduction to the basic principles of the Dao, as they relate to this sentence, click here.