-
Do not think you will
necessarily be aware of your own enlightenment.
非可测知，以坐禅是悟门之事。悟者，只管打坐。
For to
win
one hundred
victories
in
one
hundred
battles
is not
the
acme
of
skill.
To
subdue
the enemy
without
fighting is the acme of skill.
是故百战百胜，非善之善者也；不战而屈人之兵，善之善者也。
It is said that the
inferior seek to emulate the superior. Thus, if a
general slackens only a little, those beneath him
will be greatly negligent.
上者每为下者所效。大将若贪图舒服，部下必懈怠至极。
Too frequent rewards
indicate that the general is at the end of his
resources; too frequent punishments that he is in
acute distress.
数赏者，窘也；数罚者，困也。
The colour of the mountains is Buddha's
body; the sound of running water is his great
speech.
溪声尽是广长舌，山色无非清净身。夜来八万四千偈，他日如何举似人
。
For them to
perceive the advantage of defeating the enemy,
they must also have their rewards.
取敌之利者，货也。
Confront them with annihilation, and
they will then survive; plunge them into a deadly
situation, and they will then
live.
When people fall into danger, they are then able
to strive for victory.
投
之亡地然后存，陷之死地然后生。夫众陷于害，然后能为胜败。
Speed is the essence of
war. Take advantage of the enemy's unpreparedness;
travel by unexpected routes and strike
him where he has taken no precautions.
兵之情主速，乘人之不及。由不虞之道，攻其所不戒也。
The clever hawk hides its
claws.
聪明的鹰不会炫耀其利爪。
The general who wins the
battle makes
many calculations in his
temple before the battle is fought. The general
who loses makes but few calculations
beforehand.
夫未战而庙算胜者，得算多也。未战而庙算不胜者，得算少也。
A general of great merit
should be said to be a man who has met with at
least one great defeat.
不战而屈人之兵，善之善者也。
The general who advances without
coveting fame and retreats without fearing
disgrace, whose only thought is to
protect his country and do good service
for his sovereign, is the jewel of the kingdom.
故进不求名，退不避罪，唯民是保，而利于主，国之宝也。
Supreme excellence consists in breaking
the enemy's resistance without fighting.
不战而屈人之兵，善之善者也。
When we discover that the truth is
already in us, we are all at once our original
selves.
诸佛正为诸佛之时，诸佛毋须自己觉知自己之为诸佛，然而诸佛实为证
会自性之佛，继续证佛而不休。
A
flower falls, even though we love it; and a weed
grows, even though we do not love it.
佛
道原本跳出丰俭。故有生灭，有迷悟，有众生与诸佛。虽然说是如此，花从爱惜落，草逐弃嫌生。
Bestow rewards without
respect to customary practice; publish orders
without respect to precedent. Thus you may
employ the entire army as you would one
man.
施无法之赏，悬无政之令。犯三军之众，若使一人。
The enlightened ruler is
heedful, and the good general full of caution.
明主慎之，良将警之。
Even monkeys fall from trees.
猴子也会树上落。
Even if one has learned all the sayings
of the sages and saints, he should not insist on
them obstinately.
虽遍览圣贤之言者，亦不得泥其字句也。
Can you imagine what I
would do if I could do all I can?
知己知彼，百战不殆。
A little piece of gold may be highly
valued, but if it gets in one's eye, the result
will be darkness.
白酒红人面，黄金黑世心。
Be
extremely
subtle,
even
to
the
point
of
formlessness.
Be
extremely
mysterious,
even
to
the
point
of
soundlessness. Thereby you can be the
director of the opponent's fate.
微乎微乎，至于无形；神乎神乎，至于无声，故能为敌之司命。
Strategy without tactics is
the slowest route to victory. Tactics without
strategy is the noise before defeat.
谋无术则成事难，术无谋则必败。
Being unconquerable lies with yourself;
being conquerable lies with your enemy.
不可胜在己，可胜在敌。
All warfare is based on deception.
兵者，诡道也。
One defends when his strength is
inadequate, he attacks when it is abundant.
守则不足，攻则有余。
Regard your
soldiers as your children, and they will follow
you into the deepest valleys; look on them as your
own
beloved sons, and they will stand
by you even unto death.
视卒如婴儿，故可以与之赴深溪；视卒如爱子，故可与之俱死。
Secret operations are
essential in war; upon them the army relies to
make its every move.
(
间者
)
此兵之要，三军之所恃而动也。
The stake that sticks out
gets hammered down.
出头的椽子先烂。
If words of command are not
clear and distinct, if orders are not thoroughly
understood, the general is to blame.
But if his orders are clear, and the
soldiers nevertheless disobey, then it is the
fault of their officers.
约束不明，申令不熟，将之罪也
；既已明而不如法者，吏士之罪也。
If you do not enter the tiger's cave,
you will not catch its cub.
不入虎穴，焉得虎子。
It is a man's own mind, not his enemy
or foe, that lures him to evil ways.
人无善恶，善恶存乎尔心。
Dishonour is like a scar on a tree,
which time, instead of effacing, only helps to
enlarge.
愚行正如树疤，不会随时间而消失，反会越来越大。
A leader leads by example,
not by force.
先之以身，后之以人，则士无不勇矣。
The foot feels the foot
when it feels the ground.
以手摩头。于意云何？此摩所
知，谁为能触？即身与触，二俱虚妄。本非因缘，非自然性。
All
men
can
see
these
tactics
whereby
I
conquer,
but
what
none
can
see
is
the
strategy
out
of
which
victory
is
evolved.
人皆知我所以胜之形，而莫知吾所以制胜之形。
Nothing ever exists
entirely alone; everything is in relation to
everything else.
诸行无常，诸法无我。
Act after having made
assessments. The one who first knows the measure
of far and near wins
—
this
is the rule of
armed struggle.
< br>掠乡分众，廓地分利，悬权而动。先知迂直之计者胜，此军争之法也。
The expert in battle seeks
his victory from strategic advantage and does not
demand it from his men.
故善战者，求之于势，不责于人，故能择人而任势。
The reverse side also has a reverse
side.
反面也有其反面。
If you know your enemy and know
yourself, you will not be imperilled by a hundred
battles. If you do not know
the others
but do know yourself, you will win one and lose
one. If you do not know the enemy and do not know
yourselves you will be in danger in
every battle.
知彼知己，百战不殆；不知彼而知己，一胜一负；不知彼
不知己，每战必殆。
Pretend inferiority and encourage his
arrogance.
能而示之不能，用而示之不用。
The way of the warrior is
death. This means choosing death whenever there is
a choice between life and death. It
means nothing else.
武士道为凛然赴死
之道，即于生与死之狭间舍生取义，此外别无它物。
The Four Oaths: Never be late with
respect to the way of the warrior; be useful to
the lord; be respectful to your
parents; get beyond love and grief:
exist for the good of man.
武士四誓，良者必遵之：不
懈于武士道；谨职责于大名；尽孝心于至亲；戒除溺爱与贪念。
To perceive victory when it
is known to all is not really skilful… It does not
take much strength to lift a hair, it
does not take sharp eyes to see the sun
and moon, it does not take sharp ears to hear the
thunderclap.
见胜不过众人之所知，非善之善者也；战胜而天下曰善，非
善之善者也。故举秋毫不为多力，见日月不为
明目，闻雷霆不为聪耳。
< br>
Prohibit the taking of
omens, and do away with superstitious doubts.
Then, until death itself comes, no calamity
need be feared.
禁祥去疑，至死无所之。
A man must not live under the same sky
as one who has injured his lord or father.
弑君弑父之仇不共戴天。
Where the army is, prices are high;
when prices rise the wealth of the people is
exhausted.
近师者贵卖，贵卖则百姓财竭。
One kind word can warm
three winter months.
良言一句三冬暖。
The whole secret of existence is to
have no fear.
无挂碍故，无有恐怖。远离颠倒梦想，究竟涅盘。
The skilful employer of men
will employ the wise man, the brave man, the
covetous man, and the stupid man.
善任人者，使智，使勇，使贪，使愚。
If fighting is sure to result in
victory, then you must fight, even though the
ruler forbid it; if fighting will not result
in victory, then you must not fight
even at the ruler's bidding.
战道必胜，主曰无战，
必战可也；战道不胜，主曰必战，无战可也。
When envoys are sent with compliments
in their mouths, it is a sign that the enemy
wishes for a truce.
来委谢者，欲休息也。
Of all those in the army close to the
commander none is more intimate than the secret
agent; of all rewards none
more liberal
than those given to secret agents; of all matters
none is more confidential than those relating to
secret
operations.
故三军之事，莫亲于间，赏莫厚于间，事莫密于间。
Beginning is easy -
Continuing is hard.
善始者实繁，克终者盖寡。
Now the reason the enlightened prince
and the wise general conquer the enemy
whenever they
move, and
their
achievements surpass those of
ordinary men, is foreknowledge.
故明君贤将所以动而胜人，成功出于众者，先知也。
Opportunities multiply as
they are seized.
杂于利而务可信也。
Without knowledge of
learning, one will ultimately have no military
victories.
不知文道武道，终不得胜利。
One should not be envious
of someone who has prospered by unjust deeds. Nor
should he disdain someone who
has
fallen while adhering to the path of
righteousness.
因人之陋行而责其功，谬也；因人之美行而赞其败，误也。
Just as water will conform
to the shape of the vessel that contains it, so
will a man follow the good and evil of his
companions.
水之形，在其觥；人之贤，在其朋。
You will not be punished for your
anger, you will be punished by your anger.
事临头三思为妙，怒上心忍让最高。
There is no instance of a nation
benefiting from prolonged warfare.
夫兵久而国利者，未之有也。
It
is
essential
to
seek
out
enemy
agents
who
have
come
to
conduct
espionage
against
you
and
to
bribe them
to
serve you. Give them instructions and
care for them. Thus double agents are recruited
and used.
敌间之来间我者，因而利之，导而舍之，故反间可得而用也。
There are seven emotions: joy, anger,
anxiety, adoration, grief, fear, and hate, and if
a man does not give way to
these he can
be called patient.
喜，怒，忧，思，悲，恐，惊，此即为七情。
能御之者，谓之忍。
Victorious warriors win first and then
go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first
and then seek to win.
胜兵先胜而后求战，败兵先战而后求胜。
If thou knowest only what
it is to conquer, and knowest not what it is to be
defeated, woe unto thee; it will fare ill
with thee.
只知胜而不知败，必害其身。
It
is
only
the
enlightened
ruler
and
the
wise
general
who
will
use
the
highest
intelligence
of
the
army
for
the
purposes
of spying, and thereby they achieve great results.
故明君贤将，能以上智为间者，必成大功。
To see victory only when it
is within the ken of the common herd is not the
acme of excellence.
见胜不过众人之所知，非善之善者也。
Even death is not to be
feared by one who has lived wisely.
一念愚即般若绝，一念智即般若生。
He will win who has military capacity
and is not interfered with by the sovereign.
将能而君不御者胜。
To
fight
and
conquer
in
all
our
battles
is
not
supreme
excellence;
supreme
excellence
consists
in
breaking
the
enemy's resistance without fighting.
是故百战百胜，非善之善者也；不战而屈人之兵，善之善者也。
Invincibility lies in the
defence; the possibility of victory in the attack.
不可胜者，守也；可胜者，攻也。
Death refuses to wait for the space of
a breath; life is more evanescent than a mayfly or
a lightning flash.
轮回不待须臾纵，此生无常瞬息亡。
In
the
practical
art
of
war,
the
best
thing
of
all
is
to
take
the
enemy's
country
whole
and
intact;
to
shatter
and
destroy it is not so good.
夫用兵之法，全国为上，破国次之。
One should have insight into this world
of dreams that passes in the twinkling of an eye.
此宛如梦幻之尘世，虽为须臾之一瞥，亦足观矣。
Thus, what is of supreme
importance in war is to attack the enemy's
strategy.
上兵伐谋。
What the
ancients called a clever fighter is one who not
only wins, but excels in winning with ease.
古之所谓善战者，胜于易胜者也。
He will win who, prepared himself,
waits to take the enemy unprepared.
以虞待不虞者胜。
If our soldiers are not overburdened
with money, it is not because they have a distaste
for riches; if their lives are
not
unduly long, it is not because they are
disinclined to longevity.
吾士无余财，非恶货也；无余命，非恶寿也。
If ignorant both of your
enemy and yourself, you are certain to be in
peril.
不知彼不知己，每战必败。
Holding on to anger is like
grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it
at someone else; you are the one who
gets burned.
嗔是心中火，能烧功德林。
If you are far from the enemy, make him
believe you are near.
远而示之近。
The supreme art of war is
to subdue the enemy without fighting.
不战而屈人之兵，善之善者也。
It is truly regrettable that a person
will treat a man who is valuable to him well, and
a man who is worthless to him
poorly.
目其重者以青眼，视其轻者以白眼，此可惩之态也。
If a man does not
investigate into the matter of bushido daily, it
will be difficult for him to die a brave and manly
death.
不将思索武士道视为日常之事，则很难拥有英勇而荣耀的死亡。
The ultimate in disposing
one's troops is to be without ascertainable shape.
Then the most penetrating spies cannot
pry in nor can the wise lay plans
against you.
故形兵之极，至于无形。无形则深间不能窥，智者不能谋。
Hence that general is
skilful in attack whose opponent does not know
what to defend; and he is skilful in defence
whose opponent does not know what to
attack.
故善攻者，敌不知其所守；善守者，敌不知其所攻。
The art of giving orders is
not to try to rectify the minor blunders and not
be swayed by petty doubts.
施无法之赏，悬无政之令。
Do not dwell in the past, do not dream
of the future, concentrate the mind on the present
moment.
活在当下。
Subtle and
insubstantial, the expert leaves no trace;
divinely mysterious, he is inaudible. Thus he is
master of his
enemy's fate.
微乎微乎，至于无形；神乎神乎，至于无声，故能为敌之司命。
He will win whose army is
animated by the same spirit throughout all its
ranks.
上下同欲者胜。
The tongue like a sharp knife...kills
without drawing blood.
舌上有龙泉，杀人不见血。
The
opportunity
to
secure
ourselves
against
defeat
lies
in
our
own
hands,
but
the
opportunity
of
defeating
the
enemy is provided by the enemy himself.
不可胜在己，可胜在敌。
The quality of decision is like the
well-timed swoop of a falcon which enables it to
strike and destroy its victim.
鸷鸟之疾，至于毁折者，节也。
When torrential water tosses boulders,
it is because of its momentum. When the strike of
a hawk breaks the body
of its prey, it
is because of timing.
激水之疾，至于漂石者，势也；鸷鸟之疾，至于毁折者，节也。
He who knows when he can
fight, and when he cannot, will be victorious.
知可战与不可战者胜。
As
for
the
decorum
at
the
time
of
a
campaign,
one
must
be
mindful
that
he
is
a
samurai.
A
person
who
loves
beautification where it is unnecessary
is fit for punishment.
军队礼法，武士当存知于心；追求华
美而不顾时宜，此为至谬也。
A
dog is not considered a good dog because he is a
good barker. A man is not considered a good man
because he is
a good talker.
佛曰：由爱故生忧，由爱故生怖，若离于爱者，无忧亦无怖。
To a surrounded enemy, you
must leave a way of escape.
围师必阙。
One
should
not
be negligent
in
the
way
of
the
retainer.
One
should
rise
at
four
in
the
morning,
practice
sword
technique, eat one's
meal, and train with the bow, the gun, and the
horse.
不可因身为陪臣而懈怠。闻鸡起舞，粗砺疏食，日习弓马铁炮之道，此即
为应有之态。
He will
win who knows how to handle both superior and
inferior forces.
识众寡之用者胜。
He will win who knows when to fight and
when not to fight.
知可以战与不可以战者胜。
He who is prudent, and lies in wait for
an enemy who is not, will be victorious.
以虞待不虞者胜。
The good fighters of old first put
themselves beyond the possibility of defeat, and
then waited for an opportunity of
defeating the enemy.
昔之善战者，先为不可胜，以待敌之可胜。
Encourage and listen well
to the words of your subordinates. It is well
known that gold lies hidden underground.
勉励并倾听部下的意见。要知道，金子总是埋在地下的。
In this world of
uncertainty, ours should be a path of discipline.
既生于此混沌未明之世，我辈则需务求勤勉之道。
You
should
not
have
a
favourite
weapon.
To
become
over-
familiar
with
one
weapon
is
as
much
a
fault
as
not
knowing it
sufficiently well.
不可令己囿于一技。囿于一技者，无异于未谙此技也。
A man with deep far-
sightedness will survey both the beginning and the
end of a situation and continually consider
its every facet as important.
深谋远虑之士，可知战局之始终，亦料敌军之举止。
When delivering something
like an important letter or other written
materials, grasp it firmly in your hand as you
go and do not release it once, but hand
it over directly to the recipient.
递送重要
的信函和文件时，途中一定要牢牢地握住，片刻也不能离手，送到目的地时，一定要直接交给对
< br>方。
Camellia
blossom; falling swiftly to the ground; my head
follows after.
锦绣乎山茶，虽为璀璨终归去，吾身如此花。
Dripping morning dew;
mimics the blood from a blade; it does not wake
me.
朝露徒凋零，譬如刃上血自寂，眠者未曾醒。
Every day is a journey, and
the journey itself is home.
信家木曾问旅路，唯闻前方白云深。
People in this world look at things
mistakenly, and think that what they do not
understand must be the void. This is
not the true void. It is bewilderment.
混沌未知之物，世人谓之空。此非空也，实未明尔。
What is called the spirit
of the void is where there is nothing. It is not
included in man's knowledge.
所谓空者，无物之境也。此非人所能知之。
By
inconsistency and frivolity
we stray
from the
Way and show
ourselves to be beginners. In this we
do much
harm.
若反复无常，举止轻浮，则迷失于应为之道，终害己身。
In the autumn time; you
cannot catch every leaf; nor halt coming age.
寥落秋景中，落叶纷纷未可留，岁月与之同。
Learning
is
to
a
man
as
the
leaves
and
branches
are
to
a
tree,
and
it
can
be
said
that
he
should
simply
not
be
without
it.
求学之于世人，譬如枝叶之于树木，须臾不可或缺。
As long as people overlook
matters, then inferiors can, without any fear,
lead an easy and peaceful life.
若主君疏于管理
，则宵小之辈会肆无忌惮地安享逸豫安稳的生活。
The crane soars higher; its wings brush
cherry blossom; my soul flies with it.
孤鹤忽奋飞，轻触樱枝花若雪，携吾魂俱归。
Cutting down the enemy is
the way of strategy, and there is no need for many
refinements of it.
勿拘於比斗之架势，只许一意砍倒强敌。
Also by training you will
be able to freely control your own body, conquer
men with your body, and with sufficient
training you will be able to beat ten
men with your spirit. When you have reached this
point, will it not mean that
you are
invincible?
以磨砺制御己身，此为败敌之道。得磨砺之精魄者，可成以一
当十之功。临此至高之境者，何人可胜之？
No matter whether a person belongs to
the upper or lower ranks, if he has not put his
life on the line at least once
he has
cause for shame.
壮烈的战死，是任何武士终生所追求的。
Men
with
discrimination
will
be
viewed
as
schemers;
second,
men
with
deep
far-sightedness
will
be
seen
as
cowards; and third, men with rough
behaviour will be mistaken for real warriors.
深谋之士，世人尝忌之以诡谲。远虑之士，世人尝讽之以卑怯。然蛮勇之士，世人恒谬赞之以国士
。
Summer’s arid
heat; the dry parched earth welcomes me; my blood
nourishing.
炎夏何灼灼，抔土应喜吾身至，碧血饫其渴。
When all your judgements
are based on your own wisdom, you tend towards
selfishness and fail by straying from
the right path.
若仅凭自己判断而行事，则会囿于自身而偏离正途。
With my last breath; I
honour my great master; now I go to him.
虽为弥留时，谨献赞颂于吾师，此身须臾至。
It is better not to become acquainted
with men about whom you have formerly had doubts.
No matter what you do,
they will be
people by whom you will be tripped up or taken in.
未可与可疑之士深交。苟有警，君则反受其害。
One should always be
genteel in his speaking. A man shows his inmost
self by a single word.
言语风雅，内心寡言。
In the ponds cool depths; the happy
frog plays in spring; his life, a slow game.
深潭碧如洗，宝蟾自得井中乐，今生若长戏。
Now I meet my end; warm
blood washes my mouth; the tide coming forth.
今生既已终，一腔热血喉上涌，汹汹悲声恸。
Heat haze of summer;
obscures a man’s path ahead; an unclear
f
uture.
仲夏雾气缭，重锁路途又三重，前程无人晓。
Throughout
your
life
advance
daily,
becoming
more
skilful
than
yesterday,
more
skilful
than
today.
This
is
never-ending.
今日之我比昨日技艺精进，而明
日之我比今日更胜一筹。日日上进，永无终止。
The saying 'the arts aid the body' is
for samurai of other regions. For samurai of the
Nabeshima clan the arts bring
ruin to
the body.
谚曰
―
艺助身<
/p>
‖
，此不过他藩之言；以佐贺藩之士观之，艺诚亡身。
Mount Fuji’s great
peak; shrouded in tender spring rain; the lonely
crane cries.
巍巍富士山，细雨淅淅蓑衣立，孤鹤啼春寒。
In the void is virtue, and
no evil. Wisdom has existence, principle has
existence, the way has existence, spirit is
nothingness.
所谓空者，德也，非恶也。智略居
之，磨砺居之，天地之道居之。
When you have attained the way of
strategy there will be nothing that you cannot
understand. You will see the way
in
everything.
得兵法之极者，世间无物不可知。道虽寓于万物，亦可格致也。
The death of blossoms; is
not something to grieve on; but the way of things.
落红固纷乱，毋庸嘤嘤自唏嘘，世理使之然。
The way of the samurai is
found in death. When it comes to either/or, there
is only the quick choice of death. It is
not particularly difficult. Be
determined and advance.
武士道即为追寻死亡之道。于生死
之际当机立断，首先选择死。此乃一念觉悟而勇往直前。
If
there
is
a
Way
involving
the
spirit
of
not
being
defeated,
to
help
oneself
and
gain
honour,
it
is
the
Way
of
Strategy.
百战不败，荣耀加身之道者，此兵法之谓也。
Having been born into the house of a
warrior, one's intentions should be to grasp the
long and the short swords and
to die.
生于武士之家，即应凝视太刀与肋差，并思索尽忠之道。
The best use of the
companion sword is in a confined space, or when
you are engaged closely with an opponent.
The long sword can be used effectively
in all situations.
狭路相逢，短兵相接，此为太刀扬威之时。至
于长刀，则可适应任何情况。
Shapes in the shadow; a glint of steel;
the silence steals my happy life.
逡巡乎乱影，凛凛玄铁寒光明，吾生归于寂。
Summer insects buzz; over
new fragrant flowers; and fallen soldiers.
嘈切夏虫鸣，直上花团锦簇地，英魂驻足听。
Wounded and beaten; go
without me my brothers; I leave my body here.
败将负创繁，茕茕孑立无人伴，残体遗此间。
Autumn trees shed leaves;
skinning the tree one by one; until it is bare.
秋叶徐摇曳，无奈寒朔渐零落，徒与枯枝别。
Tether even a roasted
chicken.
即使是烤鸡也要拴起来。
As everything in this world
is but a sham. Death is the only sincerity.
世界万物皆为虚妄，死亡才是真实之理。
Covetousness, anger and
foolishness are things to sort out well. When bad
things happen in the world, if you look
at them comparatively, they are not
unrelated to these three things.
世间一有坏事，不出贪，嗔，痴。
One should not turn his back on
reproof. In the words of the ancients:
has an effect on the disease. Faithful
words hurt one's ears, but have value for one's co
nduct.
人不应无视指责，正如先贤所云：
―
良药苦口利于病，忠言逆耳利于行。
‖
Continue to spur a running
horse.
奔驰的骏马需要持续的鞭策。
I fall on my blade; crimson
blossoms seed the earth; the spring buds drink
deep.
利刃虽入怀，英灵散华樱种落，新芽亟可待。
Intelligence is the flower
of discrimination. There are many examples of the
flower blooming but not bearing fruit.
智谋是思虑之树上结出的花朵，但只开花不结果的例子也有很多。