The Methods of the Sima — Stern Positions司馬法 嚴位

This is the way of war. The positions should be stern, the rule should make them tremble, the strength should be ample, the spirit should be unhurried, and the heart should be one.

This is the way of war. Grade the way and righteousness, set up the companies and the files, fix the ranks, make the columns and the rows straight, and examine name against fact. Standing, they advance stooped; seated, they advance on their knees. When they are afraid, close the ranks. When it is perilous, have them sit. Let those far off look on, and they will not be afraid. Let those close by not look, and they will not scatter. Bring the position down, bring down the left and the right, have the armored men sit, take the oath, and move them slowly. When the position reaches the foot soldiers and the armored men, reckon what is light and what is heavy, shake the horses, and let the foot soldiers and the armored men raise a shout. If they are afraid, close them up again. Kneeling and sitting, sitting and lying flat, they go forward on their knees, and the oath is taken with them gently. If they rise and shout and advance to the drum, halt them with the bell. Set the gags in their mouths, swear the oath over the dry rations, and seated they go forward on their knees and press on. Put to death the man who looks back and so forbid it, and go before them with the shout. If their fear is too great, do not put them to death. Show them your countenance, tell them the way by which they may live, and have them look again to their charge.

In the three armies the men keep watch for half a day, and the men are held without rest, so that the food cannot be shared out. While they are in doubt and confusion, they can be led as an army and they can be made to submit.

In war, strength makes it last and spirit makes it win, firmness makes it last and peril makes it win. The heart one began with is what makes it firm, and fresh spirit is what makes it win. Armor makes it firm and weapons make it win.

Chariots are made firm by closeness, foot soldiers are made firm by sitting, armor is made firm by weight, and weapons win by being light. When a man has a heart to win, he looks only at the enemy. When a man has a fearful heart, he looks only at what he fears. When the two hearts are settled against each other and the two advantages are as one, make the two into their charges, and look upon it only as the moment weighs.

In war, to act lightly upon the light is perilous. To act heavily upon the heavy brings no result. To act lightly upon the heavy brings defeat. To act heavily upon the light brings a battle. So in war the light and the heavy answer to each other. In camp be careful of the armor and the weapons, on the march be careful of the formation and the ranks, and in battle be careful of the advance and the halt.

In war, respect brings contentment and leading brings submission. When those above are fretful, it is light. When those above have leisure, it is heavy. A quick drum is light, a slow drum is heavy. Thin clothing is light, fine clothing is heavy.

When the horses and chariots are sound and the armor and weapons are keen, even what is light becomes heavy. When those above are the same as the rest, nothing is gained. When those above keep all to themselves, many die. When those above wish to live, there is much doubt. When those above are bent on dying, there is no victory.

Men die for love, die for anger, die for awe, die for righteousness, and die for gain.

This is the way of war. Teaching binds men to hold death light, and the Way binds men to die for what is right.

In war it is as though you won and as though you did not, as though it were Heaven and as though it were man.

In war, the watch of the three armies is no more than three days, the alarm of a single company is no more than half a day, and the restraint upon one man is no more than until all have rested.

The greatest use the root, and the next use the branch. Hold to the broad plan and keep watch on the smallest thing, and let root and branch go only as the moment weighs. This is war.

As for victory: when the three armies become one man, there is victory.

As for the drums, there is the drum for the flags and banners, the drum for the chariots, the drum for the horses, the drum for the foot soldiers, the drum for the weapons, the drum for the head, the drum for the feet, and the drum that brings all of them into step together.

In war, once they are firm do not weight them, and when you advance in weight do not spend it all. To spend it all is perilous.

In war, the forming up is not the hard thing. Making the men able to be formed up is the hard thing. Making them able to be formed up is not the hard thing. Making the men fit to be used is the hard thing. The knowing is not the hard thing. The doing is. Men each have their nature, and nature differs from district to district. Teaching makes custom, and custom differs from district to district. The Way transforms custom.

Whether many or few, when you have already won be as though you had not. If the weapons do not proclaim that they are keen, if the armor does not proclaim that it is firm, if the chariots do not proclaim that they are sound, if the horses do not proclaim that they are good, and if the host does not call itself many, the Way has not yet been won.

In war, when you win, share the credit with the host. If you are to fight again, make the rewards and the punishments heavier. If you have brought it about that they did not win, take the fault upon yourself. If you fight again, swear the oath and stand in front, and do not use again the arts you used before. Win or lose, do not turn back from this. It is called the right rule.

The people are saved by benevolence, they fight by righteousness, they decide by wisdom, they contend by courage, they are made single by trust, they are urged on by gain, and they win by merit. So the heart hits upon benevolence and the conduct hits upon righteousness. To bear all things is wisdom, to bear what is great is courage, and to bear it long is trust. Yield, and there is accord, and the men come together of themselves. Take upon yourself what is not followed, and vie with one another to be worthy, and the men will be glad in their hearts and give their strength.

In war, strike their faint stillness and avoid their strong stillness. Strike them when they are worn and weary, and avoid them when they are at ease and unspent. Strike them when their fear is great, and avoid them when their fear is small. This is the governing that comes down from of old.