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rest of the army； on the further bank； also scattered and fled in
all directions。＇
5。 If you are anxious to fight； you should not go to meet
the invader near a river which he has to cross。
＇For fear of preventing his crossing。＇
6。 Moor your craft higher up than the enemy； and facing the
sun。
＇See supra； ss。 2。 The repetition of these words in
connection with water is very awkward。 Chang Yu has the note：
〃Said either of troops marshaled on the river…bank； or of boats
anchored in the stream itself； in either case it is essential to
be higher than the enemy and facing the sun。〃 The other
commentators are not at all explicit。＇
Do not move up…stream to meet the enemy。
＇Tu Mu says： 〃As water flows downwards； we must not pitch
our camp on the lower reaches of a river； for fear the enemy
should open the sluices and sweep us away in a flood。 Chu…ko Wu…
hou has remarked that 'in river warfare we must not advance
against the stream；' which is as much as to say that our fleet
must not be anchored below that of the enemy； for then they would
be able to take advantage of the current and make short work of
us。〃 There is also the danger； noted by other commentators； that
the enemy may throw poison on the water to be carried down to
us。＇
So much for river warfare。
7。 In crossing salt…marshes； your sole concern should be to
get over them quickly； without any delay。
＇Because of the lack of fresh water； the poor quality of the
herbage； and last but not least； because they are low； flat； and
exposed to attack。＇
8。 If forced to fight in a salt…marsh； you should have
water and grass near you； and get your back to a clump of trees。
＇Li Ch‘uan remarks that the ground is less likely to be
treacherous where there are trees； while Tu Mu says that they
will serve to protect the rear。＇
So much for operations in salt…marches。
9。 In dry； level country； take up an easily accessible
position with rising ground to your right and on your rear；
＇Tu Mu quotes T‘ai Kung as saying： 〃An army should have a
stream or a marsh on its left； and a hill or tumulus on its
right。〃＇
so that the danger may be in front； and safety lie behind。 So
much for campaigning in flat country。
10。 These are the four useful branches of military
knowledge
＇Those； namely； concerned with （1） mountains； （2） rivers；
（3） marshes； and （4） plains。 Compare Napoleon's 〃Military
Maxims；〃 no。 1。＇
which enabled the Yellow Emperor to vanquish four several
sovereigns。
＇Regarding the 〃Yellow Emperor〃： Mei Yao…ch‘en asks； with
some plausibility； whether there is an error in the text as
nothing is known of Huang Ti having conquered four other
Emperors。 The SHIH CHI （ch。 1 ad init。） speaks only of his
victories over Yen Ti and Ch‘ih Yu。 In the LIU T‘AO it is
mentioned that he 〃fought seventy battles and pacified the
Empire。〃 Ts‘ao Kung's explanation is； that the Yellow Emperor
was the first to institute the feudal system of vassals princes；
each of whom （to the number of four） originally bore the title of
Emperor。 Li Ch‘uan tells us that the art of war originated under
Huang Ti； who received it from his Minister Feng Hou。＇
11。 All armies prefer high ground to low。
＇〃High Ground；〃 says Mei Yao…ch‘en； 〃is not only more
agreement and salubrious； but more convenient from a military
point of view； low ground is not only damp and unhealthy； but
also disadvantageous for fighting。〃＇
and sunny places to dark。
12。 If you are careful of your men；
＇Ts‘ao Kung says： 〃Make for fresh water and pasture； where
you can turn out your animals to graze。〃＇
and camp on hard ground； the army will be free from disease of
every kind；
＇Chang Yu says： 〃The dryness of the climate will prevent
the outbreak of illness。〃＇
and this will spell victory。
13。 When you come to a hill or a bank； occupy the sunny
side； with the slope on your right rear。 Thus you will at once
act for the benefit of your soldiers and utilize the natural
advantages of the ground。
14。 When； in consequence of heavy rains up…country； a river
which you wish to ford is swollen and flecked with foam； you must
wait until it subsides。
15。 Country in which there are precipitous cliffs with
torrents running between； deep natural hollows；
＇The latter defined as 〃places enclosed on every side by
steep banks； with pools of water at the bottom。＇
confined places；
＇Defined as 〃natural pens or prisons〃 or 〃places surrounded
by precipices on three sideseasy to get into； but hard to get
out of。〃＇
tangled thickets；
＇Defined as 〃places covered with such dense undergrowth that
spears cannot be used。〃＇
quagmires
＇Defined as 〃low…lying places； so heavy with mud as to be
impassable for chariots and horsemen。〃＇
and crevasses；
＇Defined by Mei Yao…ch‘en as 〃a narrow difficult way between
beetling cliffs。〃 Tu Mu's note is 〃ground covered with trees and
rocks； and intersected by numerous ravines and pitfalls。〃 This
is very vague； but Chia Lin explains it clearly enough as a
defile or narrow pass； and Chang Yu takes much the same view。 On
the whole； the weight of the commentators certainly inclines to
the rendering 〃defile。〃 But the ordinary meaning of the Chinese
in one place is 〃a crack or fissure〃 and the fact that the
meaning of the Chinese elsewhere in the sentence indicates
something in the nature of a defile； make me think that Sun Tzu
is here speaking of crevasses。＇
should be left with all possible speed and not approached。
16。 While we keep away from such places； we should get the
enemy to approach them； while we face them； we should let the
enemy have them on his rear。
17。 If in the neighborhood of your camp there should be any
hilly country； ponds surrounded by aquatic grass； hollow basins
filled with reeds； or woods with thick undergrowth； they must be
carefully routed out and searched； for these are places where men
in ambush or insidious spies are likely to be lurking。
＇Chang Yu has the note： 〃We must also be on our guard
against traitors who may lie in close covert； secretly spying out
our weaknesses and overhearing our instructions。〃＇
18。 When the enemy is close at hand and remains quiet； he
is relying on the natural strength of his position。
＇Here begin Sun Tzu's remarks on the reading of signs； much
of which is so good that it could almost be included in a modern
manual like Gen。 Baden…Powell's 〃Aids to Scouting。〃＇
19。 When he keeps aloof and tries to provoke a battle； he
is anxious for the other side to advance。
＇Probably because we are in a strong