Lao Tzu for Everyone
Students, Scholars
& Seekers
Peter Gilboy, Ph.D.
Tao
the Way
第 三十 一 章
Line 1 夫兵者不祥之器也
Line 2 物或惡之
Line 3 故有道者弗居
Line 4 君子居則貴左
用兵則貴右
Line 5 故兵者非君子之器也
兵者不祥之器也
Line 6 不得已而用之
銛襲爲上勿美也
Line 7 若美之是樂殺人也
Line 8 夫樂殺人
不可以得志於天下矣
Line 8 是以吉事上左
上將軍居右
Line 10 是以便將軍居左
上將軍居右
以喪禮居之也
Line 11 殺人眾以悲依立之
Line 12 戰勝以喪禮處之
LESSON 31
On Using
Force
(Part 2)
As in the previous lesson, there is no mention of a sage here. This is simply rational entreaty to an unjust or cruel ruler that being immoral will not pay off in the end. He or she will not achieve their personal goals by being merciless. And, if there is no other choice but to use weapons, then it is merciful to get it over with, and quickly.
Click on each line number
for Chinese-English interlinear
& commentary
Now, when it comes to weapons,
they are instruments
which foretell hostility.
Even some things
despise them.
Therefore, a person
of ambition
does not
abide in them.
A moral leader
values the left
while those
who wage war
value the right.
Therefore, weapons are not
instruments of the moral leader
for weapons
only lead to hostility.
But when left with no choice
but to use them,
then quick force is better
though never preferred.
Those who find
weapons appealing
take delight
in killing people.
To be sure,
whoever takes delight
in killing people
will not be able to
impose their will
upon the empire.
That is why the left
is best for joyful events,
while the right is best
for mournful events.
It is also why the
deputy commander
sits on the left
while the commander
sits on the right—
which is to say,
like at a funeral.
Where many men
are killed, we stand
and grieve for them.
Victory is like
being at a funeral.
. . . . . . .