兵形象水 – Chinese philosophy and culture

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bīng xíng xiàng shuǐ 兵形象水

Troops Should Charge Forward like the Flow of Water.

用兵作战之法就像水流一样。这是古代兵家孙武(前545?—前470?)提出的兵学命题。意思是说,指挥打仗,不能拘泥于固定的战法,必须根据具体情况,迅即进行调整变换,扬长避短,就像水流随着地形地势的变化而呈现不同的形态一样。犹今之所谓采取灵活机动的战略战术,掌握战场主动权。

Troops should charge forward like the flow of water. This military concept was formulated by Sunzi (545?-470? BC), the ancient military strategist. It means that in directing a battle, one must not adhere to a predetermined plan. Depending on the specific situation, rapid adjustments must be made to make the best use of one’s strengths and to avoid one’s weaknesses, just as water assumes different shapes as its flow follows the lie of the land. This is what is known today as using flexible tactics and strategies to gain the initiative on the battlefield.

引例 Citation:

◎夫兵形象水。水之形,避高而趋下;兵之形,避实而击虚。水因地而制流,兵因敌而制胜。故兵无常势,水无常形,能因敌变化而取胜者谓之神。(《孙子兵法·虚实》)

(用兵作战之法就像水流一样。水流之势是避开高处而向低处奔流,用兵之法是避开敌人坚实之处而攻击其虚弱的地方。水因地势的高下而制约其流向,作战则根据敌情而决定取胜的方针。所以,用兵没有固定不变的战法,就像水流没有固定的形态一样,能依据敌情的变化而取胜的,就称得上用兵如神。)

Troops should charge forward like water. Water takes its shape by flowing from high to low; troops attack weak points and avoid the strong. Water flows according to the shape of the land; troops achieve victory according to the situation of the enemy. Hence there is no set formation for troops and no set shape for water. The one who can win by understanding the enemy’s situation can be called a godlike commander. (The Art of War)

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