庙算 – Chinese philosophy and culture

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miàosuàn 庙算

Court Calculation

朝廷对军国大事的谋算。“庙”为庙堂,是古代朝廷议事之所。“庙算”即是于战争开始之前,在庙堂之上郑重地谋算战争中己方的优势、劣势,从而决定应对策略。孙子认为,战争不只是战场上的争斗,还受到政治、经济等不同因素的影响。因此“庙算”需要结合可能的战争态势,对国家各方面的情况进行综合评判与谋算。“庙算”是战争准备的必要环节。

This term means court calculation on major military and state affairs. The imperial court here refers to the place for officials to deliberate on affairs of state in ancient China. The purpose of calculation prior to war was to work out a strategy based on the state’s strengths and weaknesses. Sunzi’s view was that war was not merely a contest on the battlefield, but was also influenced by political, economic and other factors. Court calculation thus had to take into account different war scenarios and review a full range of circumstances in the state. Court calculation was a necessary preparation for war.

引例 Citation:

◎夫未战而庙算胜者,得算多也;未战而庙算不胜者,得算少也。多算胜,少算不胜,而况于无算乎!吾以此观之,胜负见矣。(《孙子·始计》)

(开战之前做军事谋划而获胜的,是因为谋划周详;开战之前做军事谋划而失败的,是因为谋划不够周详。谋划周详则获胜,谋划不周详则失利,何况是全无谋划的呢!我以这样的方法去观察,战争的胜败就可以预见了。)

Those who make court calculation before battle and win must have been thorough in the process. Those who make calculation before battle and lose must have been insufficient in the process. Thorough calculation leads to victory, insufficient calculation leads to defeat – to say nothing of no calculation at all! When I look at warfare in this way, victory and defeat become obvious. (The Art of War)

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