偃武 · 兵者不祥之器

Yǎn Wǔ

Classical Chinese Text

夫兵者，不祥之器，物或恶之，故有道者不处。君子居则贵左，用兵则贵右。
兵者不祥之器，非君子之器，不得已而用之，恬淡为上，胜而不美，而美之者，是乐杀人。夫乐杀人者，则不可得志于天下矣。
吉事尚左，凶事尚右。偏将军居左，上将军居右。言以丧礼处之。杀人之众，以悲哀莅之，战胜以丧礼处之。

Translation & Meaning

兵器乃是凶险不祥之物，万物都厌恶它，所以有道之人绝不轻易依仗武力。 君子平时居处以阳生之左为尊贵，唯独行军打仗时以阴杀之右为尊贵。兵器既是不祥之器，本非君子所乐用；万不得已而动用时，也以平静克制、毫无贪功之心为上。 纵使获胜也不值得赞美炫耀；若以战胜杀戮为荣耀，便是喜好杀人。凡是喜好杀人的人，绝不可能真正赢得天下人心而实现志向。 古礼吉庆之事尚左，凶丧之事尚右；出征时副将居左、主帅居右，正是表明按办丧礼的悲悯心态来对待战事。战争死伤众多，当怀悲痛哀悼之心哭祭；即便打了胜仗，也应当依循丧礼肃穆处之。

Commentary

青禾散人评注：“战胜以丧礼处之”是人类文明史上极其震撼的反战箴言。老子不为凯旋欢呼，而为苍生流泪——真正的慈悲从不把他人之毁灭当作自身之勋章。

Linguistic & Character Analysis

  • 夫 (fū): for / indeed / now
  • 兵 (bīng): classical character (bīng)
  • 者 (zhě): aspects / those who / things
  • 不 (bù): not / un- / without
  • 祥 (xiáng): classical character (xiáng)
  • 之 (zhī): particle: of / possessive / it
  • 器 (qì): classical character (qì)
  • 物 (wù): things / phenomena / forms
  • 或 (huò): tangible / perhaps / presence
  • 恶 (è): ugly / aversion / evil
  • 故 (gù): therefore / thus / consequence
  • 有 (yǒu): manifest being / cosmos / to possess
  • 道 (dào): The Way / Logos / to speak
  • 处 (chù): stays / dwells / position
  • 君 (jūn): classical character (jūn)
  • 子 (zǐ): child / progeny
  • 居 (jū): reside in / carry oneself
  • 则 (zé): classical character (zé)
  • 贵 (guì): prize / cherish / valuable
  • 左 (zuǒ): classical character (zuǒ)
  • 用 (yòng): use / function / apply
  • 右 (yòu): classical character (yòu)
  • 非 (fēi): is not / false / not equal to
  • 得 (dé): obtain / acquire / gain
  • 已 (yǐ): arises / already / cessation
  • 而 (ér): yet / and / but
  • 恬 (tián): classical character (tián)
  • 淡 (dàn): classical character (dàn)
  • 为 (wèi): act / deem / become
  • 上 (shàng): elevate / utmost / high
  • 胜 (shèng): classical character (shèng)
  • 美 (měi): beauty / aesthetic ideal
  • 是 (shì): this / therefore
  • 乐 (lè): classical character (lè)
  • 杀 (shā): classical character (shā)
  • 人 (rén): person / human
  • 可 (kě): can / capable of being
  • 志 (zhì): will / intent / claim
  • 于 (yú): to / at / in
  • 天 (tiān): heaven / nature / cosmos
  • 下 (xià): under / earthly realm / humble
  • 矣 (yǐ): [modal particle of realization]
  • 吉 (jí): classical character (jí)
  • 事 (shì): affairs / deeds
  • 尚 (shàng): classical character (shàng)
  • 凶 (xiōng): classical character (xiōng)
  • 偏 (piān): classical character (piān)
  • 将 (jiāng): classical character (jiāng)
  • 军 (jūn): classical character (jūn)
  • 言 (yán): words / speech
  • 以 (yǐ): in order to / by means of
  • 丧 (sàng): classical character (sàng)
  • 礼 (lǐ): classical character (lǐ)
  • 众 (zhòng): multitude / myriad mass
  • 悲 (bēi): classical character (bēi)
  • 哀 (āi): classical character (āi)
  • 莅 (lì): classical character (lì)
  • 战 (zhàn): classical character (zhàn)