Art of War 10.13
The Art of War (孫子兵法), Terrain 地形篇
凡此六者地之道也將之至任不可不察也
These six are the principles connected with Earth.
The general who has attained a responsible post must be careful to study them.
Lionel Giles (1910), Sun Tzŭ on the Art of War (1910), with Giles' notes — public domain.
Lionel Giles's notes
Or perhaps, “the principles relating to ground.” See, however, I. § 8.
Capt. Calthrop omits 至任. Out of the foregoing six 地形, it will be noticed that nos. 3 and 6 have really no reference to the configuration of the country, and that only 4 and 5 can be said to convey any definite geographical idea.
Character glossary
- 凡fánany, every, all; common, ordinary
- 此cǐthis, these; in this case, then
- 六liùsix
- 者zhěthat which; they who; those who
- 地deearth, ground, soil; land, region; struc
- 之zhīmarks preceding phrase as modifier of fo
- 道dàomethod, way; path, road
- 也yěalso, too
- 將jiāngthe future, what will be; ready, prepare
- 至zhìreach, arrive; very, extremely
- 任rènto trust, to rely on; to appoint; to bea
- 不bùno, not, un-; negative prefix
- 可kěmay, can, -able; possibly
- 察cháto examine, to investigate, to observe
Passages with shared wording
- Art of War 10.20
- Zhuangzi Robber Chê
- Art of War 10.14
- Zhuangzi Kêng Sang Ch’u
- Zhuangzi The Old Fisherman
- Art of War 11.41
Data: English Wikisource (Public domain texts; transcription CC BY-SA 4.0). Retrieved 2026-10-22.