Art of War 3.11
The Art of War (孫子兵法), Attack By Stratagem 謀攻篇
夫將者國之輔也輔周則國必强輔𨻶則國必弱
Now the general is the bulwark of the State: if the bulwark is complete at all points, the State will be strong; if the bulwark is defective, the State will be weak.
Lionel Giles (1910), Sun Tzŭ on the Art of War (1910), with Giles' notes — public domain.
Lionel Giles's notes
𨻶 cannot be restricted to anything so particular as in Capt. Calthrop’s translation, “divided in his allegiance.” It is simply keeping up the metaphor suggested by 周. As Li Ch‘üan tersely puts it: 𨻶缺也將才不備兵必弱 “Ch‘i, gap, indicates deficiency; if the general’s ability is not perfect (i.e. if he is not thoroughly versed in his profession), his army will lack strength.”
Character glossary
- 夫fūman, husband; worker; those
- 將jiāngthe future, what will be; ready, prepare
- 者zhěthat which; they who; those who
- 國guócountry, nation, state; national
- 之zhīmarks preceding phrase as modifier of fo
- 輔fǔside road; to assist, to coach, to tutor
- 也yěalso, too
- 周zhōuZhou dynasty; circumference
- 則zérule, law, regulation; grades
- 必bìsurely, certainly; must; will
- 强qiángstrong, powerful, energetic
- 𨻶a crevice, fissure; time, leisure; unpre
- 弱ruòweak, fragile, delicate
Passages with shared wording
Data: English Wikisource (Public domain texts; transcription CC BY-SA 4.0). Retrieved 2026-10-22.