Art of War 8.4
The Art of War (孫子兵法), Variation Of Tactics 九變篇
故將通於九變之利者知用兵矣
The general who thoroughly understands the advantages that accompany variation of tactics knows how to handle his troops.
Lionel Giles (1910), Sun Tzŭ on the Art of War (1910), with Giles' notes — public domain.
Lionel Giles's notes
Before 利 in the original text there is a 地 which is obviously not required.
Character glossary
- 故gùreason, cause; happening, instance
- 將jiāngthe future, what will be; ready, prepare
- 通tōngto pass through, to open, to connect; to
- 於yúat, in, on; to, from; alas!
- 九jiǔnine
- 變biànto change, to transform, to alter; rebel
- 之zhīmarks preceding phrase as modifier of fo
- 利lìgains, advantage, profit, merit
- 者zhěthat which; they who; those who
- 知zhīto know, to perceive, to comprehend
- 用yòngto use, to employ, to apply; use
- 兵bīngsoldier; troops, an army; warlike
- 矣yǐparticle of completed action
Passages with shared wording
- Art of War 8.5
- Art of War 2.7
- Zhuangzi The Tao of God
- Mencius 1A.5
- Art of War 8.6
- Zhuangzi Opening Trunks
Data: English Wikisource (Public domain texts; transcription CC BY-SA 4.0). Retrieved 2026-10-22.