Art of War 9.27
The Art of War (孫子兵法), The Army On The March 行軍篇
奔走而陳兵者期也
When there is much running about
and the soldiers fall into rank,
it means that the critical moment has come.
Lionel Giles (1910), Sun Tzŭ on the Art of War (1910), with Giles' notes — public domain.
Lionel Giles's notes
Every man hastening to his proper place under his own regimental banner.
I follow the T‘u Shu in omitting 車 after 兵. Tu Mu quotes the Chou Li, ch. xxix. fol. 31: 車驟徒趨及表乃止.
What Chia Lin calls 晷刻之期, as opposed to 尋常之期.
Character glossary
- 奔bēnto rush about; to run, to flee
- 走zǒuto walk, to run, to flee
- 而érand, and then, and yet; but
- 陳chénto display, to exhibit; to plead; surnam
- 兵bīngsoldier; troops, an army; warlike
- 者zhěthat which; they who; those who
- 期qīa period of time; date, time; phase
- 也yěalso, too
Passages with shared wording
- Zhuangzi On Declining Power
- Art of War 10.18
- Zhuangzi Autumn Floods
- Tao Te Ching Chapter 31
- Art of War 1.1
- Art of War 1.18
Data: English Wikisource (Public domain texts; transcription CC BY-SA 4.0). Retrieved 2026-10-22.