Art of War 9.28
The Art of War (孫子兵法), The Army On The March 行軍篇
半進半退者誘也
When some are seen advancing and some retreating, it is a lure.
Lionel Giles (1910), Sun Tzŭ on the Art of War (1910), with Giles' notes — public domain.
Lionel Giles's notes
Capt. Calthrop is hardly right in translating: “An advance, followed by sudden retirement.” It is rather a case of feigned confusion. As Tu Mu says: 僞爲雜亂不整之狀.
Character glossary
- 半bànhalf; semi-, incomplete
- 進jìnto advance, to make progress; to come in
- 退tuìto retreat, to step back, to withdraw
- 者zhěthat which; they who; those who
- 誘yòuto tempt, to persuade, to entice; guide
- 也yěalso, too
Passages with shared wording
Data: English Wikisource (Public domain texts; transcription CC BY-SA 4.0). Retrieved 2026-10-22.