我可以往，彼可以来，曰通；通形者，先居高阳，利粮道，以战则利。
On such ground, he who first takes high sunny positions, and keeps his supply routes unimpeded, can fight advantageously.
Ground easy to reach but difficult to get out of is called entangling.
可以往，难以返，曰拄；拄形者，敌无备，出而胜之；敌若有备，出而不胜，难以返，不利。
The nature of this ground is such that if the enemy is unprepared and you sally out, you may defeat him.
If the enemy is prepared and you sally out, but do not win, and it is difficult for you to return, it is unprofitable.
Ground equally disadvantageous for both the enemy and ourselves to enter is called temporising.
我出而不利，彼出而不利，曰支；支形者，敌虽利我，我无出也；引而去之，令敌半出而击之，利。
The nature of this ground is such that although the enemy holds out a bait, I do not go forth but entice him by marching off.
When I have drawn out half his force, I can strike him advantageously.
If I first occupy narrow passes, I must block the passes and await the enemy.
隘形者，我先居之，必盈之以待敌；若敌先居之，盈而勿从，不盈而从之。
If the enemy first occupies such ground and blocks the defiles, I should not attack him; if he does not block them completely, I may do so.
On precipitous ground, I must take a position on the sunny heights and await the enemy.
险形者，我先居之，必居高阳以待敌；若敌先居之，引而去之，勿从也。
If he first occupies such ground, I march off; I do not attack him.
When at a distance from an enemy of equal strength, it is difficult to provoke battle and unprofitable to engage him.
These are the principles relating to six different types of ground.
远形者，势均，难以挑战，战而不利。
It is the highest responsibility of the general to inquire into them with the utmost care.
凡此六者，地之道也，将之至任，不可不察也。
There are six conditions in which troops fail.
These are: flight, insubordination, collapse in disorder, distress, disorganisation, and rout.
故兵有走者，有弛者，有陷者，有崩者，有乱者，有北者。
None of these disasters can be attributed to natural causes, but to the fault of the general.
Other conditions being equal, if a force attacks one ten times its size, the result is flight.
凡此六者，非天之灾，将之过也。
When soldiers are strong and officers weak, the army is insubordinate.
When the officers are valiant and the soldiers ineffective, the result is collapse.
夫势均，以一击十，曰走；卒强吏弱，曰弛；吏强卒弱，曰陷；大吏怒而不服，遇敌怼而自战，将不知其能，曰崩；将弱不严，教道不明，吏卒无常，陈兵纵横，曰乱；将不能料敌，以少合众，以弱击强，兵无选锋，曰北。
When officers are angry and insubordinate, and on encountering the enemy rush into battle with no understanding of the feasibility of engaging and without awaiting orders from the commander, the army is in distress.
When the general is morally weak and without authority, when his instructions and guidance are not enlightened, when there are no consistent rules to guide the officers and men, and when the formations are slovenly, the result is disorganisation.
When a commander unable to estimate his enemy uses a small force to engage a large one, or weak troops to strike the strong, or when he fails to select shock troops for the van, the result is rout.
When any of these six conditions prevails, the army is on the road to defeat.
凡此六者，败之道也，将之至任，不可不察也。
It is the highest responsibility of the general that he examine them carefully.
Conformation of the ground is of the greatest assistance in battle.
夫地形者，兵之助也。
Therefore, virtues of a superior general are to estimate the enemy situation, and to calculate distances and the degree of difficulty of the terrain so as to control victory.
料敌制胜，计险阨远近，上将之道也。
Therefore, virtues of a superior general are to estimate the enemy situation, and to calculate distances and the degree of difficulty of the terrain so as to control victory.
知此而用战者必胜，不知此而用战者必败。
He who fights with full knowledge of these factors is certain to win; he who does not will surely be defeated.
If the situation is one of victory, but the sovereign has issued orders not to engage, the general may decide to fight.
If the situation is such that he cannot win, but the sovereign has issued orders to engage, he need not do so.
故战道必胜，主日无战，必战可也；战道不胜，主日必战，无战可也。
He who fights with full knowledge of these factors is certain to win; he who does not will surely be defeated.
If the situation is one of victory, but the sovereign has issued orders not to engage, the general may decide to fight.
If the situation is such that he cannot win, but the sovereign has issued orders to engage, he need not do so.
故进不求名，退不避罪，唯人是保，而利合于主，国之宝也。
And therefore, the general who in advancing does not seek personal fame, and in retreating is not concerned with disgrace, but whose only purpose is to protect the country and promote the best interests of his sovereign, is the precious jewel of the state.
A general regards his men as infants who will march with him into the deepest valleys.
He treats them as his own beloved sons and they will stand by him unto death.
视卒如婴儿，故可与之赴深溪；视卒如爱子，故可与之俱死。
And therefore, the general who in advancing does not seek personal fame, and in retreating is not concerned with disgrace, but whose only purpose is to protect the country and promote the best interests of his sovereign, is the precious jewel of the state.
A general regards his men as infants who will march with him into the deepest valleys.
He treats them as his own beloved sons and they will stand by him unto death.
厚而不能使，爱而不能令，乱而不能治，譬若骄子不可用也。
If a general indulges his men but is unable to employ them, if he loves them but cannot enforce his commands, if the men are disorderly and he is unable to control them, they may be compared to spoiled children, and are useless.
知吾卒之可以击，而不知敌之不可击，胜之半也；知敌之可击，而不知吾卒之不可以击；胜之半也；知敌之可击，知吾卒之可以击，而不知地形之不可以战，胜之半也。
If I know that my troops are capable of striking the enemy, but do not know that he is invulnerable to attack, my chance of victory is but half.
If I know that the enemy is vulnerable to attack, but do not know that my troops are incapable of striking him, my chance of victory is but half.
If I know that the enemy can be attacked and that my troops are capable of attacking him, but do not realize that the conformation of the ground makes fighting impracticable, my chance of victory is but half.
故知兵者，动而不迷，举而不穷。
Therefore, when those experienced in war move, they are never bewildered; when they act, their re- sources are limitless.
And therefore, I say: Know the enemy, know yourself; your victory will never be endangered.
Know the ground, know the weather; your victory will then be complete.
故曰：知彼知己，胜乃不殆；知天知地，胜乃不穷。
Therefore, when those experienced in war move, they are never bewildered; when they act, their re- sources are limitless.
And therefore, I say: Know the enemy, know yourself; your victory will never be endangered.
Know the ground, know the weather; your victory will then be complete.