論將

Discussing Generals

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五材十過

Five Qualities and Ten Flaws

武王問太公曰：「論將之道奈何？」太公曰：「將有五材十過。」武王曰：「敢問其目。」太公曰：「所謂五材者，勇、智、仁、信、忠也。勇則不可犯，智則不可亂，仁則愛人，信則不欺，忠則無二心。

King Wu asked Taigong: 'What is the method for evaluating generals?' Taigong said: 'A general has five qualities and ten flaws.' King Wu said: 'May I ask what they are?' Taigong said: 'The five qualities are: courage, wisdom, humaneness, trustworthiness, and loyalty. With courage, he cannot be violated. With wisdom, he cannot be thrown into disorder. With humaneness, he loves the people. With trustworthiness, he does not deceive. With loyalty, he has no divided heart.'

十過及其破

The Ten Flaws and How to Exploit Them

「所謂十過者：有勇而輕死者，有急而心速者，有貪而好利者，有仁而不忍人者，有智而心怯者，有信而喜信人者，有廉潔而不愛人者，有智而心緩者，有剛毅而自用者，有懦而喜任人者。「勇而輕死者可暴也，急而心速者可久也，貪而好利者可遺也，仁而不忍人者可勞也，智而心怯者可窘也，信而喜信人者可誑也，廉潔而不愛人者可侮也，智而心緩者可襲也，剛毅而自用者可事也，懦而喜任人者可欺也。

The ten flaws are: those who are brave but make light of death; those who are hasty and impulsive; those who are greedy and covet profit; those who are humane but cannot bear to cause suffering; those who are wise but timid at heart; those who are trustworthy but too ready to trust others; those who are incorruptible but do not care for people; those who are wise but slow in heart; those who are firm and resolute but self-reliant to a fault; those who are timid but too ready to delegate. Those brave but reckless can be overwhelmed by sudden violence. Those hasty and impulsive can be defeated through delay. Those greedy and profit-seeking can be bought off with gifts. Those humane but unable to bear suffering can be worn down through attrition. Those wise but timid can be cornered into desperation. Those trustworthy but credulous can be deceived. Those incorruptible but uncaring can be insulted into error. Those wise but slow can be surprised with sudden attacks. Those firm but self-reliant can be manipulated through flattery. Those timid but delegating can be tricked through their subordinates.'

將者國之輔

The General Is the State's Support

「故兵者，國之大事，存亡之道，命在於將。將者，國之輔，先王之所重也。故置將不可不察也。故曰：兵不兩勝，亦不兩敗。兵出逾境，期不十日，不有亡國，必有破軍殺將。」武王曰：「善哉。」

Therefore warfare is the state's gravest concern, the path of survival or destruction, and its fate rests with the general. The general is the state's support, whom the former kings held in the highest regard. Therefore the appointment of generals must be made with the utmost care. Hence it is said: an army does not achieve two victories, nor does it suffer two defeats. Once the army crosses the border, if within ten days there is no result, either the state will be destroyed, or the army will be shattered and the general killed.' King Wu said: 'Excellent!'

Edition & Source

Text: 《六韜》 Liutao
Edition: 中華古詩文古書籍網 transcription
Commentary: Traditional military commentaries