義仁德信決
Righteousness, Benevolence, Virtue, Trustworthiness, and Decisiveness
將者不可以不義，不義則不嚴，不嚴則不威，不威則卒弗死。故義者，兵之首也。將者不可以不仁，不仁則軍不克，軍不克則軍無動。故仁者，兵之腹也。將者不可以無德，無德則無力，無力則三軍之利不得。故德者，兵之手也。將者不可以不信，不信則令不行，令不行則軍不，軍不則無名。故信者；兵之足也。將者不可不智勝，不智勝..則軍無□，故決者，兵之尾也。
A general must not lack righteousness. Without righteousness there is no severity. Without severity there is no authority. Without authority the soldiers will not die for him. Therefore righteousness is the head of warfare. A general must not lack benevolence. Without benevolence the army cannot overcome. If the army cannot overcome, it has no momentum. Therefore benevolence is the belly of warfare. A general must not lack virtue. Without virtue there is no strength. Without strength the advantages of the three armies cannot be realized. Therefore virtue is the hand of warfare. A general must not lack trustworthiness. Without trustworthiness, orders are not carried out. When orders are not carried out, the army does not [cohere]. When the army does not [cohere], it has no reputation. Therefore trustworthiness is the foot of warfare. A general must not fail to be decisive in wisdom. Without decisive wisdom [...] the army has no [lacuna]. Therefore decisiveness is the tail of warfare.
Notes
Sun Bin maps five leadership virtues onto the body of warfare: righteousness (義) is the head, benevolence (仁) is the belly, virtue (德) is the hands, trustworthiness (信) is the feet, and decisiveness (決) is the tail. This anatomical metaphor emphasizes that each virtue serves a distinct structural function — remove any one and the organism cannot function. The sequence from head to tail also suggests a hierarchy of importance.