一孔录The video for this chapter is still in production. For now this page gives the original text, the facsimile page, a working translation and the commentary; the full reading follows when the video is out.
夫佳兵者，不祥之器，物或惡之，故有道者不處。君子居則貴左，用兵則貴右。兵者不祥之器，非君子之器，不得已而用之，恬淡為上。勝而不美，而美之者，是樂殺人。夫樂殺人者，則不可以得志於天下矣。吉事尚左，凶事尚右。偏將軍居左，上將軍居右，言以喪禮處之。殺人之衆，以哀悲泣之；戰勝，以喪禮處之。Fine weapons are instruments of ill omen; things may detest them, so one who has the Way does not dwell with them. The gentleman at home honors the left; in war he honors the right. Weapons are instruments of ill omen, not the instruments of a gentleman; he uses them only when he has no choice, and calm restraint is best. Victory is not a thing to admire; to admire it is to delight in killing. One who delights in killing cannot have his way in the world. In happy affairs the left is honored; in sad affairs the right. The lieutenant general stands on the left, the commanding general on the right: that is, they are placed as at a funeral. When many people have been killed, mourn them with grief and tears; a victory in war is observed with funeral rites.
白Plain Chinese
精良的兵器是不吉祥的东西，人们都厌恶它，所以有道的人不用它。君子平时以左为贵，用兵时以右为贵。兵器是不吉祥的东西，不是君子该用的东西，不得已才用它，最好淡然处之。打了胜仗也不以为美，以为美的，就是喜欢杀人。喜欢杀人的人，就不可能在天下实现志向。吉庆的事以左为上，凶丧的事以右为上。偏将军站在左边，上将军站在右边，这是说用丧礼来对待用兵。杀人众多，要用哀痛的心情哭泣；打了胜仗，也要用丧礼来对待。
Draft plain-Chinese rendering following Wang Bi; it will be checked when the chapter is taught.
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