孙膑兵法术语表 Glossary

Indirect relief: attack the enemy's vital point to force them to abandon their offensive. Core stratagem from Chapter 1.

Focus attacks where the enemy has no defenses. Sun Bin's central doctrine — more aggressive than merely "avoiding strength and striking weakness."

Bypass the enemy's strong points and attack their weak and empty areas. Inherited from Sunzi, further developed by Sun Bin.

Use a well-rested army to wait for the exhausted enemy, seizing the initiative through superior condition.

Overcome a larger enemy force with a smaller one through superior momentum and clever command.

Defeat a more powerful opponent through building momentum and flexible adaptation.

Strike the enemy's strategic vital points that they cannot afford to lose, forcing them into reactive movement.

Battle formation — the organizational deployment of troops. First of the Four Essentials.

Strategic momentum or potential energy on the battlefield. One of the Four Essentials.

Adaptability — adjusting tactics according to changing battlefield conditions. One of the Four Essentials.

Command authority and decisive judgment. One of the Four Essentials.

Formation, Momentum, Flexibility, Authority — all four must be present to defeat the enemy.

An army has no fixed form, just as water has no fixed shape. Emphasizes constant adaptation.

Adjust strategy according to the enemy's changes. One who wins by adaptation is called divine.

Sun Bin's characterization of war's essential nature — inherently negative and destructive.

Use force only when there is no other choice. Core of Sun Bin's prudent-war philosophy.

Aggression violates moral virtue. Reflects the anti-war essence of pre-Qin military philosophy.

Between heaven and earth, nothing surpasses the value of people. A humanistic view of warfare.

Heaven's timing (season/weather), Earth's advantage (terrain), People's harmony (morale/unity). All three needed for victory.

Ignite initial fighting spirit. First of the Five Methods of Sustaining Morale.

Drive morale through tangible rewards and benefits. Second of the Five Methods.

Temper morale through hardship and adversity. Third of the Five Methods.

Strengthen resolve, eliminate hesitation, commit fully. Fourth of the Five Methods.

Maintain fighting spirit over the long term. Fifth of the Five Methods.

Inspire, Encourage, Sharpen, Resolve, Sustain — the most systematic ancient model of morale management.

Ignite morale and encourage warriors. A core method of military leadership.

Choosing the virtuous and capable — the foremost condition for victory.

Choose the worthy and recruit the excellent. Core principle of personnel selection.

Transparent rewards and severe punishments. The fundamental system of military discipline.

Treat soldiers as one's own children. Paired with strict discipline to form the mercy-authority duality.

Simultaneously showing kindness and enforcing discipline. Sun Bin's core command philosophy.

"Kill" here means restrain and temper, not slaughter. Strict military discipline for the benefit of victory.

Ruler's trust, understanding warfare, gaining support, subordinates' harmony, assessing enemy and terrain.

Leaders and soldiers sharing the same goal with one heart. Inherited from Sunzi, emphasized by Sun Bin.

Leveraging terrain for strategic advantage. Sun Bin provides a concrete operational checklist.

Value: high ground, sunny places, dry land, proximity to water, accessible roads.

Avoid: low ground, shady places, wet land, desperate terrain (no retreat).

Death ground — no retreat, no water, no supply. Must be avoided at all costs.

Hold narrow passes and choke points to block a larger force with fewer troops.

Eight basic battle formations. Not just specific arrays, but a modular combinatorial thinking system.

Evenly distributed on four sides. Suited for defense and frontal engagement.

No exposed flanks. Suited for defense when surrounded.

Pointed front for penetrating enemy lines.

Concealed forces for surprise attacks on the enemy.

Marching is combat formation; camping is fortification. Seamless warfare concept.

Dynamic defense without fortifications — combined arms mobile defense.

The mind should be meticulous and prudent. A leader's quality.

Ambition should be grand, with a panoramic view of the situation.

Wisdom should be round and adaptable, not rigid or dogmatic.

Conduct should be square and principled, upholding discipline.

Ability should be diverse; tasks should be focused and minimal.

A general must understand heaven's ways, earth's features, the people's hearts, and the enemy's situation.

Unified management — a complete organizational theory of structure, command, discipline, and culture.

Clear organizational structure with well-defined units and chains of command.

One voice in command — avoid conflicting orders from multiple sources.

The general must possess authority — orders are obeyed, command is effective.

The entire army united as one, fighting in perfect coordination.

Having the sovereign's complete trust to make independent command decisions. First of the Five Essentials.

Eyes, ears, feet, hands, heart — the most systematic ancient military training theory.

Train eyes to recognize flag signals on the battlefield.

Train ears to distinguish drum and gong commands.

Train feet for rapid marching and maneuvering.

Train hands to wield weapons effectively.

Train the heart for loyalty and integrity. The highest level — spiritual training.

Systematic military education and instruction. A prerequisite for national strength.

National wealth and military strength reinforce each other. Sun Bin uniquely placed enriching the people before strengthening the army.

Without a strong army, one cannot face the enemy. Military strength is the guarantee of national security.

Without national wealth, one cannot sustain an army. The economy is the foundation of military power.

Prosper the populace. Sun Bin held that enriching the people precedes strengthening the army — economic development before military buildup.

Victory in war preserves endangered states and revives broken lineages. The positive value of warfare.