mercredi 20 avril 2022

Did Sun Tzu say "Build your opponent a golden bridge to retreat across"?

With the war in Ukraine going badly for Russia, there's a quote that's been appearing lately: "Build your opponent a golden bridge to retreat across." It's attributed to Sun Tzu, whose only extant work is The Art of War dating from the Late Spring and Autumn period in China, roughly the 5th century BC by the western calendar.

Wanting to see the quote in context, I downloaded a translation of the work from Project Gutenberg. It was prepared in 1910 by Lionel Giles, a noted sinologist who was familiar with Chinese culture and language. His translation includes copious notes: Sun Tzu's writing amounts to a little over 11,000 words, while the entire work has over 55,000.

The quote does not appear at all in the book.

The word retreat occurs only 7 times in the translation of The Art of War proper:

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Art of War
Chapter III. Attack by Stratagem

There are three ways in which a ruler can bring misfortune upon his army:—
  1. By commanding the army to advance or to retreat, being ignorant of the fact that it cannot obey. This is called hobbling the army.
  2. By attempting to govern an army in the same way as he administers a kingdom, being ignorant of the conditions which obtain in an army. This causes restlessness in the soldier’s minds.
  3. By employing the officers of his army without discrimination, through ignorance of the military principle of adaptation to circumstances. This shakes the confidence of the soldiers.

Chapter VII. Manoeuvering

On the field of battle, the spoken word does not carry far enough: hence the institution of gongs and drums. Nor can ordinary objects be seen clearly enough: hence the institution of banners and flags. Gongs and drums, banners and flags, are means whereby the ears and eyes of the host may be focussed on one particular point. The host thus forming a single united body, is it impossible either for the brave to advance alone, or for the cowardly to retreat alone. This is the art of handling large masses of men.


Chapter IX. The Army on the March

Humble words and increased preparations are signs that the enemy is about to advance. Violent language and driving forward as if to the attack are signs that he will retreat.

...

When some are seen advancing and some retreating, it is a lure.


Chapter X. Terrain

When the position is such that neither side will gain by making the first move, it is called temporising ground. In a position of this sort, even though the enemy should offer us an attractive bait, it will be advisable not to stir forth, but rather to retreat, thus enticing the enemy in his turn; then, when part of his army has come out, we may deliver our attack with advantage.

...

If the enemy has occupied them before you, do not follow him, but retreat and try to entice him away.

...

The general who advances without coveting fame and retreats without fearing disgrace, whose only thought is to protect his country and do good service for his sovereign, is the jewel of the kingdom.

Chapter XI. The Nine Situations

When you have the enemy’s strongholds on your rear, and narrow passes in front, it is hemmed-in ground. ... On hemmed-in ground, I would block any way of retreat.

As for the word bridge, it does not appear in Sun Tzu's text at all. Neither does golden, nor gold for that matter.

Can anyone shed more light on this? Does someone have access to a more recent translation of this work? If so, does the quote appear there?

I'm unwilling to trust any translation prior to Giles', because in his introduction he's highly critical of earlier work.


via International Skeptics Forum https://ift.tt/jnqF8oI

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