October 2009

Commentary

The left and right referred to here makes translating this in context with modern culture difficult. True, correlations do provide a glimpse at possible subtle connections between left and right and life, but those may prove even more indistinct and shadowy. Briefly: left correlates loosely to death, humble, mature, listens, mysterious, sameness, follows, etc., while right correlates loosely to arrogant, juvenile, speaks, obvious, difference, leads, etc. To pursue this avenue, see Using Yin and Yang to Pop Preconceptions

The left and right ‘rules’ were cultural standards for normalcy in ancient China. Codes of behavior like this make civilizations of large populations possible. Rules, arbitrary as they may be, give a sense of emotional comfort and security. Everyone following the rules imparts a sense of mutual understanding. Sure, it is only skin deep, but skin deep is deep enough, as we seldom look beneath the surface anyway. Such cultural norms are also symptomatic of how socially insecure we truly are. We are terrified of making mistakes, of looking foolish, of shame. My, what a profoundly social animal we are.

It is natural for the superior general to take charge of life’s most serious matters (e.g., This means that it is mourning rites that are observed). Like they say, “if you can’t take the heat, get out of the kitchen”. ‘Taking the heat’ is simply being able to boldly make decisions and lead the way. That is the stuff of leadership. Ironically, making the wise ‘right’ decision is not a priority (at least until after a wrong decision has been made and everyone has been led off a cliff). Only in hindsight do we know who was truly the superior general.

Why would one use weapons anyway? To gain an advantage. This is clearly symptomatic of the survival instinct. Viewed broadly, words, clothes, political pull, social contacts, expertise, and such, are also weapons to achieve gain or fame. Rising above the need for fame or gain to the point of superior indifference is rare, I expect. Notice, however, it does not say absolute, perfect indifference. Superior indifference conveys a more flexible view. For example, my indifference now is superior to when I was a young man. Survival and ascendancy were high on my list of needs back then. The closer I approach the end of life, the less important that naturally becomes (thankfully).

A larger view of being victorious must also include an inevitable and corresponding defeat. All gains and successes ‘here’ entail losses and failures ‘elsewhere’. To paraphrase: Victory and defeat off-set, produce, and complement each other. The universe is One whole becoming. Adding to ‘this side’ entails removal from ‘that side’. There are no free lunches; everything is paid for in full. Any dream of bypassing that natural balance comes to naught.

So what? At least you get to enjoy the illusion of winning victorious success, right? In my heart of hearts I don’t think so. In every such self satisfied smile I see its opposite. That people prefer by-paths is driven by a lack of contentment. The ‘hole’ (the void) is there and we rush to fill it in. In that process, we tend to notice the filling action rather than the hole that causes it and drives it. Observation-wise isn’t this putting the cart before the horse? How can life ever be fully lived when that is the case? On the other hand, they say ignorance is bliss. Alas no; if it was, we would never be eager to know.

Translation

For the good person, weapons are inauspicious tools – even evil.
Hence, one who has the way gets along without them.
A person of noble character dwells normally noble left,
The use of weapons normally noble right.
Weapons are inauspicious tools,
Not the tools of a person of noble character,
Having no alternative but to use them,
Indifferent to fame or gain, to lightly act is best.
Victorious but not beautiful,
That beauty in cheerfully killing people.
Man cheerfully killing people normally never get their way in the world.
Auspicious affairs still left, burial affairs still right.
The partisan general dwells on the left, the superior general dwells right.
Speaks at funeral places.
Murder of many takes sorrowful weeping, vanquish takes funeral place.

husband (man) good (fine; beautiful) weapons (army; troops) not auspicious (propitious; lucky) of utensil (ware; talent), matter (the outside world) perhaps (or; either…or…; > someone) evil (vice; wickedness; fierce; ferocious) of,

incident (cause; intentionally; hence) have (exist) road (way, principle; speak; think) not get along with (be situated in; deal with _ place; point; part)

a man of noble character (gentleman) dwell (live; stay; store up) standard (norm; rule > imitate; follow) expensive (precious; noble; > your) left (east; heretical; wrong; different),

use (apply; <formal> hence) weapons (army; troops) standard (norm; rule > imitate; follow) expensive (precious; noble; > your) right (west; right thinking).

weapons (army; troops) ominous (inauspicious) of utensil (ware; talent),

wrong (not conform to; <infrml> must) a man of noble character (gentleman) of utensil (ware; talent),

act against one’s will (have no alternative but to; have to) <conj.>) use (apply; <formal> hence) of,

indifferent to fame or gain (quiet; tranquil; calm; not care at all) thin (light; tasteless; weak) do (act as; be, mean; support) upper (higher; superior).

victory (success; surpass; be superior to; get the better of; superb) <conj.> not beautiful (good),

<conj.> beautiful (good) of, <grm>is <formal> this; that) happy (cheerful) kill a person (murder).

husband (man) happy (cheerful) kill a person (murder), standard (norm; rule > imitate; follow) no can get will (aspiration; ideal; mark; sign) at (in) land under heaven already (indeed; really; how).

lucky (auspicious; propitious) matter (affair; thing; business; involvement) still (yet; esteem, set great store by) left (east; heretical; wrong; different), unlucky matters (death, burial) still (yet; esteem, set great store by) right (west; right thinking).

leaning (partial) support (bring; handle, will>lead, command) army (troops) dwell (live; house; store up) left (east; heretical; wrong; different), upper (higher; superior) support (bring; handle, will>lead, command) army (troops) dwell (live; house; store up) right (west; right thinking).

speech (word; say; talk) use (take; because of; so as to> and; as well as) obsequies (funeral) get along with (be situated in; deal with _ place; point; part) of.

kill a person (murder) of many (numerous; crowd; multitude), use (take; because of; so as to> and; as well as) grieved (sorrowful) weep (sob; tears) of, defeat (triumph over; vanquish; overcome) use (take; because of; so as to> and; as well as) obsequies (funeral) get along with (be situated in; deal with _ place; point; part) of.

Original

夫佳兵者不祥之器，
物或恶之，
故有道者不处。
君子居则贵左，
用兵则贵右。
兵者不祥之器，
非君子之器，
不得已而用之，
恬淡为上。
胜而不美，
而美之者，
是乐杀人。
夫乐杀人者，
则不可得志于天下矣。
吉事尚左，
凶事尚右。
偏将军居左，
上将军居右。
言以丧礼处之。
杀人之众，
以悲哀泣之，
战胜以丧礼处之。