;

Sunzi said

Critical Text

孫	子	曰	凡	用	兵
sun	zi	yue	fan	yong	bing
sun	zi	said	all	employ	military

之	法	全	國	為	上
zhi	fa	quan	guo	wei	shang
's	method	whole	state	is	top

破	國	次	之	全	軍
po	guo	ci	zhi	quan	jun
destroy	state	next-to	it	whole	army

為	上	破	軍	次	之
wei	shang	po	jun	ci	zhi
is	top	destroy	army	next-to	it

全	旅	為	上	破	旅
quan	lu	wei	shang	po	lu
whole	battalion	is	top	destroy	battalion

次	之	全	卒	為	上
ci	zhi	quan	zu	wei	shang
next-to	it	whole	company	is	top

破	卒	次	之	全	伍
po	zu	ci	zhi	quan	wu
destroy	company	next-to	it	whole	squad

為	上	破	伍	次	之
wei	shang	po	wu	ci	zhi
is	top	destroy	squad	next-to	it

Yinqueshan Text

。。。破伍。。。

Shiyijia zhu Text

孫子曰凡用兵之法全國為上破國次之蹧軍為上破軍次之全旅為上破旅次之全卒為上破卒次之全伍為上破伍次之

Translation

Sunzi said: In sum, the method of employing the military. Taking a state whole is superior; destroying it is inferior to this. Taking an army whole is superior; destroying it is inferior to this. Taking a battalion whole is superior; destroying it is inferior to this. Taking a company whole is superior; destroying it is inferior to this. Taking a squad whole is superior; destroying it is inferior to this.

Annotations

We have translated guo as "state." This is somewhat anachronistic. In pre-Qin times guo referred especially to the ruler's city seat. Cao Cao's notes reflect this, arguing that through the strategy of attack, one causes the enemy to offer up their cities to you.

The terms "battalion," "company" and "squad" are approximate, both in the Chinese original and in pre-modern English usage. The commentaries suggest they refer ideally to groups of five hundred, one hundred, and five soldiers.