地形第十

X. Terrain

孙子曰：地形有通者、有挂者、有支者、有隘者、有险者、有远者。

Sun Tzu said: We may distinguish six kinds of terrain, to wit: (1) Accessible ground; (2) entangling ground; (3) temporizing ground; (4) narrow passes; (5) precipitous heights; (6) positions at a great distance from the enemy.

我可以往，彼可以来，曰通。

Ground which can be freely traversed by both sides is called accessible.

通形者，先居高阳，利粮道，以战则利。

With regard to ground of this nature, be before the enemy in occupying the raised and sunny spots, and carefully guard your line of supplies. Then you will be able to fight with advantage.

可以往，难以返，曰挂。

Ground which can be abandoned but is hard to re-occupy is called entangling.

挂形者，敌无备，出而胜之，敌若有备，出而不胜，难以返，不利。

From a position of this sort, if the enemy is unprepared, you may sally forth and defeat him. But if the enemy is prepared for your coming, and you fail to defeat him, then, return being impossible, disaster will ensue.

我出而不利，彼出而不利，曰支。

When the position is such that neither side will gain by making the first move, it is called temporizing ground.

支形者，敌虽利我，我无出也，引而去之，令敌半出而击之利。

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.

隘形者，我先居之，必盈之以待敌。

With regard to narrow passes, if you can occupy them first, let them be strongly garrisoned and await the advent of the enemy.

若敌先居之，盈而勿从，不盈而从之。

Should the army forestall you in occupying a pass, do not go after him if the pass is fully garrisoned, but only if it is weakly garrisoned.

险形者，我先居之，必居高阳以待敌；

With regard to precipitous heights, if you are beforehand with your adversary, you should occupy the raised and sunny spots, and there wait for him to come up.

若敌先居之，引而去之，勿从也。

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