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Chapter 31
第三十一章
Now arms, however beautiful, are instruments of evil omen, hateful, it may be said, to all creatures.
夫唯兵者，不祥之器，物或恶之，
Therefore they who have the Tao do not like to employ them.
故有道者不处。
The superior man ordinarily considers the left hand the most honourable place, but in time of war the right hand.
君子居则贵左，用兵则贵右。
Those sharp weapons are instruments of evil omen, and not the instruments of the superior man; he uses them only on the compulsion of necessity.
兵者不祥之器，非君子之器，不得已而用之，恬淡为上。
Calm and repose are what he prizes; victory (by force of arms) is to him undesirable.
胜而不美，而美之者，
To consider this desirable would be to delight in the slaughter of men;
是乐杀人。
and he who delights in the slaughter of men cannot get his will in the kingdom.
夫乐杀人者，则不可得志于天下矣。
On occasions of festivity to be on the left hand is the prized position; on occasions of mourning, the right hand.
吉事尚左，凶事尚右。
The second in command of the army has his place on the left; the general commanding in chief has his on the right;
偏将军居左，上将军居右，
his place, that is, is assigned to him as in the rites of mourning.
言以丧礼处之。
He who has killed multitudes of men should weep for them with the bitterest grief;
杀人之众，以悲哀泣之，
and the victor in battle has his place (rightly) according to those rites.
战胜以丧礼处之。
