Chapter 12: 火攻篇 (Huǒ Gōng Piān) - Attack by Fire
孙子曰：凡火攻，有五：一曰火人，二曰火积，三曰火辎，四曰火库，五曰火队。Sūn Zǐ yuē: Fán huǒ gōng, yǒu wǔ: yī yuē huǒ rén, èr yuē huǒ jī, sān yuē huǒ zī, sì yuē huǒ kù, wǔ yuē huǒ duì.
Sun Tzu said: There are five types of attack by fire: burning personnel, burning supplies, burning transport, burning storehouses, and burning formations.
凡火攻，必因五火之变而应之。Fán huǒ gōng, bì yīn wǔ huǒ zhī biàn ér yìng zhī.
In all attacks by fire, adapt to the five types of fire and respond accordingly.
火发于内，则早应之于外。Huǒ fā yú nèi, zé zǎo yìng zhī yú wài.
If fire breaks out within the enemy’s camp, respond quickly from the outside.
火发于外，无待于内，应之。Huǒ fā yú wài, wú dài yú nèi, yìng zhī.
If fire starts outside the enemy’s camp, do not wait for a fire inside; act immediately.
火可发也，因时而发之，不可发，勿发。Huǒ kě fā yě, yīn shí ér fā zhī, bù kě fā, wù fā.
Fire should be used when conditions are favorable; if not, do not use it.
火因风起，风因日生。Huǒ yīn fēng qǐ, fēng yīn rì shēng.
Fire arises with the wind, and the wind depends on the sun.
Vocabulary List for Chapter 12
Chinese | Pinyin | English Meaning |
火攻 | huǒ gōng | attack by fire |
火人 | huǒ rén | burning personnel |
火积 | huǒ jī | burning supplies |
火辎 | huǒ zī | burning transport |
火库 | huǒ kù | burning storehouses |
火队 | huǒ duì | burning formations |
五火 | wǔ huǒ | five types of fire |
应之 | yìng zhī | respond to it |
内 | nèi | inside |
外 | wài | outside |
因时 | yīn shí | according to the timing |
风起 | fēng qǐ | wind arises |
日生 | rì shēng | sun generates |
勿发 | wù fā | do not ignite |
早应 | zǎo yìng | respond quickly |
Comments