Tao Te Ching Chapter 31
paulpengThe Original Chinese Text
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，则不可以得志于天下矣。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，以哀悲泣之，战胜以丧礼处之。
Now arms, however beautiful, are instruments of evil omen, hateful, it may be said, to all creatures. Therefore they who have the Dao do not like to employ them.
The superior man ordinarily considers the left hand the most honourable place, but in time of war the right hand.
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. Calm and repose are what he prizes; victory (by force of arms) is to him undesirable. To consider this desirable would be to delight in the slaughter of men; and he who delights in the slaughter of men cannot get his will in the kingdom.
On occasions of festivity to be on the left hand is the prized position; on occasions of mourning, the right hand. The second in command of the army has his place on the left; the general commanding in chief has his on the right; — his place, that is, is assigned to him as in the rites of mourning. He who has killed multitudes of men should weep for them with the bitterest grief; and the victor in battle has his place (rightly) according to those rites.
【译文】兵器，是不吉祥的器物，万物都很厌恶它，所以有道的人不用兵器。君子闲居时把左边作为尊贵的位置，用兵作战的时候则是以右边为尊贵的位置。兵器是不吉祥的器物，不是君子日常使用的器物，万不得已来使用它，最好也要采取恬静淡然的态度。即便取得了胜利也没有什么可值得得意的，如果因此而得意，就是爱好杀戮。那些爱好杀戮的人，就不能够获得天下的心。吉庆的事把左边作为尊位，凶丧的事把右边作为尊位。用兵作战时，偏将军在左边，上将军在右边，这是说要按照凶丧事的礼仪来对待战争。杀戮多的人，要为此悲伤哀痛以致流泪，战胜了也要按照凶丧事的礼仪来对待胜利。
Translation
Weapons are unlucky objects, and all things detest them. Therefore, the virtuous do not use weapons. When a gentleman is at leisure, he regards the left side as honorable, but when engaging in warfare, he considers the right side to be honored. Weapons are unlucky objects and should not be used by gentlemen on a daily basis. If they must be used, it is best to adopt a calm and indifferent attitude. Even if victory is achieved, there is nothing to boast about; boasting of such victories would mean loving killing. Those who love killing cannot gain the hearts of the people under heaven. In auspicious events, the left side is considered honorable, while in mourning affairs, the right side is honored. During warfare, the deputy general is placed on the left and the commander-in-chief on the right, indicating that war should be treated with the rites of mourning. Those who have killed many should grieve and weep for their victims, and even after victory, they should treat it with the rites of mourning.
