War and weapons

The Dao De Jing calls weapons instruments of ill omen, to be used only when there is no choice, and says a victory should be treated as a funeral (chapters 30, 31); its strategists prefer to yield, and the side that grieves wins (chapters 68, 69).

The book's fullest words on war are in chapters 30 and 31. Chapter 30 says that using the Way to assist the ruler “is not a means to dominate people by military force”, and gives the cost: “Where troops have camped, thorns and brambles grow. A great war's aftermath, necessarily involves famine.” What is allowed is a result and no more: “accomplish but don't use violence.”

Chapter 31 begins: “Fine weapons are instruments of ill omen.” (不祥之器) The noble one uses them only “When he has no choice”, and then “calm restraint is best. Victory is not beautiful. To find it beautiful is to delight in killing people.” The chapter places the generals as at a funeral and ends: “A victory in war is treated as a funeral.”

Chapters 68 and 69 speak the language of soldiers. “A good officer is not warlike; a good fighter is not angry”, and this is “the virtue of not contending” (不争之德). The strategists of chapter 69 would rather “retreat a foot” than advance an inch; “No disaster is greater than underrating the enemy”, and “when armies meet, the side that grieves will win.” Chapter 67 adds that “With compassion, one wins in battle and holds firm in defense.” Chapter 57 accepts that war is waged “by surprise”, but sets it beside winning the world “by leaving it alone”.

The other lines measure a world by its weapons. In chapter 46, when the world has the Way, horses are sent back to the fields; when it lacks the Way, “warhorses are bred on the borders.” In chapter 76, “an army that is rigid will not win”, as rigid trees are cut down. The people of the small state in chapter 80 have armor and weapons and “no need to display them”, and in chapter 50 one who nurtures life well “goes into battle without armor or weapons”.

War and weapons: the chapters at a glance
Chapter	What it says
Chapter 30 以道佐人	One who assists a ruler by the Way does not dominate by force: where troops camp thorns grow, famine follows a great war, and one should accomplish without violence.
Chapter 31 夫佳兵者	Weapons are instruments of ill omen, used only when there is no choice; victory is not beautiful, and is treated as a funeral.
Chapter 36 将欲歙之	The sharp tools of the state must not be shown to people.
Chapter 46 天下有道	With the Way, horses work the fields; without it, warhorses are bred on the borders.
Chapter 50 出生入死	One who nurtures life well goes into battle without armor, and no weapon finds a place to lodge its blade.
Chapter 57 以正治国	The state is governed by what is upright, war is waged by surprise, the world is won by leaving it alone.
Chapter 67 天下皆谓	With compassion one wins in battle and holds firm in defense.
Chapter 68 善为士者	A good officer is not warlike, a good fighter not angry: this is the virtue of not contending.
Chapter 69 用兵有言	Strategists prefer to be the guest and to retreat a foot; underrating the enemy is the greatest disaster, and the side that grieves wins.
Chapter 76 人之生也	An army that is rigid will not win, as a tree that is rigid is cut down.
Chapter 80 小国寡民	In the small state the people have armor and weapons but no need to display them.

Every line on the theme

Chapter 30

以道佐人主者，

Using the Way to assist the ruler,
不以兵强天下，

is not a means to dominate people by military force.
其事好还。

This undertaking backfires.
师之所处，荆棘生焉。

Where troops have camped, thorns and brambles grow.
大军之后，必有凶年。

A great war's aftermath, necessarily involves famine.
善者果而已，不敢以取强。

Great virtue brings results, nothing else. Do not dare to use violence.
果而勿矜，果而勿伐，

Accomplish but don't boast, accomplish but don't vaunt,
果而勿骄，果而不得已，

accomplish but don't be proud, accomplish and that is all,
果而勿强。

accomplish but don't use violence.
物壮则老，

Things with strength ultimately wither,
是谓不道，不道早已。

this is not the Way, and what is not the Way soon ends.

Chapter 30, line 1

Chapter 31

夫佳兵者，不祥之器。

Fine weapons are instruments of ill omen.
物或恶之，故有道者不处。

All things may loathe them, so the daoist does not keep them.
君子居则贵左，用兵则贵右。

At home, the noble one honors the left; at war, he honors the right.
兵者，不祥之器，

Weapons are instruments of ill omen,
非君子之器。

not the instruments of the noble one.
不得已而用之，

When he has no choice but to use them,
恬淡为上，胜而不美。

calm restraint is best. Victory is not beautiful.
而美之者，是乐杀人。

To find it beautiful is to delight in killing people.
夫乐杀人者，

One who delights in killing people
则不可得志于天下矣。

cannot achieve his aims in the world.
吉事尚左，凶事尚右。

In happy affairs the left is honored; in mournful affairs, the right.
偏将军居左，上将军居右，

The second general stands on the left, the commanding general on the right,
言以丧礼处之。

which means war is treated as a funeral.
杀人之众，以哀悲泣之，

When many people are killed, weep for them in grief and sorrow.
战胜，以丧礼处之。

A victory in war is treated as a funeral.

Chapter 31, line 1

Chapter 36

国之利器不可以示人。

the sharp tools of the state must not be shown to people.

Chapter 36, line 8

Chapter 46

天下有道，却走马以粪。

When the world has the Way, galloping horses are sent back to manure the fields.
天下无道，戎马生于郊。

When the world lacks the Way, warhorses are bred on the borders.

Chapter 46, line 1

Chapter 50

盖闻善摄生者，陆行不遇兕虎，

I have heard that one who nurtures life well walks the land without meeting rhinos or tigers,
入军不被甲兵；

and goes into battle without armor or weapons;
兕无所投其角，虎无所措其爪，

the rhino finds nowhere to drive its horn, the tiger nowhere to set its claws,
兵无所容其刃。

the weapon nowhere to lodge its blade.

Chapter 50, line 9

Chapter 57

以正治国，以奇用兵，

Govern the state by what is upright; wage war by surprise;

Chapter 57, line 1

Chapter 67

夫慈以战则胜，以守则固。

With compassion, one wins in battle and holds firm in defense.
天将救之，以慈卫之。

Heaven will save such a one, and guard him with compassion.

Chapter 67, line 14

Chapter 68

善为士者不武，

A good officer is not warlike;
善战者不怒，

a good fighter is not angry;
善胜敌者不与，善用人者为之下，

one good at defeating enemies does not engage them; one good at using people places himself below them.
是谓不争之德，是谓用人之力，

This is called the virtue of not contending; this is called using the strength of others;
是谓配天之极。

this is called matching heaven, the highest of all.

Chapter 68, line 1

Chapter 69

用兵有言：

Strategists have a saying:
“吾不敢为主而为客，

"I dare not be the host but rather the guest;
不敢进寸而退尺。”

I dare not advance an inch but rather retreat a foot."
是谓行无行，攘无臂，

This is called marching without moving, rolling up one's sleeves without arms,
扔无敌，执无兵。

facing no enemy, holding no weapon.
祸莫大于轻敌，轻敌几丧吾宝。

No disaster is greater than underrating the enemy; underrating the enemy nearly loses my treasures.
故抗兵相加，哀者胜矣。

So when armies meet, the side that grieves will win.