2018年翻译资格考试初级笔译模拟题：孙子兵法
汉译英
《孙子兵法》已有2500年历史，被译成许多种语言，流传到世界各地，仅英文译本就有17种之多。虽然作为冷兵器时代的一部兵书，《孙子兵法》有些内容已经远离当今时代，但其许多战略、战术思想并未随历史褪色，而仍熠熠生辉。美国西点军校将之列为必读经典。
我发现，《孙子兵法》对今天中国外交、国防政策的形成亦有深刻影响。
《孙子兵法》开宗明义第一句话，就是：“兵者，国之大事，死生之地，存亡之道，不可不察也。” 孙子还认为， “故上兵伐谋，其次伐交，其次伐兵，其下攻城。”
可见，《孙子兵法》尽管是一部兵书，但其指导思想是“慎战”和“不战”。这与中国古代其他先哲的观点如出一辙，如老子和孟子都认为：“兵者，凶器也。”这也就不难理解90年前为什么英国著名哲学家、思想家罗素在其著作《中国问题》中指出：“中国历史上虽然征战连绵，但中国人天性是喜好和平的。”
今天的中国，立足中国国情，顺应时代潮流，坚持独立自主的和平外交政策，将维护世界和平、促进共同发展作为中国外交政策的宗旨。
中国倡导互信、互利、平等、协作的新安全观，秉持积极有为的国际责任观，奉行睦邻友好的地区合作观，主张世界各国一道建立持久和平、共同繁荣的和谐世界。
中国绝不搞侵略扩张，永远不争霸、不称霸，始终作维护世界和地区和平稳定的坚定力量,中国绝不走历史上“国强必霸”的老路。
《孙子兵法》从根本上主张不战、慎战，但并不惧战、畏战。同样，我们讲积极防御，并不是软弱可欺，而是后发制人。后发即“人不犯我、我不犯人”，制人则是“人若犯我、我必犯人”。
参考译文
Sometime it is called ‘Military Principles’ but the more popular translation is The Art of War.
This is a classical Chinese military treatise written 2,500 years ago. The book was authored by a high-ranking general called Sun Tzu.
The book has since been translated into many languages and read and studied around the world. It is said there are 17 English versions.
You might ask what relevance such an ancient book has in the high technology world of today. Some arguments in The Art of War do seem to be out of touch in the modern world.
But with careful study you will find that many of its strategies, tactics and thoughts are highly relevant today. The book still offers a central text of military thought for defense communities. I know that the book has been adopted as a must-read by West Point and many other military academies.
For China, the importance of The Art of War has spread far beyond military studies. The book has deep influence in framing China’s foreign policy and its approach to security and defense.
The opening line of The Art of War is:
“The art of war is of vital importance to the State. It is a matter of life and death, a road either to safety or to ruin.
Hence it is a subject of inquiry, which can on no account be neglected.”
Sun Tzu continued:
“Thus the highest form of generalship is to balk the enemy’s plan. The next best is to prevent the junction of the enemy’s forces. The next in order is to attack the enemy’s army in the field. And the worst policy of all is to besiege walled cities.”
The Art of War stands out from other military theory books. The reason is the stress on the cautious use of force and to avoid war.
Sun Tzu is not alone in this view.
Many Chinese philosophers around his time also cautioned against war. Both Lao Tzu and Mencius warned war and conflict carry big dangers.
There have also been thinkers outside China that support this approach. The famous British philosopher, Bertrand Russell, also observed the consistent commitment to peace of China. 90 years ago Russell wrote in his book The Problem of China that:
“Although there have been many wars in China, the natural outlook of the Chinese is very pacifistic.”
China’s commitment to an independent, peaceful foreign policy is based upon its national conditions. This reflects the needs of our time.
• At the heart of our policy is to build a peaceful world that provides shared prosperity for all.
• China does not believe in expansion or hegemony.
• Instead, we have always been a staunch force for world peace and regional stability.
• China will not repeat the errors of history, whereby ‘power leads to hegemony’. That approach has plunged the world into disaster and conflict.
China calls for mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality and cooperation to build a peaceful world.
• China actively assumes its fair share of global responsibilities and seeks to shape a friendly neighborhood.
• We want to work with all countries and contribute to a harmonious world of lasting peace and common prosperity.
In essence, The Art of War talks about avoiding war and going to war with caution. But, this prudent approach does not mean fear or cowardice.
It is crucial that leaders around the world understand our defence strategy. They should never mistake the principles of The Art of War as a display of weakness and vulnerability.
China is not to launch preemptive strikes. But in case we are threatened or under attack, there should be no doubt that China will take robust action to protect its interests.
