出师表 Memorial on the Campaign

先帝创业未半而中道崩殂，今天下三分，益州疲弊，此诚危急存亡之秋也。 xiān dì chuàng yè wèi bàn ér zhōng dào bēng cú, jīn tiān xià sān fēn, yì zhōu pí bì, cǐ chéng wēi jí cún wáng zhī qiū yě.
The late emperor died midway through his undertaking, before it was half complete. The realm is now divided into three, and Yizhou is exhausted; this is truly a critical time when survival or destruction hangs in the balance.

然侍卫之臣不懈于内，忠志之士忘身于外者，盖追先帝之殊遇，欲报之于陛下也。 rán shì wèi zhī chén bù xiè yú nèi, zhōng zhì zhī shì wàng shēn yú wài zhě, gài zhuī xiān dì zhī shū yù, yù bào zhī yú bì xià yě.
Yet the officials who serve and guard you remain tireless at court, while devoted men risk their lives beyond it, because they remember the late emperor's special kindness and wish to repay it through service to Your Majesty.

诚宜开张圣听，以光先帝遗德，恢弘志士之气，不宜妄自菲薄，引喻失义，以塞忠谏之路也。 chéng yí kāi zhāng shèng tīng, yǐ guāng xiān dì yí dé, huī hóng zhì shì zhī qì, bù yí wàng zì fěi bó, yǐn yù shī yì, yǐ sè zhōng jiàn zhī lù yě.
You should open your hearing widely, honouring the late emperor's remaining virtue and encouraging the spirits of devoted men. You should not belittle yourself or speak through ill-chosen comparisons, blocking the way for loyal advice.

宫中府中，俱为一体，陟罚臧否，不宜异同。 gōng zhōng fǔ zhōng, jù wéi yī tǐ, zhì fá zāng pǐ, bù yí yì tóng.
The palace and the government form a single body; promotion, punishment, praise and blame should follow the same standards.

若有作奸犯科及为忠善者，宜付有司论其刑赏，以昭陛下平明之理，不宜偏私，使内外异法也。 ruò yǒu zuò jiān fàn kē jí wéi zhōng shàn zhě, yí fù yǒu sī lùn qí xíng shǎng, yǐ zhāo bì xià píng míng zhī lǐ, bù yí piān sī, shǐ nèi wài yì fǎ yě.
Anyone who commits wrongdoing and breaks the law, or acts loyally and well, should be referred to the responsible officials for punishment or reward, showing Your Majesty's fair government. Favouritism should not give the palace and the administration different laws.

侍中、侍郎郭攸之、费祎、董允等，此皆良实，志虑忠纯，是以先帝简拔以遗陛下。 shì zhōng, shì láng guō yōu zhī, fèi yī, dǒng yǔn děng, cǐ jiē liáng shí, zhì lǜ zhōng chún, shì yǐ xiān dì jiǎn bá yǐ wèi bì xià.
The palace attendants and counsellors Guo Youzhi, Fei Yi, Dong Yun and the others are good and honest men whose intentions are loyal and sincere. That is why the late emperor selected them and left them to Your Majesty.

愚以为宫中之事，事无大小，悉以咨之，然后施行，必能裨补阙漏，有所广益。 yú yǐ wéi gōng zhōng zhī shì, shì wú dà xiǎo, xī yǐ zī zhī, rán hòu shī xíng, bì néng bì bǔ quē lòu, yǒu suǒ guǎng yì.
In my humble judgment, all palace matters, great or small, should be put to them before action is taken. They will surely make up for shortcomings and bring further benefit.

将军向宠，性行淑均，晓畅军事，试用于昔日，先帝称之曰能，是以众议举宠为督。 jiàng jūn xiàng chǒng, xìng xíng shū jūn, xiǎo chàng jūn shì, shì yòng yú xī rì, xiān dì chēng zhī yuē néng, shì yǐ zhòng yì jǔ chǒng wéi dū.
General Xiang Chong is good and fair in character and conduct, and thoroughly understands military affairs. When he was tried in service before, the late emperor called him capable, so the officials agreed to recommend him as commander.

愚以为营中之事，悉以咨之，必能使行阵和睦，优劣得所。 yú yǐ wéi yíng zhōng zhī shì, xī yǐ zī zhī, bì néng shǐ háng zhèn hé mù, yōu liè dé suǒ.
In my humble judgment, all military matters should be put to him. He will surely bring harmony to the ranks and assign both the stronger and weaker soldiers suitably.

亲贤臣，远小人，此先汉所以兴隆也；亲小人，远贤臣，此后汉所以倾颓也。 qīn xián chén, yuǎn xiǎo rén, cǐ xiān hàn suǒ yǐ xīng lóng yě; qīn xiǎo rén, yuǎn xián chén, cǐ hòu hàn suǒ yǐ qīng tuí yě.
Keeping worthy officials close and petty men at a distance was how the Former Han flourished; keeping petty men close and worthy officials at a distance was how the Later Han declined.

先帝在时，每与臣论此事，未尝不叹息痛恨于桓、灵也。 xiān dì zài shí, měi yǔ chén lùn cǐ shì, wèi cháng bù tàn xī tòng hèn yú huán, líng yě.
When the late emperor was alive, he never discussed this with me without sighing in bitter regret over Emperors Huan and Ling.

侍中、尚书、长史、参军，此悉贞良死节之臣，愿陛下亲之信之，则汉室之隆，可计日而待也。 shì zhōng, shàng shū, zhǎng shǐ, cān jūn, cǐ xī zhēn liáng sǐ jié zhī chén, yuàn bì xià qīn zhī xìn zhī, zé hàn shì zhī lóng, kě jì rì ér dài yě.
The palace counsellors, secretaries, chief administrator and military adviser are all upright men ready to die for their duty. I hope Your Majesty will keep them close and trust them; then the revival of the Han house can be awaited by counting the days.

臣本布衣，躬耕于南阳，苟全性命于乱世，不求闻达于诸侯。 chén běn bù yī, gōng gēng yú nán yáng, gǒu quán xìng mìng yú luàn shì, bù qiú wén dá yú zhū hóu.
I was originally a commoner, farming with my own hands in Nanyang, seeking only to preserve my life in troubled times, with no wish to become known among the rulers.

先帝不以臣卑鄙，猥自枉屈，三顾臣于草庐之中，咨臣以当世之事，由是感激，遂许先帝以驱驰。 xiān dì bù yǐ chén bēi bǐ, wěi zì wǎng qū, sān gù chén yú cǎo lú zhī zhōng, zī chén yǐ dāng shì zhī shì, yóu shì gǎn jī, suì xǔ xiān dì yǐ qū chí.
The late emperor did not reject me for my low status and limited outlook. He lowered himself to visit me three times in my thatched cottage and ask about the affairs of the age. Moved by his kindness, I promised to devote myself to his service.

后值倾覆，受任于败军之际，奉命于危难之间，尔来二十有一年矣。 hòu zhí qīng fù, shòu rèn yú bài jūn zhī jì, fèng mìng yú wēi nàn zhī jiān, ěr lái èr shí yòu yī nián yǐ.
Later, when disaster struck, I accepted responsibility amid a military defeat and received my charge in a time of peril. Twenty-one years have passed since then.

先帝知臣谨慎，故临崩寄臣以大事也。 xiān dì zhī chén jǐn shèn, gù lín bēng jì chén yǐ dà shì yě.
The late emperor knew that I was careful, so as he lay dying he entrusted the great affairs of state to me.

受命以来，夙夜忧叹，恐托付不效，以伤先帝之明，故五月渡泸，深入不毛。 shòu mìng yǐ lái, sù yè yōu tàn, kǒng tuō fù bù xiào, yǐ shāng xiān dì zhī míng, gù wǔ yuè dù lú, shēn rù bù máo.
Ever since receiving that charge, I have worried and sighed morning and night, fearing that failure would damage the late emperor's reputation for sound judgment. So in the fifth month I crossed the Lu River and went deep into barren country.

今南方已定，兵甲已足，当奖率三军，北定中原，庶竭驽钝，攘除奸凶，兴复汉室，还于旧都。 jīn nán fāng yǐ dìng, bīng jiǎ yǐ zú, dāng jiǎng shuài sān jūn, běi dìng zhōng yuán, shù jié nú dùn, rǎng chú jiān xiōng, xīng fù hàn shì, huán yú jiù dū.
Now the south is settled and our troops and equipment are ready. I should encourage and lead the army north to secure the Central Plain, hoping to exhaust my modest ability in removing the wicked, restoring the Han house and returning to the old capital.

此臣所以报先帝而忠陛下之职分也。 cǐ chén suǒ yǐ bào xiān dì ér zhōng bì xià zhī zhí fèn yě.
This is my duty in repaying the late emperor and serving Your Majesty loyally.

至于斟酌损益，进尽忠言，则攸之、祎、允之任也。 zhì yú zhēn zhuó sǔn yì, jìn jìn zhōng yán, zé yōu zhī, yī, yǔn zhī rèn yě.
As for considering what should be reduced or added and offering all necessary loyal advice, that is the responsibility of Youzhi, Yi and Yun.

愿陛下托臣以讨贼兴复之效，不效，则治臣之罪，以告先帝之灵。 yuàn bì xià tuō chén yǐ tǎo zéi xīng fù zhī xiào, bù xiào, zé zhì chén zhī zuì, yǐ gào xiān dì zhī líng.
I ask Your Majesty to charge me with defeating the rebels and achieving the restoration. If I fail, punish me for my offence, to report it to the late emperor's spirit.

若无兴德之言，则责攸之、祎、允等之慢，以彰其咎。 ruò wú xīng dé zhī yán, zé zé yōu zhī, yī, yǔn děng zhī màn, yǐ zhāng qí jiù.
If no advice is offered to advance good government, hold Youzhi, Yi, Yun and the others responsible for their negligence and make their fault clear.

陛下亦宜自谋，以咨诹善道，察纳雅言，深追先帝遗诏。 bì xià yì yí zì móu, yǐ zī zōu shàn dào, chá nà yǎ yán, shēn zhuī xiān dì yí zhào.
Your Majesty should also consider matters yourself, seeking sound ways to govern, examining and accepting upright advice, and keeping the late emperor's final instructions deeply in mind.

臣不胜受恩感激。 chén bù shèng shòu ēn gǎn jī.
I am overwhelmed with gratitude for the kindness I have received.

今当远离，临表涕零，不知所言。 jīn dāng yuǎn lí, lín biǎo tì líng, bù zhī suǒ yán.
Now I am about to go far away. Facing this memorial, my tears fall, and I scarcely know what I am saying.