《尉缭子·兵令下》“杀”字解

Solution to the Character “Sha” in Binglingxia Wei Liaozi

关于《尉缭子·兵令下》篇杀士卒一句中"杀"字的寓意,古今学界有过多种训释,主要有"诛杀士卒"、"减省士卒"和"使士卒甘愿战死"等多种解释。这些说法表面上言之成理,但若结合本篇上下文句、成书的历史背景以及当时的战争情况来看,明显与尉子的本意相去甚远。通过考察尉缭所生活的时代背景、战争中人员战损情况与后勤保障等,认为此处"杀"字应理解为"对敌方士卒的杀伤"。

As for the allegorical meaning of the character＂sha＂in the sentence about the killing of soldiers in Binglingxia Wei Liaozi, ancient and modern scholars have various interpretations, which mainly includes many kinds of explanation such as＂killing of soldiers＂,＂diminishing soldiers＂and＂making the soldiers die willingly＂. These claims sound plausible on the surface, but if combined with the context of the sentences, the historical background of the book writing and at the time of the war situation, they are far from the intention of Wei Liaozi. Through the study of the epochal background of Wei Liaozi＇s life, war casualties and logistical support, it is thought that here＂sha＂shall be understood as＂killing of the enemy soldiers＂.