Daodejing Chapter 31 breakdown: in victory there is no glory

Chapter 31 of the Daodejing expands on the condemnation of war featured in the previous chapter, describing weapons as “instruments of doom.” Although the text recognizes that war may be necessary in extreme circumstances, it warns against deriving any pleasure or glory from it and advocates that any victory you achieve should be marked with the same seriousness as a funeral ritual.

Section 1
Even the finest weapons
Are instruments of doom.
Everyone hates them.
The Daoist avoids them.

The chapter opens with the claim that weapons are universally detested. Naturally, the Daoist stays as far away as possible from them, reflecting a deep aversion to conflict and the destructive nature of war.

Section 2
When at home,
The gentleman favours the left.
When waging war,
The gentleman favours the right.
Weapons are instruments of doom,
Not the instruments of a gentleman.
The gentleman does not use weapons,
Except as a last resort.

The text argues that a good man would much rather spend his days enjoying peace and tranquillity (the left) at home than flexing his muscles and martial skills (the right) on the battlefield. Although it reluctantly acknowledges that armed conflict may sometimes be unavoidable, the passage cautions that it should always be approached with reluctance and only taken up when there is no other alternative.

Section 3
In victory there is no glory.
Celebrating victory
Is to enjoy killing others.
Anyone who enjoys killing others
Must never be allowed
To impose his will
Over all-under-heaven.

The passage goes on to sternly rebuke men who celebrate their victories in battle, arguing that taking pleasure in defeating and killing others is totally unacceptable. Men who delight in the thrill of warfare and seek to impose their will through violence are unfit have authority over others.

Section 4
On auspicious occasions,
The left takes precedence.
On inauspicious occasions,
The right takes precedence.
In times of war,
The junior commander
Is positioned on the left.
The senior commander
Is positioned on the right.
This is how funeral rites are conducted.
When masses of people are slaughtered,
We should mourn them
With heartfelt grief.
When a war is won,
We should observe the victory
With funeral rites.

When there is no alternative but to fight, you should treat any victories you achieve with the same solemnity as a funeral ceremony to show your profound grief for the people have lost their lives and your deep sorrow for having to take up arms in the first place.

According to ancient Chinese traditions, the left was considered as Yang and auspicious while the right was thought of as inauspicious. The senior commander takes up a position on the right precisely because any type of warfare, no matter how justified it may be, is by its very nature an inauspicious activity because it inevitably results in the loss of life.

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