Classical Prose

出师表

Chū shī biǎo

诸葛亮

Zhūgě Liàng

Xiān dì chuàng yè wèi bàn ér zhōng dào bēng cú, jīn tiān xià sān fēn, Yìzhōu pí bì, cǐ chéng wēi jí cún wáng zhī qiū yě.

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。

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.

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。

Chéng yí kāi zhāng shèng tīng, yǐ guāng xiān dì yí dé, huī hóng zhì shì zhī qì;

诚宜开张圣听,以光先帝遗德,恢弘志士之气;

bù yí wàng zì fěi bó, yǐn yù shī yì, yǐ sè zhōng jiàn zhī lù yě.

不宜妄自菲薄,引喻失义,以塞忠谏之路也。

Gōng zhōng fǔ zhōng, jù wéi yī tǐ;

宫中府中,俱为一体;

zhì fá zāng pǐ, bù yí yì tóng.

陟罚臧否,不宜异同。

Ruò yǒu zuò jiān fàn kē jí wéi zhōng shàn zhě, yí fù yǒu sī lùn qí xíng shǎng,

若有作奸犯科及为忠善者,宜付有司论其刑赏,

yǐ zhāo bì xià píng míng zhī lǐ;

以昭陛下平明之理;

bù yí piān sī, shǐ nèi wài yì fǎ yě.

不宜偏私,使内外异法也。

Shì zhōng, shì láng Guō Yōuzhī, Fèi Yī, Dǒng Yǔn děng, cǐ jiē liáng shí, zhì lǜ zhōng chún,

侍中、侍郎郭攸之、费祎、董允等,此皆良实,志虑忠纯,

shì yǐ xiān dì jiǎn bá yǐ yí bì xià.

是以先帝简拔以遗陛下。

Yú yǐ wéi gōng zhōng zhī shì, shì wú dà xiǎo, xī yǐ zī zhī,

愚以为宫中之事,事无大小,悉以咨之,

rán hòu shī xíng, bì néng bì bǔ quē lòu, yǒu suǒ guǎng yì.

然后施行,必能裨补阙漏,有所广益。

Jiāngjūn Xiàng Chǒng, xìng xíng shū jūn, xiǎo chàng jūn shì,

将军向宠,性行淑均,晓畅军事,

shì yòng yú xī rì, xiān dì chēng zhī yuē néng,

试用于昔日,先帝称之曰能,

shì yǐ zhòng yì jǔ Chǒng wéi dū.

是以众议举宠为督。

Yú yǐ wéi yíng zhōng zhī shì, xī yǐ zī zhī,

愚以为营中之事,悉以咨之,

bì néng shǐ háng zhèn hé mù, yōu liè dé suǒ.

必能使行阵和睦,优劣得所。

Qīn xián chén, yuǎn xiǎo rén, cǐ Xiān Hàn suǒ yǐ xīng lóng yě;

亲贤臣,远小人,此先汉所以兴隆也;

qīn xiǎo rén, yuǎn xián chén, cǐ Hòu Hàn suǒ yǐ qīng tuí yě.

亲小人,远贤臣,此后汉所以倾颓也。

Xiān dì zài shí, měi yǔ chén lùn cǐ shì,

先帝在时,每与臣论此事,

wèi cháng bù tàn xī tòng hèn yú Huán, Líng yě.

未尝不叹息痛恨于桓、灵也。

Shì zhōng, shàng shū, zhǎng shǐ, cān jūn, cǐ xī zhēn liáng sǐ jié zhī chén,

侍中、尚书、长史、参军,此悉贞良死节之臣,

yuàn bì xià qīn zhī xìn zhī,

愿陛下亲之信之,

zé Hàn shì zhī lóng, kě jì rì ér dài yě.

则汉室之隆,可计日而待也。

Chén běn bù yī, gōng gēng yú Nányáng,

臣本布衣,躬耕于南阳,

gǒu quán xìng mìng yú luàn shì, bù qiú wén dá yú zhū hóu.

苟全性命于乱世,不求闻达于诸侯。

Xiān dì bù yǐ chén bēi bǐ,

先帝不以臣卑鄙,

wěi zì wǎng qū, sān gù chén yú cǎo lú zhī zhōng,

猥自枉屈,三顾臣于草庐之中,

zī chén yǐ dāng shì zhī shì,

咨臣以当世之事,

yóu shì gǎn jī, suì xǔ xiān dì yǐ qū chí.

由是感激,遂许先帝以驱驰。

Hòu zhí qīng fù, shòu rèn yú bài jūn zhī jì,

后值倾覆,受任于败军之际,

fèng mìng yú wēi nàn zhī jiān,

奉命于危难之间,

ěr lái èr shí yǒu yī nián yǐ.

尔来二十有一年矣。

Xiān dì zhī chén jǐn shèn, gù lín bēng jì chén yǐ dà shì yě.

先帝知臣谨慎,故临崩寄臣以大事也。

Shòu mìng yǐ lái, sù yè yōu tàn,

受命以来,夙夜忧叹,

kǒng tuō fù bù xiào, yǐ shāng xiān dì zhī míng,

恐托付不效,以伤先帝之明,

gù wǔ yuè dù Lú, shēn rù bù máo.

故五月渡泸,深入不毛。

Jīn nán fāng yǐ dìng, bīng jiǎ yǐ zú,

今南方已定,兵甲已足,

dāng jiǎng shuài sān jūn, běi dìng Zhōngyuán,

当奖率三军,北定中原,

shù jié nú dùn, rǎng chú jiān xiōng,

庶竭驽钝,攘除奸凶,

xīng fù Hàn shì, huán yú jiù dū.

兴复汉室,还于旧都。

Cǐ chén suǒ yǐ bào xiān dì ér zhōng bì xià zhī zhí fèn yě.

此臣所以报先帝而忠陛下之职分也。

Zhì yú zhēn zhuó sǔn yì, jìn jìn zhōng yán,

至于斟酌损益,进尽忠言,

zé Yōuzhī, Yī, Yǔn zhī rèn yě.

则攸之、祎、允之任也。

Yuàn bì xià tuō chén yǐ tǎo zéi xīng fù zhī xiào;

愿陛下托臣以讨贼兴复之效;

bù xiào, zé zhì chén zhī zuì, yǐ gào xiān dì zhī líng.

不效,则治臣之罪,以告先帝之灵。

Ruò wú xīng dé zhī yán, zé zé Yōuzhī, Yī, Yǔn děng zhī màn, yǐ zhāng qí jiù.

若无兴德之言,则责攸之、祎、允等之慢,以彰其咎。

Bì xià yì yí zì móu,

陛下亦宜自谋,

yǐ zī zōu shàn dào, chá nà yǎ yán,

以咨诹善道,察纳雅言,

shēn zhuī xiān dì yí zhào.

深追先帝遗诏。

Chén bù shèng shòu ēn gǎn jī.

臣不胜受恩感激。

Jīn dāng yuǎn lí, lín biǎo tì líng, bù zhī suǒ yán.

今当远离,临表涕零,不知所言。


Translation

The Former Emperor began his great enterprise, but before it was half completed, he passed away midway. Now the realm is divided into three, and Yizhou is exhausted. This is truly a critical moment of survival or ruin. Yet the ministers of guard and service do not slacken within, and loyal men of resolve forget themselves outside. This is because they remember the Former Emperor's exceptional favor and wish to repay it to Your Majesty. Your Majesty should indeed open wide your enlightened hearing, to glorify the Former Emperor's remaining virtue and enlarge the spirit of men of aspiration. You should not belittle yourself without cause, speak in ways that lose proper meaning, and thereby block the path of loyal remonstrance. The palace and the government office are all one body. Promotion, punishment, praise, and blame should not follow different standards. If there are those who commit wrongdoing and violate the law, or those who act with loyalty and goodness, they should be handed to the proper officials to determine punishment or reward, so as to make clear Your Majesty's fair and enlightened governance. There should be no partiality, causing inner and outer offices to follow different laws. The Palace Attendants and Gentlemen-in-Attendance Guo Youzhi, Fei Yi, Dong Yun, and others are all good and honest men, loyal and pure in intention and thought. For this reason the Former Emperor selected and promoted them, leaving them to Your Majesty. In my foolish opinion, all matters within the palace, great or small, should be consulted with them before being carried out. They will surely be able to make up for omissions and deficiencies and bring broad benefit. General Xiang Chong is good and fair in character and conduct, and well versed in military affairs. When he was tested in former days, the Former Emperor praised him as capable. Therefore all agreed to recommend Chong as commander. In my foolish opinion, all matters in the camp should be consulted with him, and he will surely bring harmony to the ranks, placing the competent and the less competent each in their proper place. To be close to worthy ministers and distant from petty men — this is why the Former Han prospered. To be close to petty men and distant from worthy ministers — this is why the Later Han collapsed. When the Former Emperor was alive, whenever he discussed this matter with me, he never failed to sigh and lament the errors of Emperors Huan and Ling. The Palace Attendant, the Chief Clerk, the Chief Administrator, and the Adjutant are all ministers who are loyal, good, and ready to die for integrity. I hope Your Majesty will draw close to them and trust them, and the prosperity of Han can be awaited in a matter of days. I was originally a commoner, farming in Nanyang, seeking only to preserve my life in a chaotic age, not hoping to become famous among the feudal lords. The Former Emperor did not disdain me for being humble and ignorant; he stooped low, visiting me three times in my thatched cottage, asking me about the affairs of the world. Moved by this, I agreed to serve him. Subsequently I met with defeat, receiving my commission at a time of military collapse and accepting my orders in a time of crisis. Twenty-one years have passed since then. The Former Emperor knew that I was cautious, so on his deathbed he entrusted me with great matters. Since receiving his command, I have been sighing day and night, fearing that my entrusted task would not be fulfilled and would damage the Former Emperor's wisdom. Therefore I crossed the Lu River in the fifth month, going deep into barren lands. Now the south has been pacified; arms and armor are sufficient. I should encourage and lead the three armies, settle the Central Plains in the north, and exhaust my dull and foolish abilities by eliminating the evil and treacherous, reviving the Han house, and returning to the old capital. This is how I repay the Former Emperor and fulfill my duty of loyalty to Your Majesty. As for weighing profit and loss and presenting loyal advice to the fullest, that is the responsibility of Youzhi, Yi, and Yun. I hope Your Majesty will entrust me with the task of destroying the rebel and reviving Han. If I fail, punish me and inform the Former Emperor's spirit. If there are no words promoting virtue, then blame Youzhi, Yi, and Yun for their negligence and expose their faults. Your Majesty should also plan for yourself, seek good counsel, discern and accept wise words, and deeply remember the Former Emperor's final edict. I am infinitely grateful. Now I am about to leave far away. Before this memorial I shed tears, not knowing what I say.

Analysis

'Memorial on Sending Out the Troops' is Zhuge Liang's memorial to Liu Shan before launching the Northern Expedition. It is one of the most famous political and loyalist texts in Chinese history. Its force comes not from ornate language, but from clarity, responsibility, and emotional sincerity. The opening is severe. Liu Bei, the Former Emperor, died before his enterprise was complete. The realm is divided into three, and Yizhou is exhausted. Zhuge Liang begins by defining the situation honestly: Shu Han is at a moment of survival or ruin. Yet the state is not without hope. Ministers inside the court and loyal officers outside remain diligent because they remember Liu Bei's favor and wish to repay it to Liu Shan. This is also a subtle reminder: Liu Shan has inherited not only a throne, but a moral debt and a political responsibility. Zhuge Liang then gives concrete advice. First, Liu Shan must open himself to remonstrance. A ruler in crisis must listen broadly and not close off loyal counsel through self-belittlement or improper speech. Second, rewards and punishments must be fair. The palace and the government office are 'one body,' so there must not be different legal standards for insiders and outsiders. This reveals Zhuge Liang's strong concern for institutional consistency. Third, Liu Shan must rely on worthy ministers. Zhuge Liang recommends Guo Youzhi, Fei Yi, Dong Yun, and Xiang Chong, assigning them practical roles in palace and military affairs. This is not empty praise; he is setting up a stable rear administration before leaving for the front. The line 'Be close to worthy ministers and distant from petty men' is the central political lesson of the memorial. Zhuge Liang uses the rise of the Former Han and the decline of the Later Han to warn Liu Shan that the fate of a dynasty depends heavily on whom the ruler trusts. The memorial then turns autobiographical. Zhuge Liang recalls that he was once a commoner farming in Nanyang, seeking only to survive in troubled times. Liu Bei honored him with three visits and entrusted him with matters of the world. This story — 'Three Visits to the Thatched Cottage' — is one of the most celebrated moments in Chinese history, symbolizing the ideal relationship between a ruler who recognizes talent and a minister who repays trust with total loyalty. 'Receiving my commission at a time of military collapse, accepting my orders in a time of crisis' — this line captures the nature of his service: not ease, but shared hardship. The emotional peak of the memorial comes at the end. Zhuge Liang divides responsibility clearly: the military campaign is his task; offering loyal advice is the task of Guo Youzhi, Fei Yi, and Dong Yun; and Liu Shan himself must plan wisely, seek good counsel, and honor the Former Emperor's memory. The final line — 'Before this memorial I shed tears, not knowing what I say' — is not rhetorical. It conveys the crushing weight of responsibility that Zhuge Liang carries. The greatness of this memorial lies not in literary ornament but in sincerity, clarity, and the gravity of its moral-political commitments. Every sentence is about the survival of the state, the duties of ruler and minister, and the debt to the past. It is a document of governance as much as loyalty, of realism as much as idealism.

About the Author

Zhuge Liang, courtesy name Kongming and literary name Wolong, was a statesman, military strategist, and writer of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms period. Born in Yangdu, Langya, he lived in seclusion in Longzhong before Liu Bei visited him three times and brought him into service. Zhuge Liang proposed the Longzhong strategy and helped Liu Bei establish Shu Han. After Liu Bei's death, he served as regent and chief minister for Liu Shan, governed Shu Han, pacified the southern regions, and launched multiple Northern Expeditions against Wei. Known for loyalty, caution, diligence, and integrity, he became one of the most enduring symbols of wisdom and faithful service in Chinese culture. Representative works include 'Memorial on Sending Out the Troops' and the traditionally attributed 'Later Memorial on Sending Out the Troops.'