[6] An animal’s coat is thinnest in autumn.
[7] The drum was used to beat the assembly and in the advance, the bell as a signal to halt. Flags were of two kinds, signalling flags and distinguishing banners.
[8] The normal and the abnormal refer to what in modern phrase are termed the frontal or holding force and the flanking or surprise force.
[9] The five cardinal tastes are, acridity, bitterness, sourness, sweetness and saline taste.
[10] Sun, as has been said, was a man of Wu. Wu and Yueh were continually at war.
[11] Wood, fire, earth, metal and water.
[12] This passage was written on the standard of Takeda Shingen, one of Japan’s most famous generals.
[13] This and the following are so called because the men are continually thinking of, and slipping back to their homes.
[14] The population was divided, for military purposes, into groups of eight families. In time of war, each group sent one man into the field, furnished his wants, and provided for his family. Therefore if 100,000 men are taken, 700,000 homes are affected.
[15] So called because they are put to death when the enemy finds out that he has been tricked.