Commentary on Military Secrets: The Three Accumulations

The "Three Accumulations" (San Lei) refers to the layers of social and political issues that lead to a nation's downfall.

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When the upper levels of government pursue vanity, those below fall into distress. When taxes are harsh and levies are heavy, and when punishments are frequent and without limit, the people turn to harming and robbing one another. This is called a Cursed State xiongguo (凶國): a nation marked by disaster and moral decay, where the social contract has failed.

The Military Prophecies original: "軍讖" (Jun Chen); an ancient, now largely lost text on military divination and strategy often cited in early Chinese treatises state: To be greedy within while appearing incorruptible without; to fake a reputation to gain fame; to treat state revenues as personal favors; and for high-ranking officials to be confused and corrupt—to put on a mask of righteousness merely to secure a high office is called the Source of Theft daoduan (盜端): the beginning of systemic corruption where officials "steal" the authority of the state.

The Military Prophecies state: When officials form factions and cliques, each promoting their own kin; when they elevate the wicked and deceitful while suppressing the benevolent and wise; and when they abandon public duty for private gain, while those of equal rank slander one another—this is called the Source of Disorder luanyuan (亂源): the point of origin for political instability.
Subtle words

The Military Prophecies state: When powerful clans harbor villains; when they hold no official rank yet are treated with honor; when they possess authority that does not serve the state; and when they are entangled like creeping vines gelei (葛藟): a metaphor for parasitic social networks or factions that choke the life out of the state, sowing false "virtue" to gain personal favors, usurping the power of those in office, and oppressing the common people—the nation becomes filled with uproar original: "諠譁" (xuanhua); the loud clamor of a dissatisfied populace. If ministers then conceal these truths and remain silent, this is called the Root of Disorder luangen (亂根): the deep-seated cause of a nation's collapse.

The Military Prophecies state: When families commit crimes generation after generation, stealing from the state and seeking personal convenience in every action; when they manipulate laws and documents through devious rhetoric original: "委曲弄文" (weiqu nongwen); literally "bending and playing with the text," referring to the manipulation of legal codes to serve corrupt ends to endanger the army—this is called the National Villain guojian (國奸): a traitorous element that rots the state from within.

The Military Prophecies state: When officials are many and the commoners are few; when social ranks are confused so that the high and low treat each other as equals; and when the strong and the weak prey upon one another, none...