What are the valid interpretations of the (first) て-form in the following
sentence?

> **何かを犠牲にして** 、その上で、平和は成り立っている。

I'm having difficulties assigning a definite meaning to this sentence. There
seems to be a couple of forms the て-form could imply that all make sense in
context (in English at least), which I've listed below. Can any of them be
excluded for grammatical reasons?

```

     何かを犠牲にした
    
     (平和が)何かを犠牲にしている
    
     (not平和が)何かを犠牲にしている
    
     何かを犠牲にする　(habitual)
    
```

The full context is:

> しかし、平和はただではありません。 **何かを犠牲にして** 、その上で、平和は成り立っている。昔は自分の可愛い子供達でした。
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2014-07-13T21:29:39.090
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question
grammar て-form
Valid interpretations of the (first) て-form in 何かを犠牲にして、その上で、平和は成り立っている。
> しかし、平和はただではありません。何かを犠牲にして、その上で、平和は成り立っている。 昔は自分の可愛い子供達でした。

In parts, "しかし、平和はただではありません。"

However, peace is not free. (natural English order: "Peace, however, is not
free")

Part 2: "何かを犠牲にして"

"Something becomes a sacrifice" or "something is used as a sacrifice"

Part 3: "その上で、平和は成り立っている。"

"Through this, peace is made"

Part 4: "昔は自分の可愛い子供達でした。"

"In the past, this was your own cute children"
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2014-07-13T22:03:20.860
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answer
Its difficult to give a full translation of the sentence with the limited
context you have given (and I was not sure what to make of your other notes)
but, regarding the てーform:

It links phrases. The link is usually to describe one of the following three
things:

> (1) "Cause and effect"*, eg: お腹が痛くて、歩けない
>
> (2) Sequential actions, eg: 図書館へ行って、勉強した
>
> (3) A common topic, eg: このレストランは安くて、おいしい

In this case the te-form is describing "cause and effect" (one is the result
of, or at least, the reason or condition of the other):

> 何かを犠牲にして -> 平和が成り立っている  
>  giving something up/making some sacrifice -> peace was concluded.

その上で is similar to 〜た上で〜 which is equivalent to ~てから (~ after). It contributes
to the literary effect of the writing, emphasising that peace will come only
after a sacrifice has been made.

Regarding a translation:

My rough, somewhat loose, translation of the extract found by Choko is as
follows:

>
> 平和はただではありません。何かを犠牲にして、その上で平和は成り立っているのです。昔はそれが、自分の可愛い子供達でした。幼い兵士が、地獄のような戦場で戦い、死んで、国を守ってくれていたのです
>
> Peace does not come at any price. It is established after the required
> sacrifices have been made. A long time ago those sacrifices were our
> precious children. Our young soldiers fought and died for us, protecting our
> country in battlefields that resembled Hell.

*Note: "Cause and effect" is used to indicate a reason or causal link between the two actions. "Sequential actions" is used to indicate cases where the te-form simply describes the order in which the actions occur. It is more important to focus on the nature of the examples than the English labels.
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2014-07-14T07:04:41.723
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answer
Logically speaking is cause-effect, but I think it's actually a sequential
action. At least looking at a literal translation. - You sacrifice something,
and it's on that (sacrifice) that peace is founded(/arises).
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2014-07-14T21:54:46.493
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answer