wher are the sages of the past And those of future years? Sky and earth forever last, Lonely, I shed
Category: Chinese Literature
三十六计 Thirty-Six Stratagems: 明修栈道，暗度陈仓 Openly repair the gallery roads, but sneak through the passage
The phrase originated from the Chu-Han contention (楚汉之争 ChǔHànzhīzhēng), wher Liu Bang (刘邦 Liú Bāng) retreated to the lands of Sichuan to prepare for a confrontation with Xiang Yu (项羽 Xiàng Yǔ). once he was fully prepared, Liu Bang sent men to openly repair the gallery roads (栈道 zhàndào) he had destroyed earlier, while secretly moving his troops towards Guanzhong through the small town of Chencang (陈仓 Chéncāng) instead. When Xiang Yu received news of Liu Bang repairing the gallery roads, he dismissed the threat since he knew the repairs would take years to complete. This allowed Liu Bang to retake Guanzhong (关中 Guānzhōng) by surprise, and eventually led to his victory over Xiang Yu and the birth of the Han Dynasty.
Dawn of Spring 春晓
I wake up at the dawn of Spring, And hear the birds ev’rywher sing. As sounded the wind and rain
三十六计 Thirty-Six Stratagems: 李代桃僵 Sacrifice the plum tree to preserve the peach tree
Chapter 2: Enemy Dealing Stratagems 敌战计 Sun Bin helped Tian Ji (田忌 ) to win a horse race (赛马 ) by putting his best horse in the second race, rather than against other best horses in the first race. The principle also worked in the third and other races. In battle, Sun Bin put his worst troops against Pang Juan’s best, his medium troops against the enemy’s medium troops and his best troops against the worst of the other side. His best troops quickly wiped out (消灭 xiāomiè) Pang Juan’s worst troops and then joined his medium troops to destroy the opposing medium troops. All Sun Bin’s forces then combined to overwhelm (攻破 gōngpò) Pang Juan’s best troops.
A NIGHT MOORING ON THE JIANDE RIVER 宿建德江
A NIGHT MOORING ON THE JIANDE RIVER Learn Chinese – Chinese Literature Five-character-quatrain A NIGHT MOORING ON THE JIANDE RIVER
三十六计 Thirty-Six Stratagems: 隔岸观火 Watch the fires burning across the river
In wrangles between Chinese states, two Yuan brothers went to Gongsun Kang (公孙康 Gōngsūn Kāng) for help in fighting a third brother who had allied (联合 liánhé) with the powerful Cao Cao (who knew about this move). Kang beheaded (斩首 zhánshǒu) them and sent their heads to Cao Cao who made him a duke as a reward. Both had used conflict within the Yuan family to further their ends.
三十六计 Thirty-Six Stratagems: 笑里藏刀 Hide a knife behind a smile
Li Yufu (李义府 Lǐ Yìfǔ) was a scheming (狡诈的 jiǎozhàde) Tang minister who had a way with people. He seemed kind and friendly, but woe betide anyone who crossed him. He cultivated good terms with the Emperor who ignored complaints about him for a long time, but eventually banished him to a frontier post. Many years later, a poet wrote of Li Yufu, wher ‘a dagger hides behind the smiles’.
THOUGHTS I 《感遇·其一》
THOUGHTS I Learn Chinese – Chinese Literature Five-character-ancient-verse THOUGHTS I —Zhang Jiuling A lonely swan from the sea flies, To
三十六计 Thirty-Six Stratagems: 顺手牵羊 Take the opportunity to pilfer a goat
顺手牵羊 shùnshǒuqiānyáng Take the opportunity to pilfer a goat 原文： Content: 微隙在所必乘；微利在所必得。少阴，少阳。 While carrying out your plans be flexible enough
ORCHID AND ORANGE I 感遇其二
ORCHID AND ORANGE I Learn Chinese – Chinese Literature Five-character-ancient-verse ORCHID AND ORANGE I —Zhang Jiuling Tender orchid-leaves in spring
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