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Divide the United Enemy: Chen Ping’s Alienation Stratagem
Among the Twelve Deceptive Stratagems recorded in The Art of War · Initial Estimations, Sun Tzu put forward a lethal psychological warfare tactic: Divide the united enemy (親而離之).
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Er Shun (耳顺, Receptive Ears / Age of Sixty)
The term originates from the Analects. Confucius once stated, “At sixty, my ear was an obedient organ for the reception of truth” (or “At sixty, my ears were attuned”).
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The Dragon Boat Festival (Duanwu Festival)
The Dragon Boat Festival is a traditional Chinese festival that falls on the fifth day of the fifth month in the Chinese lunar calendar. The character “Duan” means “beginning,” and since the fifth lunar month is referred to as the “Wu” month, the festival derived its name. It is also known as the “Duanyang…
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The Art of Feigned Weakness: Modu Chanyu’s Annihilation of the Donghu
This article explains Sun Tzu’s tactic of feigning humility to inflate enemy arrogance. Modu Chanyu yielded treasures and his wife to lull Donghu, then crushed them. It also parallels Lu Xun’s flattering ploy that tricked arrogant Guan Yu into losing Jingzhou.
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Sun Tzu’s Stratagem of “Irritate the Enemy” and Two Classic Historical Lessons
This article explains Sun Tzu’s tactic of provoking hot-tempered foes. Two contrasts: Cao Jiu lost Chenggao after being insulted into reckless battle, while Sima Yi stayed calm amid humiliating gifts and outlasted Zhuge Liang, proving emotional control wins wars.