按甲寝兵 (Àn jiǎ qǐn bīng)

Basic Info

Chinese Idiom: 按甲寝兵 (Àn jiǎ qǐn bīng)
Pinyin: àn jiǎ qǐn bīng
Literal meaning: “To lay down armor and put weapons to rest.”
(按 = to lay down / set aside; 甲 = armor; 寝 = to rest / stop; 兵 = weapons – not soldiers)

Important note: Here, 兵 means “weapons” or “arms,” not “troops.” The idiom describes putting away both defensive gear and offensive weapons.

Figurative Definition

It means to cease military operations and stop warfare – to demobilize, stand down, and shift from a war footing to peace. It implies resting the army, conserving strength, and choosing not to fight for the time being.

It can carry a positive sense of wise restraint and peace-building, or a strategic sense of temporary demobilization while waiting for the right moment. It does not necessarily mean permanent disarmament.

In short: to put down arms and rest the military.

Cultural & Historical Origin

This idiom appears in Han Dynasty and Ming Dynasty sources.

Han Dynasty – Fu Gan, Remonstrance Against Cao Cao’s Southern Campaign (傅干《谏曹公南征》):

“愚以为可且按甲寝兵，息军养士，分土定封，论功行赏。”

“In my humble opinion, you could for now lay down armor and rest weapons, let the army rest and nourish the soldiers, divide territory and confirm fiefs, and reward according to merit.”

Fu Gan was advising Cao Cao not to launch a southern campaign immediately. His advice was strategic: stop fighting for now, consolidate gains, reward supporters, and rebuild strength before the next move.

Ming Dynasty – Luo Guanzhong, Romance of the Three Kingdoms (《三国演义》), Chapter 66:

“且宜增修文德，按甲寝兵，息军养士，待时而动。”

“For now, it would be better to cultivate civil virtue, lay down armor and rest weapons, let the army rest and nourish the soldiers, and wait for the right time to act.”

Here the emphasis is on “文德” (civil virtue) over military force – a classic Confucian preference for governance and moral influence over constant war.

Key Lesson

Knowing when to stop fighting is a form of strength. War is costly, and endless militarism exhausts a nation. The idiom teaches strategic patience and responsible leadership: rest the army, consolidate gains, attend to governance, and wait for the right moment. But it also carries a warning – “按甲寝兵” should not become complacency. Peace must be maintained with vigilance and preparation, not naïve confidence.

Cultural Note

In Chinese, “按甲寝兵” is a literary and formal idiom, often used in historical, political, and military writing. It is closely related to:

马放南山 (mǎ fàng nán shān) – “to release the horses to the southern mountains,” meaning peace and the end of war.
按甲休兵 (àn jiǎ xiū bīng) – a variant meaning “to lay down armor and rest the troops.”
按兵束甲 (àn bīng shù jiǎ) – to lay down weapons and bind up armor.

Its opposites include 穷兵黩武 (qióng bīng dú wǔ – “to use up all military force and wage war recklessly”) and 厉兵秣马 (lì bīng mò mǎ – “to sharpen weapons and feed horses,” meaning to prepare for war).

The idiom reflects a recurring theme in Chinese statecraft: alternation between war and peace, force and virtue, action and rest. The wise ruler knows when to fight and when to “按甲寝兵.”

Similar English Expressions

To lay down one’s arms – To stop fighting and put away weapons.
To beat swords into plowshares – To turn from war to peaceful pursuits (biblical).
To sheathe the sword – To end hostilities.
To stand down – To withdraw from combat or alert status.
To demobilize – To disband or rest military forces.
To call off hostilities – To stop fighting, often temporarily.
To put the army on a peace footing – A formal military equivalent.
To rest on one’s arms – To pause fighting while remaining armed (related but not identical).

The closest and most natural equivalents are “to lay down one’s arms,” “to sheathe the sword,” and “to beat swords into plowshares.”

In short, “按甲寝兵” means laying down armor and putting weapons to rest – a classical image of ceasing war, resting the army, and choosing governance and patience over endless conflict.