King Goujian of Yue served as a servant in Wu, watching its moves and urging it to attack Qi to exhaust Wu’s strength. After Wu defeated Qi at Ailing, expanded power along the Yangtze and Ji Rivers, and showed off its might at Huangchi, it was subdued by Yue at the Five Lakes. Hence the saying: “To shrink something, one must first expand it; to weaken something, one must first strengthen it.”
Duke Xian of Jin planned to attack Yu and presented it with jade discs and fine horses. Zhi Bo planned to attack Qiu You(Qiuyou or Chouyou) and gave it large carriages. Hence the saying: “To seize something, one must first give it.”
Launching schemes invisibly yet achieving great merit under heaven is called subtle wisdom. Dwelling in smallness and weakness and humbling oneself greatly means the weak overcoming the strong.
Note
This passage reveals a core strategic principle: true victory comes from hidden planning and paradoxical tactics – indulging the enemy’s arrogance, giving temporary favors, and using weakness to conquer strength.
Late Warring‑States Legalist philosopher. This passage is from *Explaining Laozi (Jie Lao)*, his commentary on the Dao De Jing. He interprets Daoist paradoxical strategies as practical Legalist statecraft.
King Goujian of Yue
Ruler of Yue who endured humiliation, bided his time, and conquered Wu.
Duke Xian of Jin
Used bribes of jade and horses to trick the State of Yu.
Zhi Bo
Powerful Jin noble who used large carriages to deceive Qiu You (Chou‑you) for invasion.
Paradoxical Strategy of Laozi
Expand‑to‑shrink, strengthen‑to‑weaken, give‑to‑take: a core Daoist strategic paradox.
Subtle Wisdom (Wei‑ming)
Hidden planning without visible action to achieve decisive victory.
Weak‑Overcomes‑Strong Logic
Humility and self‑restraint in weakness are tactical advantages over arrogant power.
越王入宦於吳，而觀之伐齊以弊吳。吳兵既勝齊人於艾陵，張之於江、濟，強之於黃池，故可制於五湖。故曰：「將欲翕之，必固張之；將欲弱之，必固強之。」晉獻公將欲襲虞，遺之以璧馬；知伯將襲仇由，遺之以廣車。故曰：「將欲取之，必固與之。」起事於無形，而要大功於天下，是謂微明。處小弱而重自卑謂損弱勝強也。
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