business, golden cicada shedding its shell, king of qin, market competition, three kingdoms, warlord, zhang yi
The “golden cicada shedding its shell” refers to its growth process, which sheds or molts its outer shell. It can be used metaphorically to describe how people can cleverly escape a situation by using deception. In times of crisis, employing the “golden cicada shedding its shell” strategy can often turn a dangerous situation into a ...
In the ancient Shuowen Dictionary, trust is defined as a blend of sincerity and reliability, emphasizing the importance of keeping one’s word. This concept was deeply valued in ancient China, with many proverbs highlighting the significance of integrity in personal and professional relationships. Cao Cao, the ruler of the Wei state during the Three Kingdoms ...
Victory in battle, it is said, can only materialize if the three favorable factors of time, place, and people meet simultaneously. In Chinese history, there have been several battles in which defeat was inevitable, but suddenly, from nowhere, powerful winds arose that changed the course of history. Particularly in decisive battles with a vast disparity ...
In traditional Chinese philosophy, the character for “trustworthiness” (信) is composed of the characters for “person” (人) and “speech” (言). This emphasizes that trustworthiness is a combination of one’s actions and words. It serves as the bedrock of personal integrity and the cornerstone upon which societies and nations are built. Lacking this quality, neither an ...
There is an ancient story behind the Chinese idiom “thinking of plums to quench thirst.” One summer during the Three Kingdoms period, Cao Cao led his troops to attack Zhang Xiu. The weather was hot, there were no clouds in the sky, and they were facing a long march through the mountains all the way. ...
During the period of the Three Kingdoms, Zhong Yao (151-230), the founder of the regular Chinese calligraphy script known as kaishu, was married to Zhang Chang-pu (199-257). Zhang was an upstanding lady who abided by justice and placed a high value on the cultivation of morals and virtues. Even toward servants, her behavior was respectful, ...