12
The Chinese classic known as Shanhai Jing is a compilation of descriptions of medicines, creatures and geographic features. Its authors are unknown, numerous, and believed to all be from the Warring States Period. Depicted above is Peng Wu, the witch [30].
Twelfth Stratagem
顺手牵羊
(shùn shǒu qiān yáng)
Lead Away a Goat in Passing
The phrase refers to an old story of a wanderer that passed through a flock of sheep, and then emerged with one in tow as if he had entered the flock this way.
Plans should be carried out with flexibility enough to take advantage of any opportunity, however small, thereby accruing a profit, however slight.
There was a military leader and philosopher of law by the name of Wu Qi (吴起, 440-381 B.C.) during the Warring States Period. Circumstances, including estrangement from his home state of Wei, led Wu
Qi to the State of Chu where he was eventually appointed Prime Minister by King Dao (楚悼王, 401-381 B.C.). He passed several reforms that strengthened Chu, but that also enraged the old nobility.
In the wake of these reforms, Chu was soon on its way to defeating both the State of Yue in the South and the State of Wei in the North. King Dao, however, died that same year, and the old nobles plotted to assassinate Wu Qi at the funeral if they were able to separate him from his army. At the funeral, Wu Qi quickly spotted the assassins and clung to the deceased King Dao's body, using it as a shield. Many arrows struck the dead King before Wu Qi was finally killed. The new King Su (楚肃王, 380-370 B.C.) was furious at the mutilation of his father's body, and ordered that all of the nobles involved be executed, along with their families [27].
Lead Away a Goat in Passing is associated with the nineteenth hexagram, Earth over Lake. Here the Earth can be thought of as overlooking the Lake, and symbolizing the position on high, where one oversees and takes advantage of opportunity with immediacy [1], [28].
VOCAB LIST 12:
to bring...to...: 把...带（去）...: bǎ...dài (qù)... still (e.g. I’m still hungry): 还/还是: hái/háishì
hotel: 宾馆/酒店: bīnguǎn/jiǔdiàn
to put...into...: 把...放进...: bǎ...fàng jìn...
in passing/by the way: 顺手: shùnshǒu
stupid: 笨: bèn
around/about: 大约: dàyuē
to lead(e.g. an animal): 牵: qiān
just (not long ago): 刚/刚刚: gāng/gānggāng
next to/close to...: 离...（近）: lí...(jìn)
between...and...: 在...和...之间: zài...hé...zhī jiān beside...: 在...旁边: zài...pángbiān
inside...: 在...里面: zài...lǐmiàn
goat/sheep: 羊: yáng
outside...: 在...外面: zài...wàimiàn
luggage bag: 行李袋: xínglǐ dài
to park (a car): 停/停车: tíng/tíngchē
bank: 银行: yínháng
to take...out from...: 把...从...拿出来: bǎ...cóng...ná chū lái
New Characters:
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Sample Sentences 12:
1) 请带一瓶水给我。
Trans.: Please bring me a bottle of water.
2) 你要不要我把你的行李袋带去飞机场？
Trans.: Do you want me to bring your luggage to the airport?
3) I: 我的笔记本在哪？
II: 我把它放进你的包里了。
III: 那请把它拿出来，带给我。
4) 请你把垃圾拿出来。
5) 这些香蕉是我今天在小店顺手买的。
6) 你想牵这头羊吗？
7) Q: 饭店在哪？
A: 在公园的旁边。
8) 我的车停在超市和银行之间。
9) 我刚刚从洛杉矶飞到香港，我很累。
10) Q: 我们刚到，那个宾馆离这里近吗？
A: 对不起，宾馆离这里很远。
11) 她比他离我近。
12) 银行比学校离超市近。
13) 你应该穿外套，外面很冷。
14) 你的衣服还在行李袋里面。
15) Q: 我的书在不在包里面？
A: 不在，在外面。
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