16
Sixteenth Stratagem
欲擒故纵
(yù qín gù zòng)
In Order to Capture, One Must Let Loose
Zhuge Liang (诸葛亮, 181-234 A.D.), the Prime Minister of the State of Shu during the Three Kingdoms Period, captured Meng Huo (孟获), the chieftain of the southern troops, when the two sides were at war.
Seeking to stabilize the southern regions of Shu, Zhuge Liang wanted to convince his captive to surrender voluntarily. Therefore Zhuge Liang did not kill or harm Meng Huo, but instead allowed him to observe the deployment of his troops, and asked him for his impression. Meng Huo's response was that he was not impressed, and that if he was set free, he would be able to defeat his captor. Meng Huo was then set free, and was then defeated and captured a second time. Again he refused to concede, and so he was released again. This was repeated seven times.
When Zhuge Liang was about to release Meng Huo for the seventh time, Meng Huo no longer had any desire to fight against the Shu. Admiring Zhuge Liang’s generosity and foresight, he offered his allegiance. He declared: “The Prime Minister has captured and subsequently released me seven times. You are so generous that I respect you from the bottom of my heart. From now on, I dare not to fight the State of Shu any longer.” [14]
In Order to Capture, One Must Let Loose is associated with the fifth hexagram, Water over Heaven. As clouds gather in the heavens, one may assume that rain will eventually come. As danger lies ahead, the yang lines of heaven -- solid and firm -- bide their time, waiting for the most opportune moment [1], [28].
VOCAB LIST 16:
to make: 做: zuò
sound: 声音: shēngyīn
rat: 老鼠: lǎoshǔ
skin: 皮肤: pífū
to intent: 意欲: yìyù
<measure word for class>: 堂: táng
next class: 下一堂课: xià yītáng kè
to wait: 等/等待: děng/děngdài
chemical: 化学药品: huàxué yàopǐn
to capture/to subdue: 擒拿: qínná
wait a minute: 等一下: děng yīxià
hospital: 医院: yīyuàn
intentionally: 故意: gùyì
<measure word for camel>: 峰: fēng
chemistry: 化学: huàxué
to indulge/to let loose: 放纵: fàngzòng
camel: 骆驼: luòtuó
Zhuge Liang: 诸葛亮: zhūgéliàng
melon: 瓜: guā
to build (e.g. a house): 建/建造: jiàn/jiànzào
<measure word for snake>: 条: tiáo
to go out: 出门: chūmén
maybe/possibly: 可能/也许/有可能: kěnéng/yěxǔ/yǒu kěnéng
New Characters:
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Sample Sentences 16:
1) Q: 他们在做什么？
A: 在做饭。
2) Q: 你有没有听到那个声音？
A: 是的， 是一峰骆驼。
3) 她从不出门， 所以她皮肤很白。
Trans.: She never goes out, so she’s always very white.
4) 警察意欲在那里擒拿他们。
5) 他是故意的吗？
6) Q: 你最害怕什么动物？
A: 我最害怕蛇和老鼠。
7) Q: 他的工作是什么？
A: 他建造房子。
8) Q: 你最喜欢的蔬菜是什么？
A: 我最喜欢苦瓜。
9) 等下一堂课过后，我有可能去图书馆。
10) 天然的食物没有化学药品。
Trans.: Natural food does not have chemicals.
11) Q: 你为什么在医院？
A: 我来看我的朋友，他感冒了。
12) Q: 你下一堂是什么课？
A: 化学。
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