强弩之末 (qiang2 nv3 zhi1 mo4) A powerful crossbow

June 7, 2009, Sunday |

Print Edition

AVOID the enemy when he is full of vigor, strike when he is tired and withdraws, said Sun Tzu (also known as Sun Zi), a famous Chinese strategist.

Sun's works include "The Art of War," which has been deemed a bible by many military strategists around the world.

This advice by Sun, who lived during the 5th century BC, is still reflected in a number of Chinese sayings and idioms. qiang2 nv3 zhi1 mo4, or "a spent arrow shot from a powerful crossbow," is one example.

Like many other Chinese expressions, this idiom originates from a war story.

During the early years of the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 24), the nomadic Huns constantly invaded northern border areas to plunder villages and kill innocent people. Liu Bang, the first emperor of the Western Han, sent thousands of troops to fight the Huns, to no avail.

In 200 BC, Liu personally led a large army to attack the enemy. He failed to defeat them again. This was partly because the new nation was then still poor and weak.

In the following 50 years, fighting on the northern border continued, bringing great misery to local people.

It was not until the reign of Emperor Wu, a statesman with rare gifts and bold strategy, that the nation became prosperous and powerful. Emperor Wu was determined to put an end to the border crisis by launching a series of crusades against the Huns. Most court officials supported the emperor's plan, except Han An'guo, who was strongly against it.

Han told the emperor: "Today, we are quite strong. But everyone knows that after traveling a long distance, a strong gust of wind will diminish into a tiny breath of air that can hardly ruffle the feathers of a bird; and a spent arrow, though shot from a powerful crossbow, cannot even pierce a piece of thin silk.

"The same is true of armies. After our imperial troops travel thousands of miles to the northern border, they will never be able to defeat the Huns."

Although Emperor Wu turned a deaf ear to Han's advice, the truth revealed in the outspoken official's remarks has since been expressed in the popular idiom qi(r)°èng n(r)°? zh(r)(c) m(r)°?.

Today, Chinese people often use this expression to say any force, no matter how strong at the beginning, will eventually become exhausted over a span of distance or time.

Therefore, to beat your enemy, "strike when he is tired and withdraws."

Now and Then

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强弩之末 (qiang2 nv3 zhi1 mo4) A powerful crossbow

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