Using softness to subdue hardness.(以柔制剛)
During the Three Kingdoms period in China,
the three main kingdoms were: Wei, Wu and Shu Han. The leaders of these
kingdoms all shared the same goal: to defeat the other two and unify China.
Zhuge Liang was the prime minister of Shu
Han. In the years before his death, he also served as Shu Han's highest
military commander. He is regarded as one of the most famous, loyal and wise
prime ministers in Chinese history.
He wrote a book on military strategy in
which he discussed the qualities of an excellent military commander and his own
military philosophy. In one section, he shared his insights and experiences
gained from leading troops and waging war.
The gist of this passage is as follows:
A general must possess a strong mindset yet
be willing to adapt; he must be soft yet resolute. Only in this way can a
general use softness to subdue hardness and defeat a stronger opponent when at
a disadvantage.
If a general possesses only a soft mindset,
the army he leads will gradually decline. Conversely, if he possesses only a
hard mindset, his army may be strong in the short term, but will soon be
defeated.
Therefore, I believe that an excellent
general should maintain a delicate balance between hardness and softness.
When a general can maintain this balance in
all situations and circumstances, he has grasped the true essence of leading an
army and conquering the battlefield.
This idiom translates as "using
softness to subdue hardness".
It is used to describe someone with the
wisdom to overcome a powerful opponent with gentle and flexible means.
Dear friend, what inspiration or thoughts
have you gained from this story?
Do you agree with Zhuge Liang's view? Have
you seen any concrete examples of using softness to subdue hardness in your
life?
I
hope this story gives you some new insights.
以柔制剛(Using softness to subdue hardness.)
中國的三國時代，中國有三個主要的王國。魏王國、吳王國與蜀漢王國，這三個王國的領導者有一個相同的目標，這個目標就是打敗另外兩個王國然後統一整個中國。
蜀漢王國的宰相叫做(諸葛亮)，他過世的前幾年，他也兼擔任蜀漢王國最高的軍事將領，他是中國歷史上最著名的最忠誠與最有智慧的宰相。
他寫過一本兵法書，在這本書中他論述一個優秀的軍事將領該有的特質與他的軍事思想。在這本書中有一段，他描寫了他在帶領軍隊與戰爭的過程中所產生的心得與體會。
這段紀錄的大概意思如下。
一個善於統領軍隊與作戰的將領，他的心態必須非常剛強但是他也能夠願意轉彎，他的心態必須非常的柔軟但他也夠有所堅持，因為只有這樣，這個將領才可以用柔軟來制服剛強，這個將領也才能夠在弱勢的時候戰勝比自己強大的對手。
如果一個將領只有非常柔軟的心態，那麼這個將領所帶領的軍隊會愈來愈衰敗，如果一個將領只有非常剛強的心態，那麼這個將領所帶領的軍隊就算暫時強大但很快就會被打敗。
因此我認為一個優秀的將領應該要維持一種穩定的狀態，這個將領在剛強與柔軟之間要保持一種非常巧妙的平衡。
當一個將領能夠在任何的事情與狀態下都保持我所說的這種平衡狀態時，那麼這個將領就算是能夠掌握帶領軍隊與戰場征戰的真正核心要義。
這句成語直接翻譯的意思是用柔軟來制服剛強。
這句成語被用來形容一個人具備一種是一種以溫和且靈活的手段化解強勢對手的智慧。
親愛的朋友，你聽完這個故事有怎樣的啟發或有怎樣的想法呢。
你認同諸葛亮的這種看法嗎?你的生活中是否有看過這種用柔軟制服剛強的具體例證呢?
我期待這故事能讓你產生一些新的收穫。
出處為諸葛亮-將苑-將剛