战国策

戰國策

Zhànguócè

proper noun

Meanings

1 Strategies of the Warring States, a collection of the speeches and schemes of Warring States strategists

Characters

strategy; scheme

Examples

HSK 7-9

狐假虎威的故事出自《战国策》。

Hújiǎ-hǔwēi de gùshi chūzì 《 Zhànguócè 》.

The story of the fox who borrows the tiger's might comes from the Strategies of the Warring States.

HSK 7-9

《战国策》记录了很多谋士游说各国君主的言论。

《 Zhànguócè 》 jìlù le hěnduō móushì yóushuì gè guó jūnzhǔ de yánlùn.

The Strategies of the Warring States records many speeches by strategists trying to win over the rulers of the states.

Tips

history

Put together in the Western Han by 刘向 (77–6 BC) from older records, in 33 sections arranged by state, so lines are cited by state: 《战国策·齐策》 is the section on Qi. Its speakers are travelling persuaders such as 苏秦 and 张仪, who went from court to court urging alliances for or against Qin.

culture

Fables from it taught in every Chinese school include 画蛇添足 'adding feet to a snake', 鹬蚌相争 'the snipe and the clam locked in a fight' and 南辕北辙 'driving north to reach the south'.

Stroke Order

战 zhàn

国 guó

策 cè