声东击西 illustration

声东击西

Make a Sound in the East, Then Strike in the West

Distract the enemy's attention and strike where they cannot respond effectively.

Aliases
Make a Sound in the East / Then Strike in the West / Victory Stratagems
Domains
stratagem, negotiation, positioning, competition, conflict

Stratagem Name and Original Text

  • Stratagem Name: 声东击西
  • Original Text: 敌志乱萃，不虞，坤下兑上之象。利其不自主而取之。
  • Translation: Distract the enemy's attention and strike where they cannot respond effectively.

How It Works

  • Concise Definition: Feint in one direction, strike in another.
  • Explanation: Attention is a finite resource; once divided, the quality of response drops.

Usage Example

  • Talk loudly about one project in public while quietly building the one that really matters.
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