Иллюстрация: Slough off the cicada's golden shell
Military / Strategy / Classical Texts
Military / Strategy / Classical Texts

Slough off the cicada's golden shell

Leave the shell in place so others stay calm while the real force slips away.

Синонимы
金蟬脫殼 / Set 4. Chaotic Battle Stratagems
Области
Strategy, negotiation, positioning, competition, conflict

Chinese Maxim

  • Chinese title: 金蟬脫殼
  • Chinese maxim: 存其形，完其勢；友不疑，敵不動。
  • Plain-English rendering: Leave the shell in place so others stay calm while the real force slips away.

How It Works

  • Simple definition: Preserve appearance while exiting or shifting.
  • Simple explanation: A stable appearance can buy time for a clean repositioning.

Usage Example

  • Keep normal communication running while a deeper operational migration happens behind the scenes.