To subdue the enemy without fighting is the acme of skill. This wisdom from Sun Tzu Art of War quotes represents supreme excellence.

This phrase originates from the "Waging War" chapter in *The Art of War*, representing the core strategic viewpoint of Sun Tzu, the military strategist of the late Spring and Autumn period. In the original text, Sun Tzu first establishes the hierarchy of strategy: "Preserving the enemy's state intact is best; destroying it is second best. Preserving the enemy's army intact is best; destroying it is second best." He then states: "Winning a hundred battles is not the acme of skill; subduing the enemy without fighting is the acme of skill." This appears within Sun Tzu's systematic exposition on achieving victory through strategy rather than brute force, emphasizing that the highest level of warfare lies not in bloody combat but in making the enemy submit through wisdom and tactics.

This phrase profoundly illustrates the essence of Sun Tzu's military philosophy: true victory in warfare lies not in battlefield slaughter, but in making the enemy acknowledge the futility of resistance and voluntarily submit through non-violent means such as strategy, diplomacy, and psychological warfare. "Without fighting" does not mean completely avoiding conflict, but rather demonstrating absolute superiority and employing strategic wisdom to dissolve hostility before war erupts, achieving "complete victory." This embodies the ancient Chinese philosophy of valuing harmony, treating war as the last resort, and pursuing maximum gains with minimal costs.

According to *Records of the Grand Historian*, Sun Tzu was originally a nobleman from the state of Qi who fled to Wu to escape persecution. King Helü of Wu tested Sun Tzu's military abilities by ordering him to drill military formations using palace beauties. Sun Tzu divided 180 court ladies into two companies, appointing the king's favored concubines as commanders. After repeated commands, the ladies giggled and refused to obey. Sun Tzu executed both commanders according to military law, and when he gave the order again, the ladies moved in perfect unison, with no one daring to disobey. Though the king mourned his lost concubines, he recognized Sun Tzu's military genius and appointed him as grand general. Sun Tzu assisted King Helü, ultimately enabling Wu to "defeat mighty Chu in the west, enter Ying, intimidate Qi and Jin in the north, and become renowned among the feudal lords." Throughout this process, Sun Tzu fully employed the strategy of "subduing the enemy without fighting," using deterrence and diplomacy to make multiple feudal states submit without battle, establishing Wu's hegemony.

This famous saying has profoundly influenced Chinese history, becoming the ultimate pursuit for military strategists and statesmen throughout the ages. During the Warring States period, the diplomatists Zhang Yi and Su Qin employed this strategy through vertical and horizontal alliances, shaping the political landscape of various states. In the Three Kingdoms period, Zhuge Liang's seven captures of Meng Huo, winning submission through virtue, exemplified the essence of this thinking. Emperor Taizong of Tang Li Shimin used political marriages and economic means to secure the allegiance of Turkic and other minority groups, establishing the Zhenguan golden age. During the Ming-Qing transition, Zheng Chenggong also employed this strategy to recover Taiwan with minimal casualties. In modern times, this thinking has influenced China's Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence foreign policy and the creative concept of "one country, two systems," becoming an important source of wisdom for resolving international disputes.

1. Cultivate strategic thinking: Conduct comprehensive situational analysis before taking action, seeking possibilities for victory without combat. 2. Establish deterrent power: Demonstrate professional capabilities and resource advantages to make opponents recognize the cost of confrontation. 3. Employ intelligent strategy: Practice perspective-taking to identify others' interests and achieve cooperation by addressing mutual needs. 4. Focus on long-term positioning: Rather than pursuing short-term victories, consider how sustained value creation achieves long-term advantages. 5. Enhance soft power: Win recognition and following through professional competence, personal charisma, and cultural influence rather than material means. 6. Master the art of compromise: On the basis of maintaining principles, know when to yield strategically to achieve the wisdom of "retreating one step for broader horizons." 7. Create win-win mechanisms: Design cooperative models that benefit multiple parties, avoiding zero-sum game traps.