諺語 · a single proverb
暗渡陳倉
Simplified: 暗渡陈仓
What does 暗渡陳倉 (àn dù chén cāng) mean?
暗渡陳倉 (àn dù chén cāng) is a four-character classical idiom (chéngyǔ 成語). Word for word it reads "secretly crossing at Chencang." In use it means: Distracting the enemy with an obvious feint while your real move happens elsewhere; the art of misdirection. You reach for it when you want that idea in one breath, and the Water note it carries is why we hand it to those born in the Year of the Rat.
Literally: "secretly crossing at Chencang."
The reading
Han Xin repaired the road loudly, publicly, making sure everyone saw the hammers and the planks. While the enemy watched the road, he marched through a different pass entirely. The best strategies look like something else. The visible effort is the stage show. The real work happens in the direction no one is watching.
What kind of proverb it is
Source Records of the Grand Historian 史記, Huaiyin Marquis (淮陰侯列傳); Han Xin's strategy
Sits beside
Keep reading
Return to the Proverb Pond to draw another of the eighty-seven, or hear one read aloud. Read the rest of its chapter in Courage & Decisive Action, or follow the years these lines belong to: Year of the Rat, Year of the Ox, and Year of the Tiger.
Questions
Is 暗渡陳倉 a real Chinese proverb?
Yes. 暗渡陳倉 (àn dù chén cāng) is a four-character classical idiom (chéngyǔ 成語), and it comes from Records of the Grand Historian 史記, Huaiyin Marquis (淮陰侯列傳); Han Xin's strategy. It is living Chinese heritage, given here with per-character pinyin and its source so you can trust the line, not a phrase invented in English.
How do you pronounce 暗渡陳倉?
In Mandarin it is àn dù chén cāng. Read the pinyin above each character to follow the tones, or press the speaker beside the calligraphy to hear your browser read 暗渡陳倉 aloud in Mandarin.