諺語 · a single proverb
謀勝於無形之前
Simplified: 谋胜于无形之前
What does 謀勝於無形之前 (móu shèng yú wú xíng zhī qián) mean?
謀勝於無形之前 (móu shèng yú wú xíng zhī qián) is a line of classical verse (shīcí 詩詞). Word for word it reads "strategy wins before form exists." In use it means: Victory is decided before the battle is visible; superior planning precedes action. You reach for it when you want that idea in one breath, and the Metal note it carries is why we hand it to those born in the Year of the Monkey.
Literally: "strategy wins before form exists."
The reading
The great general wins in the room before the generals even meet on the field. What looks like decisive action is usually the final expression of a decision already made in the quiet of preparation. Those who seem to act brilliantly in the moment have usually been planning brilliantly long before the moment.
What kind of proverb it is
Source Sun Zi 孫子·謀攻 (Móu Gōng, Planning Attack)
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 Monkey, Year of the Ox, and Year of the Tiger.
Questions
Is 謀勝於無形之前 a real Chinese proverb?
Yes. 謀勝於無形之前 (móu shèng yú wú xíng zhī qián) is a line of classical verse (shīcí 詩詞), and it comes from Sun Zi 孫子·謀攻 (Móu Gōng, Planning Attack). 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 謀勝於無形之前?
In Mandarin it is móu shèng yú wú xíng zhī qián. Read the pinyin above each character to follow the tones, or press the speaker beside the calligraphy to hear your browser read 謀勝於無形之前 aloud in Mandarin.