Tian Ji's three horses(田忌賽馬)
During the Warring States Period of China,
there was a famous military strategist whose name was (Sun Bin).
There is a story about him in the history
books.
He was framed by his classmates in the Wei
Kingdom, he lost both legs, and his face was tattooed to represent him as a
prisoner.
He absconded to the Qi Kingdom. He became a
guest of a famous general of the Qi Kingdom.
The general's name is (Tian Ji).
At that time, horse racing and betting on
horse racing were very popular among nobles in various kingdoms.
The nobles of the Qi Kingdom are no
exception.
The rules of the race are that each side
must send three horses to race three times, and the winner must win at least
two races.
In a major event, after several rounds of
competition, Tian Ji's three horses entered the final.
In the final, he said to Tian Ji.
I can get you to win this game in a legal
way, and if you're going to win a lot of money, you can raise your stakes.
Tian Ji looked at him in surprise.
Seeing his firm expression, Tian Ji
laughed.
Tian Ji told him.
Well, I don't know what you're going to do,
but I'd like to believe you.
The next day, Tian Ji bet 1,000 gold coins.
Before the race, both sides selected the
three best horses.
The game starts ten minutes later.
He didn't pay attention to Tian Ji's horses,
instead he calmly observed his opponent's actions.
Five minutes before the game, he said to
Tian Ji.
According to my observations, our opponents
put the fastest horse in the first race.
They put the second fastest horse in the
second race and the slowest horse in the third race
How do you now schedule the races on our
side of the three horses?
Tian Ji replied.
I will be like them.
He says.
If we were like them, we wouldn't
necessarily win this game.
If we change our strategy, we put the
slowest horse in the first race, the fastest horse in the second race, and the
second fastest horse in the third race .
I guarantee you can win this game.
Tian Ji followed his advice.
The final began, the first game, Tian Ji's
horse lost. The other party is very happy.
But in the next two races, Tian Ji's horses
won two consecutive victories.
The crowd cheered.
After this incident, he became Tian Ji's
most important staff advisor.
The meaning of this idiom is to describe a
person who wins in a wise way.
Dear friends, what inspiration or thoughts
do you have after listening to this story?
What are your natural strengths? Do you
think it is more important to use your strengths or make up for your
weaknesses?
I hope this story will give you something
new to gain.
田忌賽馬(Tian Ji's three horses)
中國的戰國時代，有一個著名的軍事家，他的名字叫做(孫臏)。
歷史書上記載了一個關於他的故事。
他在魏王國被他的同學陷害，他失去了雙腿，他的臉上被刺上代表他是一個犯人的刺青。
他潛逃到齊王國。他成了齊王國的一個著名的將軍的客人。
這個將軍的名字叫做(田忌)。
當時，各個王國中的貴族們非常流行賽馬和賭賽馬。
齊王國的貴族們也不例外。
比賽的規則是比賽雙方需各派出三匹賽馬比賽三次，勝利的一方至少要贏得兩場比賽。
在一次大型賽事中，經過了幾輪的比賽，田忌的三匹賽馬進入決賽。
在決賽，他對田忌說。
我可以用合法的方式讓你贏得這次的比賽，如果你要贏很多錢，你可以提高你的賭注。
田忌很驚奇地看著他。
田忌看見他的表情很堅定，田忌大笑。
田忌對他說。
好，我不知道你會怎樣做，但我願意我相信你。
第二天，田忌下注了1000個金幣。
比賽前，比賽雙方選出了三匹最好的馬匹。
比賽十分鐘後開始。
他沒有關注田忌的馬匹，相反地他冷靜地在一旁觀察對手的行動。
比賽前五分鐘，他對田忌說。
根據我的觀察，我們的對手讓跑得最快的那一匹馬參加第一次的比賽。
它們讓跑的速度第二快的馬參加第二場比賽、跑得最慢的那匹馬參加第三次的比
你現在如何排定我們這邊三匹馬上場比賽的先後順序呢
田忌回答。
我會跟他們一樣。
他說。
如果我們跟他們一樣，那麼這場比賽我們不一定會贏。
如果我們改變策略，我們將速度最慢的那一隻馬放在第一場比賽，速度最快的那匹馬放在第二場比賽，速度第二快的那匹馬放在第三場比賽。
我保證你可以贏得這場比賽。
田忌聽從了他的建議。
決賽開始，第一場比賽，田忌的賽馬輸了。對方非常開心。
但接下來的兩場比賽，田忌的賽馬連續贏得連續兩場勝利。
圍觀的群眾發出歡呼。
經過這一次的事件，他成為田忌最重要的參謀。
這句成語的意思是形容一個人用智慧的方式去贏得勝利。
親愛的朋友，你聽完這個故事有怎樣的啟發或有怎樣的想法呢。
你的天賦優勢為何呢?你認為發揮自己的優點重要還是彌補自已的缺點重要呢?
我期待這故事能讓你產生一些新的收穫。
出處為史記-孫子吳起列傳