The Chinese idiom 不戰屈人, pronounced bù zhàn qū rén, refers to the idea of subduing the enemy without war.
It can also be interpreted to mean that the greatest victory is one achieved without using a single soldier or firing a single shot.
According to ancient Chinese general Sun Zi (孫子), or Sun Tzu, author of the famous military classic “The Art of War” (孫子兵法), this is the ultimate strategy that should always be attempted first before resorting to battle.
Sun Zi believed that the skillful leader subdues the enemy’s army without fighting, captures the enemy’s cities without attack, and overthrows the enemy’s nation without a lengthy operation.
