To stand by and watch two rivals fight, waiting for both sides to be exhausted or injured, so as to gain advantage from their mutual destruction; to sit on the mountain and watch tigers fight.
Era:
Ancient
Frequency:
Synonym:
Story:
During the Warring States period, the states of Han and Wei had been fighting for over a year without a clear victor. King Hui of Qin considered intervening, but Chen Zhen, an envoy from Chu, advised him.
Chen Zhen recounted the story of Bian Zhuangzi, who understood that when two tigers fight, one must be injured. Bian Zhuangzi waited for the two tigers to be mutually exhausted before killing both of them in one swift action.
Chen Zhen urged King Hui of Qin to adopt the strategy of 'sitting on the mountain and watching tigers fight,' waiting for the opportune moment to eliminate both states.