"Unless you enter the tiger's lair, you cannot get hold of the tiger's cubs."

—Sun Tzu, *Art of War* (trans. Giles)

While defending their southern borders, both the Wu and Shu kingdoms fought against the barbarians' trained elephants.

Bathing in this spring could cure ailments of body and mind alike.

Throughout Chinese history, generals have often been referred to as tigers for their fierceness, strength, and bravery.

Taoists chose to be hermits for many reasons, but all shared one unchanging goal: to follow the Tao.

By appearing in places miles apart at the same time, Zuo Ci exhibited the mystic's ability to "shrink the land."

Incensed by their opponents' unrelenting taunts, even wise generals were known to rashly lead their troops into battle—often to disastrous defeats.

"Trying to meet a worthy man in the wrong way is as bad as closing the door on an invited guest."

—Mencius, a Chinese philosopher

"[King Mulu's cheetahs] came riding on the winds, charging, with fangs bared and claws flexed."

To taunt a man into action, call him a coward. To insult him beyond forgiveness, call him a jackal.

Trip wire, hooked poles, and sunken pits were commonly used to unhorse riders during the Three Kingdoms period.

Named for the eastern part of the sky, the source of energy and renewal, Guan Yu's crescent-moon blade weighed over 100 pounds.

". . . 'First take Jingzhou, next the Riverlands; / On that rich region, base your own royal stand.' . . ."

". . . By six offensives from the hills of Qi Kongming sought to change Han's destiny. . . ."

". . . Cao's abdication changed the face of all; / No mighty battles marked the Southland's fall. . . ."

". . . The world's affairs rush on, an endless stream; / A sky-told fate, infinite in reach, dooms all. . . ."

". . . But the time of Han had run—could he [Kongming] not tell?— / That night his master star fell past the hills. . . ."

". . . Three kings no more—Chenliu, Guiming, Anle. / The fiefs and posts must now be filled anew. . . ."