"The Beauty Scheme" is one of the thirty-six stratagems in the ancient Chinese military treatise "The Thirty-Six Stratagems." The original text states: "If the enemy's troops are strong, attack their general; if the general is wise, undermine his emotions. When the general is weak and the troops are demoralized, their momentum will naturally collapse. Utilize this to defend against the enemy and ensure mutual preservation." Its core meaning is that when the enemy's forces are powerful and their commanders are wise, one should seek to corrupt the enemy commanders emotionally, and the most commonly used method is to use seductive beauty to lure them into indulgence in sensual pleasures, thereby weakening their fighting spirit and judgment, ultimately achieving the goal of defeating the enemy. This stratagem is not only used in the military field but also widely applied in political struggles, business warfare, and interpersonal interactions. In cultural context, it reflects the exploitation of human weaknesses in ancient Machiavellian culture, carrying a somewhat pejorative connotation and often associated with conspiracy and trickery. Its usage scenarios mostly describe actions aimed at achieving certain goals through seduction or emotional manipulation, and it often carries a critical or cautionary tone emotionally.
📝 Example
1. In order to steal its rival's trade secrets, this company actually resorted to the honey trap, sending a female spy to get close to the other side's senior executive. (Here, "honey trap" refers to using sexual attraction to obtain information.)
2. In history, the fall of many dynasties was related to honey traps, such as Daji's influence over King Zhou of Shang and Bao Si's influence over King You of Zhou. (Here, "honey trap" refers to using feminine charm to bewitch a ruler, leading to the decline of the state.)