To win victory at the very first raising of the banner; to succeed at the very beginning of an undertaking.

An anonymous Yuan dynasty play, "Shooting Willows and Playing Ball", Act 1

"Shooting Willows and Playing Ball" is a zaju (variety play) from the Yuan dynasty, depicting scenes of ancient soldiers on campaign, drilling, and competing in martial arts. The phrase "qi kai de sheng, ma dao cheng gong" (victory as soon as the banner is raised, success as soon as the horse arrives) often appears in the play as a salutation or concluding blessing for warriors.

The idiom was distilled from this expression: when an army marches out, the moment its battle flags are unfurled, victory is already at hand; later generations used it to describe tasks that go smoothly and succeed right from the start.

Over time, this saying spread widely in military well-wishing and everyday praise, becoming a popular auspicious phrase together with "ma dao cheng gong."

A good start sets the tone for success; momentum and confidence at the outset are powerful. It also reminds us to encourage others with positive blessings.

Often used to describe winning at the very beginning of a battle, competition, or enterprise, and to wish someone success in their endeavor.