36 Stratagems 三十六计 Mysteriously used by Sun Tzu

The Thirty-Six Stratagems 三十六计 is a unique collection of a mysterious ancient Chinese military book that describes not only battlefield strategies, but tactics used in psychological warfare to win with deception.

Its origins are unknown, and no one knows who is the author or compiler. The modern version is derived from a tattered book discovered at a roadside vendor's stall in China in 1941. It turned out to be a reprint of an earlier book dating back to the late Ming or early Qing dynasty entitled, The Secret Art of War or The Thirty-Six Stratagems 三十六计.

A reprint was first officially published for the general public by a government-related printer in Beijing in 1961. Today most scholars agree that the Thirty-Six Stratagems is likely a collection of idiomatic expressions taken from popular Chinese folklore, history, and myths.  

Here are the 36 Stratagems in listing and our translation in simple English:

Stratagems When You’re in Superior Positions

1.     Openly Deceive Under Camouflage                  瞒天过海

2.     Attack Another to Save Your Target                 围魏救赵

3.     Kill with a Borrowed Knife                                 借刀杀人

4.     Wait at Ease for the Exhausted Enemy             以逸待劳

5.     Loot a House on Fire                                          趁火打劫

6.     Sound East to Attack West                                声东击西

Stratagems for Confrontation

7.     Create Something Out of Nothing                     无中生有

8.     Advance Through a Secret Path                       暗渡陈仓

9.     Watch the Fire from Across                               隔岸观火

10.  Hide a Dagger in Your Smile                              笑里藏刀

11.  Sacrifice Small for Big Gains                             李代桃僵

12.  Exploit Small things along the Way                  顺手牵羊

Stratagems for Attack

13.  Hit the Grass to Startle the Snake                     打草惊蛇

14.  Inject Life into the Dead                                     借尸还魂

15.  Lure the Big Guy out of his Comfort Zone       调虎离山

16.  Let Go to Recapture Later                                  欲擒故纵

17.  Throw out Small to Attract Big                          抛砖引玉

18.  Nab the Root of the Issue                                   擒贼擒首

Stratagems for Confused Situations

19.  Remove Key Support                                          釜底抽薪

20.  Fish in Troubled Waters                                     混水摸鱼

21.  Remove Your Cover to Reveal the Inside         金蝉脱壳

22.  Closed Door Attacks                                           关门捉贼

23.  Befriend the Far to Attack the Near                   远交近攻

24.  Seek Help from Ally and Attack Ally Too         假道伐虢

Stratagems for Gaining Ground

25.  Replace Strong Support with Weak Support   偷梁换柱

26.  Criticize Indirectly                                               指桑骂槐

27.  Play Dumb                                                           假痴不癫

28.  Remove Ladder after Ascent                             上屋抽梯

29.  Decorate Tree with Artificial Flowers                树上开花

30.  Turn from Guest to Host                                    反客为主

Stratagems in Desperate Situations

31.  Beauty Trap                                                         美人计

32.  Put on a Bold Front                                             空城计

33.  Double Agent Ploy                                              反间计

34.  Self Injury                                                             苦肉计

35.  A Series of Inter-Connected Stratagems          连环计

36.  If All Else Fail, Escape is the Best                     走为上

To know more about how to use the 36 Stratagems in your daily people management and leadership, come for this FREE Blended Learning course on 18 August 2017 Friday 1 pm to 3 pm. Details are at here.  Related articles:

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• Deception is not cheating
• War is expensive: using Art of War in people management
• Leadership with Sun Tzu
• Win without fighting: the acme of art of war
• Causes and effects of training