Sun Tzu Art if War in 36 Strategies (Not 36 Stratagems)

The original Sun Tzu Bing Fa (孙子兵法) — the 13 chapters — does not explicitly list 36 strategies.

That “36 Stratagems” (三十六计) is a separate later work, attributed to the Ming or early Qing period, inspired by Art of War but not written by Sun Tzu himself.

However, I can indeed extract and systematize 36 strategies from the Art of War’s 13 chapters.

In fact, many modern sinologists and military thinkers (and even business strategists in China) have done this kind of structural synthesis to teach or apply Sun Tzu in modern contexts.

🧭 36 Strategies of Sun Tzu’s Art of War

(Structured Extraction from the 13 Chapters)

Category 1: Dao – The Way and Preparation (Ch. 1–3)

Theme: Build foundation, align with Heaven, Earth, and People before acting.

1️⃣ Know Yourself and Your Enemy — The ultimate principle of victory.

2️⃣ Win Before You Fight — Prepare so well that the outcome is decided in advance.

3️⃣ Build Moral Authority (Dao) — Lead through values that unite the people.

4️⃣ Shape Conditions Before Action — Arrange circumstances so that advantage is natural.

5️⃣ Use Calculations (Ji) to Ensure Victory — Assess the five constants (Dao, Heaven, Earth, Commander, Method).

6️⃣ Avoid War When Victory Is Uncertain — The wise commander wins without battle.

Category 2: Qi – Positioning and Energy (Ch. 4–6)

Theme: Form, formlessness, and energy control.

7️⃣ Form and Formlessness — Be seen but unpredictable.

8️⃣ Direct and Indirect Approaches — Combine Zheng (正) and Qi (奇).

9️⃣ Create Advantage Through Disposition (Shi) — Shape potential energy before engagement.

🔟 Conserve Energy and Disperse the Enemy’s — Manage qi like water flow.

11️⃣ Use Terrain to Amplify Strength — Heaven and Earth alignment.

12️⃣ Conceal Intent, Reveal Strength Only When Necessary.

Category 3: Zhi – Strategy and Intelligence (Ch. 7–9)

Theme: Movement, adaptability, and intelligence.

13️⃣ Control Movement by Advantage — Move only when profitable.

14️⃣ Divide to Conquer — Spread enemy forces, concentrate yours.

15️⃣ Timing and Speed — Swift like wind, steady like forest.

16️⃣ Adapt to Changes — No fixed shape in war.

17️⃣ Know the Terrain and Environment — Heaven, Earth, Man in harmony.

18️⃣ Secure Alliances and Morale — Momentum multiplies with support.

Category 4: Xing – Formation and Execution (Ch. 10–11)

Theme: Discipline, organization, and moral force.

19️⃣ Build Cohesion Through Order — Structure brings invincibility.

20️⃣ Inspire through Leadership — Commander’s Virtues: wisdom, sincerity, benevolence, courage, strictness.

21️⃣ Maintain Unity in Diversity — Make the army act as one.

22️⃣ Use Rewards and Punishments Precisely — Balance love and law.

23️⃣ Control Chaos Through Calm — Victory through composure.

24️⃣ Seize the Initiative by Flexibility — Adjust like water to terrain.

Category 5: Tian – Adaptation and Deception (Ch. 12–12)

Theme: Psychological warfare and manipulation of perception.

25️⃣ Attack the Enemy’s Strategy, Not Their Army.

26️⃣ Exploit Weakness, Avoid Strength.

27️⃣ Make the Enemy Move First — Use emptiness and fullness.

28️⃣ Appear Weak When Strong — Classical Sun Tzu deception.

29️⃣ Strike Where Unprepared — Lightning strategy.

30️⃣ Turn Crisis into Advantage — Fire attacks and surprise.

Category 6: Sheng – Completion and Victory (Ch. 13)

Theme: Information, intelligence, and sustainability.

31️⃣ Win Hearts, Not Just Battles — Psychological and moral victory.

32️⃣ Employ Spies and Knowledge — Know before you act.

33️⃣ Reward Wisdom and Initiative — Keep your talent loyal.

34️⃣ Preserve Resources and People — Victory with minimal loss.

35️⃣ Integrate Heaven, Earth, and Dao — Harmony after conquest.

36️⃣ End the War with Peace — The highest victory is stability.