Thirty-Six Stratagems

Author: Zhong Lei
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-04-01
Features: "The 36 Stratagems" is a military treatise that complements "The Art of War." The author and time of its composition are uncertain. From the "Biography of Wang Jingze" in the "History of the Southern Qi Dynasty," it is evident that "The 36 Stratagems" had already become a well-known idiom by then. The book is divided into six sets: "Victorious Stratagems," "Enemy Stratagems," "Attacking Stratagems," "Chaotic Stratagems," "Combined Stratagems," and "Defeat Stratagems." The first three sets are used when in a superior position, while the last three are employed when in a disadvantageous position. Each set includes six stratagems, totaling 36. The names of these stratagems are all familiar idioms known to all. The explanations for each stratagem are often derived from the principles of yin and yang in the "I Ching," involving concepts such as numerology, yin and yang, constancy and change, division and unity, gain and loss, hardness and softness, sincerity and deception, motion and stillness, capture and release, dominance and subordination, madness and sanity, life and death, and their mutual transformations. The book also demonstrates a deep understanding of the principles of yin and yang harmony and the idea that extremes lead to reversal. Many of the stratagems are specific manifestations and applications of the ideas in "The Art of War."
Each stratagem in "The 36 Stratagems" is followed by "annotations" from later scholars, which are included in this book to enhance understanding, making the work more complete and accurate. The annotations are translated into vivid, concise, and precise language. One of our goals is to enable more people to draw wisdom from ancient Chinese military treatises.