Here is the translation of the given content into English: "Thirty-Six Stratagems"

Author: Li Jie
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-01-01
Features: "The 36 Stratagems" is a military treatise that complements "The Art of War." The author and time of composition of "The 36 Stratagems" remain uncertain. As seen in the "Biography of Wang Jingze" in the "History of the Southern Qi Dynasty," the phrase "among the thirty-six strategies, flight is the best" suggests that the thirty-six stratagems had already become a well-known idiom at that time. "The 36 Stratagems" is divided into six sets: "Victory Stratagems," "Enemy Stratagems," "Attack Stratagems," "Chaos Stratagems," "Alliance Stratagems," and "Defeat Stratagems." The first three sets are used when in a superior position, while the last three are used when in a disadvantaged position. Each set includes six stratagems, totaling thirty-six. The names of these stratagems are all familiar idioms known to all, even children. 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, truth and deception, motion and stillness, capture and release, dominance and subordination, madness and sanity, life and death, and their mutual transformations. In particular, it demonstrates a deep understanding of the principles of balancing yin and yang and the idea that extremes lead to reversal. Many of these stratagems are specific manifestations and applications of the ideas in "The Art of War."
Each stratagem in "The 36 Stratagems" is followed by "postscripts" written by later scholars, which are included in this book to enhance understanding of the work. They also make the book more complete and accurate. The translations are precise, vivid, and concise. One of our goals is to enable more people to gain wisdom from ancient Chinese military treatises.