Thirty-Six Strategies

36 Ji

– Thirty-Six Strategies

A recently uncovered notebook of 36 proverbs commented as military tactics that helps dealing with conflicts. Tr. Verstappen (en), Doc Mac Jr (fr).

I.	Stratagems when in a superior position	1	2	3	4	5	6
II.	Stratagems for confrontation	7	8	9	10	11	12
III.	Stratagems for attack	13	14	15	16	17	18
IV.	Stratagems for confused situations	19	20	21	22	23	24
V.	Stratagems for gaining ground	25	26	27	28	29	30
VI.	Stratagems for desperate situations	31	32	33	34	35	36

6 x 6 = 36

Six multiplied by six equals thirty-six.
Calculations produce tactics which in turn produce calculations.
Each side depends upon the other.
Based on this correlative relationship, ploys against the enemy are devised.
Rigid application of Military theory will only result in defeat on the battlefield.

Ref. unknown

Foreword

Whereas other Chinese military texts such as Sun Zi's Art of War focus on military organization, leadership, and battlefield tactics, the Thirty-Six Strategies, this unique collection of ancient Chinese proverbs, are more suitably applied in the fields of politics, diplomacy, and espionage. Tactics such as the 'double cross', the 'frame job', and the 'bait and switch', can be traced back through thousands of years of Chinese history to such proverbs as 'Hide the Dagger Behind a Smile', 'Kill With a Borrowed Sword', and 'Toss out a Brick to Attract Jade' respectively. For the western reader the Thirty-Six Strategies offers timeless insights into the workings of human nature under conditions of extreme stress.

The origins of this book are unknown. No author or compiler has ever been mentioned, and no date as to when it may have been written has been ascertained. All modern versions are derived from a tattered book discovered at a roadside vendor's stall in Sichuan 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, The Thirty-Six Strategies. There was no mention of who the authors or compilers were or when it was originally published. A reprint was first published for the general public in Beijing in 1979.

The original text is rather short (138 Chinese characters). It merely names each strategy followed by a brief explanation, often containing allusions to the Book of Change. Modern Chinese editions illustrate each one with various well-known anecdotes from folklore and even recent History.

Confer

Sources

Original text in traditional Chinese characters was found at http://www.gchjs.com/bftl/36j.htm but link is broken, text can also be found in Chinese wikisource.
English translation, from Verstaffen, with full introduction, is available at www.chinastrategies.com.
La traduction française de "Doc Mac Jr", avec une introduction développée, est disponible à spinoza.lautre.net.

Other translations / autres traductions

French, François Kircher, Les 36 stratagèmes, Editions du Rocher, 2003, ISBN 2268039056.

Links / liens

Wikipedia : Thirty-Six Strategies (en).

La bataille en question est celle de Mikata-Ga-Hara, le 25 janvier 1573.

Koskov – 2007/12/10

La technique de la ville vide fut aussi utilisée par Tokugawa Ieyasu au XVIe siecle pour dissuader les Takeda de l'attaquer alors que selon la légende il aurait fui avec seulement cinq samurais. Voir l'article sur Nobunaga et Tokugawa dans wikipedia.

Anon. – 2007/12/10

Cette technique a été utilisé par Zhou Yu lors de la bataille de Chi Bi, il avait fouetté Huang Gai en public, par la suite, ce dernier déclara vouloir rejoindre le camp adverse mais une fois arrivé dans le camp ennemi, il y mit le feu et assura la victoire face à Cao Cao.

Neosis – 36ji 34 – 2006/10/31

La technique de la ville vide a été utilisé par Zhuge Liang contre Sima Yi.

Neosis – 36ji 32 – 2006/10/31

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wade-Giles

Read up on it, the web page is correct, its just in a style that is not very common now, being replaced by Pinyin

Anon. – 36ji 21 – 2006/12/06

l'époque de la dynastie des Ming (1366-1610): les dates des Ming sont généralement acceptées pour être 1368-1644.

Yvalbert – 2005/11/03

hiya, thanks for all these translations, but there are some errors in 36 ji, number 21..

In it, it was said that Liu Bei is Chang Fei's general, this is wrong, Liu Bei is ruler of Shu and Zhang Fei, the 3rd sworn brother of Liu Bei (Guan Yu is the 2nd), is a general of Shu.

During Zhang Fei's single handed face off with CaoCao's men at Chang Pan bridge, he shouted 3 challenges and Cao Cao's men did not respond to any of it. on the 3rd challenge, one of Cao Cao's men was shocked and fell off his horse and was killed instantly.

After CaoCao's retreat, Zhang Fei (sadly) torn down the bridge and went to regroup with Liu Bei. Cao Cao, after hearing that the bridge was torn down, knew he was tricked and continued chasing them, but they were already in Jiang Ling (not Chian Ling)

Nice site... really.. It's from the bottom of my heart :)

Andy Lai Chonghua – 36ji 21 – 2005/12/02

[Xref] Strategy 0 quotes I Ching hexagram 2

gbog – Yijing 2 – 2005/12/02

[Xref] Strategy 3 quotes I Ching hexagram 41

gbog – 36ji 3 – Yijing 41 – 2005/12/02

[Xref] Strategy 4 quotes I Ching hexagram 41

gbog – 36ji 4 – Yijing 41 – 2005/12/02

[Xref] Strategy 5 quotes I Ching hexagram 43

gbog – 36ji 5 – Yijing 43 – 2005/12/02

[Xref] Strategy 6 quotes I Ching hexagram 45

gbog – 36ji 6 – Yijing 45 – 2005/12/02

[Xref] Strategy 8 quotes I Ching hexagram 42

gbog – 36ji 8 – Yijing 42 – 2005/12/02

[Xref] Strategy 9 quotes I Ching hexagram 16

gbog – 36ji 9 – Yijing 16 – 2005/12/02

[Xref] Strategy 10 quotes I Ching hexagram 58

gbog – 36ji 10 – Yijing 58 – 2005/12/02

[Xref] Strategy 13 quotes I Ching hexagram 24

gbog – 36ji 13 – Yijing 24 – 2005/12/02

[Xref] Strategy 14 quotes I Ching hexagram 4

gbog – 36ji 14 – Yijing 4 – 2005/12/02

[Xref] Strategy 15 quotes I Ching hexagram 39 (third line)

gbog – 36ji 15 – Yijing 39 – 2005/12/02

[Xref] Strategy 16 quotes I Ching hexagram 5

gbog – 36ji 16 – Yijing 5 – 2005/12/02

[Xref] Strategy 17 quotes I Ching hexagram 4 (upper line)

gbog – 36ji 17 – Yijing 4 – 2005/12/02

[Xref] Strategy 18 quotes I Ching hexagram 2 (upper line)

gbog – 36ji 18 – Yijing 2 – 2005/12/02

[Xref] Strategy 19 quotes I Ching hexagram 10

gbog – 36ji 19 – Yijing 10 – 2005/12/02

[Xref] Strategy 20 quotes I Ching hexagram 17

gbog – 36ji 20 – Yijing 17 – 2005/12/02

[Xref] Strategy 21 quotes I Ching hexagram 18

gbog – 36ji 21 – Yijing 18 – 2005/12/02

[Xref] Strategy 22 quotes I Ching hexagram 23

gbog – 36ji 22 – Yijing 23 – 2005/12/02

[Xref] Strategy 23 quotes I Ching hexagram 38

gbog – 36ji 23 – Yijing 38 – 2005/12/02

[Xref] Strategy 24 quotes I Ching hexagram 47

gbog – 36ji 24 – Yijing 47 – 2005/12/02

[Xref] Strategy 25 quotes I Ching hexagram 64 (second stroke)

gbog – 36ji 25 – Yijing 64 – 2005/12/02

[Xref] Strategy 26 quotes I Ching hexagram 7

gbog – 36ji 26 – Yijing 7 – 2005/12/02

[Xref] Strategy 27 quotes I Ching hexagram 3 (image)

gbog – 36ji 27 – Yijing 3 – 2005/12/02

[Xref] Strategy 28 quotes I Ching hexagram 21 (third line)

gbog – 36ji 28 – Yijing 21 – 2005/12/02

[Xref] Strategy 29 quotes I Ching hexagram 53 (upper line)

gbog – 36ji 29 – Yijing 53 – 2005/12/02

[Xref] Strategy 30 quotes I Ching hexagram 53

gbog – 36ji 30 – Yijing 53 – 2005/12/02

[Xref] Strategy 31 quotes I Ching hexagram 53 (third line and image)

gbog – 36ji 31 – Yijing 53 – 2005/12/02

[Xref] Strategy 32 quotes I Ching hexagram 40 (lower line and image)

gbog – 36ji 32 – Yijing 40 – 2005/12/02

[Xref] Strategy 33 quotes I Ching hexagram 8 (second line)

gbog – 36ji 33 – Yijing 8 – 2005/12/02

[Xref] Strategy 34 quotes I Ching hexagram 4 (fifth line)

gbog – 36ji 34 – Yijing 4 – 2005/12/02

[Xref] Strategy 35 quotes I Ching hexagram 7 (fifth line)

gbog – 36ji 35 – Yijing 7 – 2005/12/02

[Xref] Strategy 36 quotes I Ching hexagram 7 (fourth line)

gbog – 36ji 36 – Yijing 7 – 2005/12/02

the date is wrong

Anon. – 36ji 32 – 2004/11/02

Is this equivalent to "Hard is Soft and Soft is Hard"? Simon King

Anon. – 36ji 32 – 2003/11/01