ExclusiveOrigins and content of the Thirty-Six Stratagems; Their Impact Today

Hello everyone. I'm Sarah, and today, let's explore the origins and enduring wisdom of the 36 stratagems. Contrary to what some believe, these strategies aren't part of the art of war, by Shun Wu. Over time, people have adapted these tactics for business, workplace dynamics, and even personal interactions. However, this modern application often risks losing sight of the ancient wisdom these teachings were intended to impart. The idiom of the 36 stratagems, fleeing is best, first appeared in the Book of Southern Qi, in a story about General Wang Jingzhi from the Lusong and Southern Qi dynasties. When Wang's rebellion was failing, his ally, Prince Donghuan Hou, realized that his own fortress was already lost. In desperation, Donghuan Hou sought Wang's advice, to which Wang responded, of Tan Gong's 36 stratagems, fleeing is the best one. This sarcastic remark is the earliest reference to 36 stratagems. The Tan Gong in this story was actually Tan Daoji, a distinguished general of the Lusong dynasty known for his strategic genius. Loyal to Emperor Wu of Lusong, Tan Daoji's military feats included swiftly capturing Later Qin, where he earned respect by sparing over 4,000 prisoners. North Wei feared him so greatly that they made an effigy of him to ward off evil. In 431 A.D., while reclaiming Wuyang, Tan's forces found themselves low on supplies near Liqing. During this time, a soldier from his army defected to Northern Wei. Eager to gain favor, the soldier disclosed that Tan's troops were running out of provisions, and morale was low. Upon hearing this, the Northern Wei generals quickly mobilized to pursue Tan's forces. However, Tan remained calm and devised a clever tactic known as singing counts and measuring sand. He ordered his soldiers to fill sacks with sand and top them with rice, making it appear to Northern Wei scouts as though his supplies were plentiful. The deception succeeded, allowing Tan's troops to retreat safely and reinforcing his reputation for strategic brilliance. Later in life, Tan's success stirred jealousy, and he was falsely accused of treason. Upon his arrest, he famously cast his headpiece down, declaring, You have destroyed your great wall. This act gave rise to the idiom, self-destroying the great wall, symbolizing the tragic loss of a nation's protector. His absence soon proved devastating, as Lu Song's forces faced repeated defeats, leaving Emperor Wen to lament, If Tan Daoji were still here, how could it have come to this? Tan's strategic acumen, immortalized in of the 36 stratagems, fleeing is the best, echoes in the 36 stratagems, reflecting the wisdom he exemplified. The phrase, Tan Gong's 36 stratagems, also links to ancient divination practices, specifically the method of counting yarrow stalks used in the Yi Qing, Book of Changes. Through a process involving 36 counts, this method represents Yang's full strength and hints that the number 36 symbolizes a vast spectrum of tactics, rather than a literal list. Over time, this idea evolved. By the Song Dynasty, Hui Hong mentioned of the 36 stratagems, fleeing is the best, in cold studio jottings. The idiom gained popularity, appearing in the Yuan Dynasty play, The Injustice to Dower, and further solidified by water margin author Shun Nian in the Ming Dynasty. The precise origins of the 36 stratagems remain unclear. The earliest known version of the text appeared in 1941, reprinted in Qingdu, from a handwritten manuscript found in Binzhou, Shaanxi Province. Without an author or date, this manuscript likely compiles battle tactics, folklore, and strategies from various ancient sources. For example, the stratagem, Sacrifice the Plum Tree to Save the Peach originates from the Han Music Bureau's poem Rooster's Crow, where a plum tree is sacrificed to save a peach tree, symbolizing the value of sacrificing one thing for something more important. In fact, each stratagem in this text offers a principle that can be applied in various competitive situations. The 36 stratagems include, Winning Stratagems. Deceive the heavens to cross the sea, Use distraction to disguise your intentions. Besiege Wei to rescue Zhao, Target a valued weak point to divert attention. Kill with a borrowed sword, Use a third party to weaken the opponent. Wait at leisure while the enemy labors, Conserve energy and resources by letting the opponent exhaust themselves before launching your attack. Loot a burning house, Exploit an opponent's weaknesses, especially when they are already in a weakened or chaotic state. Make a sound in the east, then strike in the west. Create a diversion in one place to mislead the enemy, then attack where they're unprepared. Enemy Dealing Stratagems. Create something from nothing, make something appear out of nowhere to confuse or mislead your opponent. Openly repair the gallery roads, but sneak through the passage of Qin Song. Pretend to take a direct approach, while secretly pursuing a hidden path. Watch the fires burning across the river. Take advantage of a situation without direct involvement, letting others exhaust each other first. Hide a knife behind a smile. Conceal your true intentions by appearing friendly or harmless, then strike unexpectedly. Sacrifice the plum tree to save the peach tree. Accept small losses or sacrifices to protect or gain something more valuable. Take the opportunity to pilfer a goat. Take advantage of minor, easy opportunities as they arise. Attacking Stratagems. Stomp the grass to scare the snake, provoke a reaction to reveal the enemy's position or intentions. Borrow a corpse to resurrect the soul. Revive a previously unsuccessful idea, giving it new life or context. Lure the tiger down the mountain. Draw an enemy away from their stronghold or area of advantage. Let the enemy off in order to capture him. Pretend to allow the enemy to escape to lower their guard, then capture or defeat them. Toss out a brick to attract jade. Offer something of lesser value to encourage the enemy to offer something more valuable in return. To catch bandits, first capture their leader. Target the enemy leader to weaken the rest of their forces, undermining morale and organization. Chaos Stratagems. Remove the firewood from under the pot. Instead of directly confronting an issue, eliminate the underlying cause, just as removing firewood stops a pot from boiling. Disturb the water and catch a fish. In chaotic situations, people tend to lose focus. This stratagem advises taking advantage of this confusion to achieve your objective. Slew off the cicada's golden shell. This means creating a distraction or decoy to escape danger or deceive an opponent. Shut the door to catch the thief. This involves trapping the enemy by cutting off all escape routes. Befriend a distant state while attacking a neighbor. Form alliances with distant forces to focus on immediate opponents. Obtain safe passage to conquer the state of Gua. Use an ally's resources or territory to achieve your goals. Proximate Stratagems. Replace the beams with rotten timbers. This stratagem suggests gradually weakening an opponent by replacing key elements with inferior ones, whether people, materials, or information. It's about creating structural weaknesses that can later lead to collapse without direct confrontation. Point at the mulberry tree while cursing the locust tree. This means using indirect criticism or allusions to make a point. By cursing one thing, the real target understands they are the intended recipient of the message. Feign madness but keep your balance. Pretend to be weak, foolish, or distracted while secretly remaining aware and in control. By seeming unthreatening, you might cause an opponent to underestimate you, giving you a strategic advantage. Remove the ladder after the ascent. This means encouraging someone to take a position or action and then cutting off their support. Once they've committed, they may be stranded without options, leaving them vulnerable. Deck the tree with bogus blossoms. This stratagem suggests creating a false sense of strength or wealth to mislead others. Just as fake blossoms make a tree appear fruitful, exaggerating your resources or capabilities can deceive an opponent or inspire confidence in allies. Make the host and the guest exchange roles. This involves turning a subordinate or passive position into a dominant one. By subtly shifting the dynamics of power, you take control of a situation. Desperate Stratagems Beautiful woman stratagem. Use romantic or sexual enticement as a distraction or to win favor. Empty fortress stratagem. Present a strong front despite being weak, intimidating the enemy who may suspect a trap. Let enemies make their own mistakes. Sow seeds of distrust within the enemy ranks, causing them to sabotage themselves. Inflict self-injury to win the enemy's trust. Pretend to harm yourself to gain the enemy's trust, making them vulnerable. Chain stratagem. Combine multiple tactics in sequence to overwhelm the enemy. If all else fails, retreat. When the situation is hopeless, withdrawing is often the best option. Each stratagem embodies wisdom in tactics, patience, and deception. While modern interpretations apply these principles to business or personal life, using them without ethics risks fostering a calculating mindset that can harm relationships. True mastery of the 36 stratagems involves respecting ethical principles, transforming these strategies into tools for growth rather than manipulation. Jade Booklet In 2003, a jade booklet containing the 36 stratagems surfaced, fascinating collectors and historians. Owned by jade collector Guo Keryi, it contains 66 pieces of green jade with engravings in small seal script, dated to 596 A.D. Although this booklet's link to Tangong is unverified, it reinforces the 36 stratagems as a timeless guide that fuses military strategy with the I Ching's philosophical depth. Thank you for joining me today. Please like, comment, and share your thoughts below. See you next time.