. d a e t s n i d e k c a t t a e b n a c t a h t s s e n k a e w a , r u o m r a e h t n i p a g a s i e r e h t e r e h w e m o S . r o i r e p u s e b t o n n a c e h s g n i h t l l a n i t a h t w o n K . r a e d s d l o h e h g n i h t e m o s k c a t t a n e h t , y l t c e r i d k c a t t a o t g n o r t s o o t s i y m e n e e h t n e h W o a h Z e u c s e R o t i e W e g e i s e B
. e l b a r e n l u v e r o m s u h t s i y m e n e d e t c a r t s i d A . g n i k n i h t s i h t p u r s i d d n a n o i c i p s u s s ' y m e n e e h t e s u o r a l l i w s i h t s a d e t c e p x e n u d n a , e g n a r t s l , a u s u n u g n i h t e m o s o D t . n e m g d u j d n a n o i t p e c r e p s i h n e k a e w o t n o i s u f n o c e t a e r c s e c r o f s ' y m e n e r u o y g n i g a g n e e r o f e B h s i F e h T h c t a C o T r e t a W e h T e l b u o r T
. s e i t i v i t c a y a d y r e v e n o m m o c f o e s i u g e h t r e d n u s n o i t n e t n i e u r t r u o y g n i d i h n e p o e h t n i t c a t s u m u o y d r a u g s ' y m e n e n a r e w o l o T . n o i t n e t t a s u o i c i p s u s t c a r t t a y l n o l l i w s n e e r c s d n i h e b g n i d i h r o , s e c a l p d e t a l o s i g n i y p u c c o , s w o d a h s d n a s s e n k r a d e h t n i t u o b a g n i v o M a e S e h t s s o r C o t r o r e p m E e h t l o o F
. r e w o p f o e c r u o s s i h g n i k c a t t a d n a n o i t a d n u o f s i h g n i n i m r e d n u y b m i h n e k a e w t s r fi t s u m u o y y l t c e r i d e g a g n e o t l u f r e w o p o o t y m e n e n a h t i w d e c a f n e h W t o P e h t r e d n U m o r F d o o w e r i F e h T l a e t S s n o i t a u t i s d e s u f n o c r o f s m e g a t a r t S 計 戰 混 Shed Your Skin Like the Golden Cicada
When you are in danger of being defeated, and your only chance is to escape and regroup, then create an illusion. While the enemy's attention is focused on this artifice, secretly remove your men leaving behind only the facade of your presence.
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n o i t i s o p r o i r e p u s a n i n e h w s m e g a t a r t S 計 戰 勝
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The Thirty Six Stratagems
Shut the Door to Catch the Thief
If you have the chance to completely capture the enemy then you should do so thereby bringing the battle or war to a quick and lasting conclusion. To allow your enemy to escape plants the seeds for future conflict. But if they succeed in escaping, be wary of giving chase.
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. p u o r g e r d n a t a e r t e r n e h t t a e f e d o t d a e l l l i w n o i t c a f o e s r u o c t n e r r u c r u o y t a h t s u o i v b o s e m o c e b t i f I t a e r t e R s l i a F e s l E l l A f I
t . n i e f a f o e s u e h t h g u o r h t d n i m s ' y m e n e e h t n i n o i t a t c e p x e n a e t a e r c t s u m u o y s i h t o d o T t . i s t c e p x e t s a e l e h e r e h w g n i k c a t t a y b d e y o l p m e e b l l i t s n a c e s i r p r u s , y m e n e n a h t i w e c a f o t e c a f n e h w n e v E . e g a t n a v d a g n i m l e h w r e v o n a e d i v o r p n a c e s i r p r u s f o t n e m e l e e h t e l t t a b y n a n I t s e W e h t n i k c a t t A , t s a E e h t n i r o m a l C
. n o k c a b l l a f o t s r e h t o l a r e v e s e v a h l l i t s d l u o w u o y s l i a f y g e t a r t s e n o y n a f i r e n n a m s i h t n i ; e m e h c s l l a r e v o n a n i g n i t a r e p o s n a l p t n e r e f f i d p e e K . y l s u o e n a t l u m i s d e i l p p a s e i g e t a r t s l a r e v e s e s u d l u o h s e n o s r e t t a m t n a t r o p m i n I s c i t c a T g n i n i b m o C f o c i t c a T e h T
. k c a t t a o t e m i t e h t s i s i h T t . a e r h t e d i s t u o n a h t i w l a e d o t e l b a n u e b l l i w t i n e h t t , n a p m a r e r a e m i r c d n a n o i t p u r r o c n e h w , n o i t a l u p o p e h t e g a v a r e n i m a f d n a e s a e s i d n e h w , s t c i fl n o c l a n r e t n i y b t e s e b s i y r t n u o c a n e h W e s u o H g n i n r u B a t o o L
The Thirty Six Stratagems
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Kill with a Borrowed Sword When you do not have the means to attack your enemy directly, then attack using the strength of another. Trick an ally into attacking him, bribe an official to turn traitor, or use the enemy's own strength against him.
Unknown (Chinese Ming or early Qing dynasty) 22nd May 2009
http://diffusion.org.uk Made with Diffusion Generator by
Await the Exhausted Enemy at Your Ease It is an advantage to choose the time and place for battle. In this way you know when and where the battle will take place, while your enemy does not. Encourage your enemy to expend his energy in futile quests while you conserve your strength. When he is exhausted a nd confused, you attack with energy an d purpose.
. g n i k c a t t a m o r f d e d a u s s i d e b l l i w e h k c u l h t i W . s n o i c i p s u s e s u o r a l l i w r o i v a h e b l a u s u n u s i h t n o i t a u t i s r u o y f o n o i t p i r c s e d e t a r u c c a n a s a h y m e n e e h t s s e l n U . y l l a u s a c t c a d n a s s e n d e r a p e r p y r a t i l i m f o e c n e t e r p l l a p o r d n e h t t , n e m o m y n a t a n u r r e v o e b o t t c e p x e u o y t a h t h c u s s i n o i t a u t i s r u o y d n a s r e b m u n n i r o i r e p u s s i y m e n e e h t n e h W s e t a G y t i C n e p O f o y g e t a r t S e h T
t . e r c e s n i m i h t s n i a g a e v o m u o y t , s u r t s i h d e n i a g e v a h u o y n e h W . y m e n e r u o y o t f l e s r u o y e t a i t a r g n i d n a m r a h C e l i m S a d n i h e B r e g g a D r u o Y e d i H
. n o i t a u t i s e h t g n i t a r e p s a x e r e h t r u f s e u g i r t n i t o l p o t n i g e b , y v n e d n a y s u o l a e j y b d e t a v i t o m t , r u o c t a s e l a m e f r e h t o , d r i h T . e l a r o m g n i y o r t s e d d n a n o i t a r e p o o c g n i r e d n i h s e c n e r e f f i d r o n i m s e m a fl n i t a h t r o i v a h e b e v i s s e r g g a y a l p s i d o t n i g e b l l i w t r u o c t a s e l a m r e h t o , d n o c e S . e n a w o t e c n a l i g i v s i h s w o l l a d n a s e i t u d s i h s t c e l g e n e h t a h t y t u a e b e h t h t i w d e r o m a n e o s s e m o c e b r e l u r e h t t , s r i F . s l e v e l e e r h t n o k r o w n a c y g e t a r t s s i h T . p m a c s i h n i h t i w d r o c s i d e s u a c o t n e m o w l u f i t u a e b y m e n e r u o y d n e S n e m o W l u f i t u a e B f o y g e t a r t S e h s n o i t a u t i s e t a r e p s e d r o f s m e g a t a r t S 計 戰 敗 The Strategy of Sowing Discord Undermine your enemy's ability to fight by secretly causing discord between him and his friends, allies, advisors, family, comman ders, soldiers, and population. While he is preoccupied settling internal disputes his ability to attack or defend, is compromised.
The Strategy of Injuring Yourself Pretending to be injured has two possible applications. In the first, the enemy is lulled into relaxing his guard since he no longer considers you to be an immediate threat. The second is a way of ingratiating yourself to your enemy by pretending the injury was caused by a mutual enemy.
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. s e c e i p e h t p u k c i p d n a h t g n e r t s l l u f n i o g n e h T . s e v l e s m e h t t s g n o m a g n i t h g fi d e t s u a h x e e m o c e b e v a h s r e y a l p r e h t o e h t l l a l i t n u e l t t a b f o d l e fi e h t g n i r e t n e y a l e D e r o h S e t i s o p p O e h t n o e r i F e h t e v r e s b O 敵 戰 計 Stratagems for confrontation Create Something From Nothing You use the same feint twice. Having reacted to the first and often the second feint as well, the enemy will be hesitant to react to a third feint. Therefore the third feint is the actual attack catching your enemy with his guard down.
Openly Repair The Walkway, Secretly March to Chencang Attack the enemy with two converg ent forces. The first is the direct attack, one that is obvious and for which the enemy prepares his defense. The second is the indirect, the attack sinister, that the enemy does not expect and which causes him to divide his forces at the last minute leading to confusion and disaster.
. s n o i t i d a r t d n a , s m o t s u c , s a e d i d l o e f i l o t g n i r b d n a t e r p r e t n i e r o t r o e s o p r u p w e n a t i g n i v i g y b t s a p e h t m o r f g n i h t e m o s e v i v e R . e s o p r u p n w o r u o y r o f t i e t a i r p o r p p a d n a d e d r a c s i d r o n e t t o g r o f n e e b s a h t a h t d o h t e m a r o , y g o l o n h c e t a , n o i t u t i t s n i n a e k a T t i r i p S e h t e s i a R o t e s p r o C a w o r r o B
. e r u t a n f o s t n e m e l e e h t d n a s e c r o f n w o r u o y h t o b t h g fi t s u m e h f l e s m i h e v a s o T . e p a c s e f o e u n e v a d n a n o i t a c i n u m m o c f o s e n i l s i h f f o t u c n e h T . n i a r r e t s u o r e h c a e r t o t n i y m e n e r u o y e r u l s n o i t p e c e d d n a s t i a b h t i W r e d d a L e h t y a w A e k a T n e h T , f o o R e h t o t n O y m e n E r u o Y e r u L
. k c a t t a y a m u o y n e h T . d r a u g s i h s p o r d e h t , n e d fi n o c r e v o l , i t n u y t i l i b a r u o y g n i t a m i t s e r e d n u o t n i t n e n o p p o r u o y e r u L . s n o i t a v i t o m d n a s n o i t n e t n i r u o y t u o b a n o i s u f n o c e t a e r c o t n a m d a m a r o , k n u r d a l , o o f a f o k s a m e h t d n i h e b e d i H e c n a l a B r u o Y p e e K t u B s s e n d a M n g i e F Tie Silk Blossoms to the Dead Tree Tying silk blossoms on a dead tree gives the illusion that the tree is healthy. Through the use of artifice and disguise make something of no value appear valuable; of no threat appear dangerous; of no use, useful.
Exchange the Role of Guest for that of Host Defeat the enemy from within by infiltrating the enemy's camp under the guise of cooperation, surrender, or peace treaties. In this way you can discover his weakness and then, when the enemy's guard is relaxed, strike directly at the source of his strength.
. y g e t a r t s s i h l a e v e r l l i w r o i v a h e b s i H . s n o i t c a e r t n e n o p p o r u o y e v r e s b o d n a k c a t t a f , e i r b t u b t , c e r i d a h c n u a l s n a l p s ' t n e n o p p o e h t t c e t e d t o n n a c u o y n e h W e k a n S e h T e l t r a t S o T s s a r G e h T t a e B 5 1
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k c a t t a r o f s m e g a t a r t S 計 戰 攻 Sacrifice the Plum Tree In Place of the Peach There are circumstances in which you must sacrifice short-term objectives in order to gain the long-term goal. This is the scapegoat strategy whereby someone else suffers the consequences so that the rest do not.
Seize the Opportunity To Lead a Sheep Away While carrying out your plans be flexible enough to take advantage of any opportunity that presents itself, however small, and avail yourself of any profit, however slight.
. e c a l p t s r fi e h t n i m e h t u o y t n e l t a h t y l l a e h t n o n r u t o t s e c r u o s e r e s o h t e s u , d e t a e f e d s i y m e n e e h t e c n O . y m e n e n o m m o c a k c a t t a o t y l l a n a f o s e c r u o s e r e h t w o r r o B o u G r e u q n o C o t d a o R e h t w o r r o B
. e c n a e g n e v f o t u o h t a e d s i h r e t f a n o t h g fi o t e u n i t n o c n a c y m r a e h t , e r a w e b n e h t y t l a y o l h g u o r h t r e d a e l e h t o t d e i l l a e r a y e h t , r e v e w o h f , I . e d i s r u o y o t r e v o e m o c r o e s r e p s i d l l i w y m r a e h t f o t s e r e h t s l l a f r e d n a m m o c e h t f I . r e d a e l e h t t a m i a e k a t , n e h t s t a e r h t r o y e n o m y b y l n o r e d n a m m o c e h t o t d e i l l a s i t u b g n o r t s s i y m r a s ' y m e n e e h t f I r e d a e L r i e h T e r u t p a C t s r i F s t i d n a B e h t h c t a C o T
. d l e fi r e h t o n a m o r f t s e g n o r t s e h t t o n , d l e fi r u o y n i t s e g n o r t s d n o c e s e h t m o r f s i t a e r h t t s e t a e r g r u o y , d l e fi e n o n i t s e g n o r t s e h t e r a u o y n e h W . s e i l l a r e t t e b e k a m s e l c a t s b o d n a e c n a t s i d y b d e t a r a p e s s n o i t a n e l i h w s e i m e n e e m o c e b r e h t o h c a e r e d r o b t a h t s n o i t a n t a h t n w o n k s i t I y b r a e N e n O k c a t t A o t y m e n E t n a t s i D a d n e i r f e B
. x e s d n a , r e w o p , h t l a e w f o n o i s u l l i e h t s i t i a b e h t e f i l n I . n i a g r o f y t i n u t r o p p o n a f o n o i s u l l i e h t s i t i a b e h t r a w n I t . i a b g n i s u y b p a r t e h t o t n i y m e n e r u o y e r u l n e h t p a r t a e r a p e r P e d a J t c a r t t A o T k c i r B A t u O s s o T
併 戰 計 Stratagems for gaining ground Replace The Beams With Rotten Timbers Disrupt the enemy's formations, interfere with their methods of operations, change the rules in which they are used to following, go contrary to their standard training. In this way you remove the supporting pillar, the common link that makes a group of men an effective fighting force.
Point At The Mulberry But Curse The Locust Tree To discipline, control, or warn others whose status or position excludes them from direct confrontation; use analogy and innuendo. Without direc tly naming names, those accused cannot retaliate without revealing their complicity.
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Lure the Tiger Down the Mountain Never directly attack a well-entrenched opponent. Instead lure him away from his stronghold and separate him from his source of strength.
To Catch Something, First Let It Go Cornered prey will often mount a final desperate attack. To prevent this you let the enemy believe he still has a chance for freedom. His will to fight is thus dampened by his desire to escape. When in the end the freedom is proven a falsehood the enemy's morale will be defeated and he will surrender without a fight.
