As per my construction working
life, I believe this 36 strategies is something most Chinese in this industry know
and learn of.
Either they
learn it in their families from father/uncle's stories, or maybe it
was taught in SKJC (Chinese school). Whatever way, this is embedded
in Chinese culture, and you will see it in the way they handled
business, work or anything competitive.
This is
different from Sun Tzu Art Of War. These are actually idioms, 4 word
idioms that are easy to memorise in Chinese language.
And if you read
HK's comics, you will find these idioms all over, for example the
word "Selagi ada nyawa selagi itu ada rezeki" uttered by
the defeated kung-fu guy in the HK comic illustrate the last point in
36 Strategies = "If all else fails, retreat".
The Malay idiom
seldom have this kind of "competitive" spirit type of
idiom, simply because Malay people were not as war-mongering as the
Chinese in Mainland China during the Chinese history, mainly the
Warring period and the Three Kingdom Period.
Malays are very
peaceful people, living in a blessed country where there shouldn't be
any famine because the land is fertile (except one recorded in
history is not-so-quite recent Baling famine, but then it involve too
much politics) and because of this, it strips off the competitve
spirit.
The Chinese who
migrated to Malaysia, sees the Malay people as not having the same
competitive spirit as theirs.
Nevertheless,
nowadays, where city life is not so much different from the "survival
of the fittest", the idioms may provide wisdom for those who
read upon it.
Source from
Wikipedia.
Thirty-Six Stratagems
The
Thirty-Six Stratagems are divided into a preface, six chapters
containing six stratagems each, and an afterword that was incomplete
with missing text. The first three chapters generally describe
tactics for use in advantageous situations, whereas the last three
chapters contain stratagems that are more suitable for
disadvantageous situations. They are in the form of four-character
idioms. Each proverb is accompanied by a short comment, no longer
than a sentence or two, that explains how said proverb is applicable
to military tactics. These 36 Chinese proverbs are related to 36
battle scenarios in Chinese history and folklore, predominantly of
the Warring States Period and the Three Kingdoms
Period.
Chapter 1: Winning Stratagems
1.
Deceive the heavens to cross the ocean
Prepare
too much and you lose sight of the big picture; what you see often
you do not doubt. Yin (the art of deception) is in Yang (acting in
open). Too much Yang (transparency) hides Yin (true ruses).
This
stratagem references an episode in 643 AD, when Emperor Taizong
of Tang, balked from crossing the sea to a campaign against Koguryo.
His general Xue Rengui thought of a stratagem to get the
emperor across and allay his fear of seasickness: on a clear day, the
emperor was invited to meet a wise man. They entered through a dark
tunnel into a hall where they feasted. After feasting several days,
the Emperor heard the sound of waves and realised that he had been
lured onto a ship! General Xue drew aside the curtains to reveal the
ocean and confessed that they had already crossed the sea: Upon
discovering this, the emperor decided to carry on and later completed
the successful campaign.
This
stratagem means that you can mask your real goals, by using the ruse
of a fake goal that everyone takes for granted, until the real goal
is achieved. Tactically, this is known as an 'open feint'; in front
of everyone, you point west, when your goal is actually in the east.
By the time everyone realised it, you have already achieved your
goal. Harro von Senger notes in the German-Language "Die List"
that to grasp the full meaning, it would be something like "to
deceive the holy virgin Mary" in the West.
This
stratagem makes use of the human failing to become unaware of common
everyday activities, or events that appear normal. The best secrets
are carried out in broad daylight. The best hoax is to repeat it so
often that people are convinced that the next move is also a hoax.
When this happens, it is the best moment to carry out one's
previously hidden true objective.
2.
Besiege Wèi to rescue Zhào
When
the enemy is too strong to be attacked directly, then attack
something he holds dear. Know that he cannot be superior in all
things. Somewhere there is a gap in the armour, a weakness that can
be attacked instead.
The
origin of this proverb is from the Warring States Period. The
state of Wèi attacked Zhao and laid siege to its
capital Handan. Zhào turned to Qí for help, but the
Qí general Sun Bin determined it would be unwise to meet
the army of Wèi head on, so he instead attacked their capital
at Daliang. The army of Wèi retreated in haste, and the tired
troops were ambushed and defeated at the Battle of Guiling, with
the Wèi general Pang Juan fled on the field. Note that
this campaign is also described explicitly in the Art of War of
Master Sun Bin the younger.
The
idea here is to avoid a head on battle with a strong enemy, and
instead strike at his weakness elsewhere. This will force the strong
enemy to retreat in order to support his weakness. Battling against
the now tired and low-morale enemy will give a much higher chance of
success.
3.
Kill with a borrowed knife
Attack
using the strength of another (in a situation where using one's own
strength is not favourable). Trick an ally into attacking him, bribe
an official to turn traitor, or use the enemy's own strength against
him.
The
idea here is to cause damage to the enemy by getting a 3rd party to
do the deed.
4.
Wait at leisure while the enemy labors
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 and confused, you
attack with energy and purpose.
The
idea is to have your troops well-prepared for battle, in the same
time that the enemy is rushing to fight against you. This will give
your troops a huge advantage in the upcoming battle, of which you
will get to select the time and place.
5.
Loot a burning house
When a
country is beset by internal conflicts, when disease and famine
ravage the population, when corruption and crime are rampant, then it
will be unable to deal with an outside threat. This is the time to
attack.
Keep
gathering internal information about an enemy. When he is weakest,
attack without mercy and destroy him totally to prevent future
troubles.
6. Make a sound in the east, then strike in the west
In any
battle the element of surprise can provide an overwhelming advantage.
Even when face to face with an enemy, surprise can still be employed
by attacking where he least expects it. You must use a feint to
create an expectation in the enemy's mind.
The
idea here is to get the enemy to focus his forces on one location,
and then attack a weakly defended spot.
Chapter 2: Enemy Dealing Stratagems
7.
Create something from nothing
A
plain lie. Make somebody believe there was something when there is in
fact nothing.
One
method of using this stratagem is to create an illusion of
something's existence, while it does not exist. Another method is to
create an illusion that something does not exist, while it does.
8. Openly
repair the gallery roads, but sneak
through the passage of Chencang
Deceive
the enemy with an obvious approach that will take a very long time,
while surprising him by taking a shortcut and sneak up to him. As the
enemy concentrates on the decoy, he will miss you sneaking up to him.
The
phrase originated from the Chu-Han contention, where Liu
Bang retreated to the lands of Sichuanto prepare for a
confrontation with Xiang Yu. Once he was fully prepared, Liu
Bang sent men to openly repair the gallery roads he had destroyed
earlier, while secretly moving his troops towards Guanzhongthrough
the small town of Chencang instead. When Xiang Yu received
news of Liu Bang repairing the gallery roads, he dismissed the threat
since he knew the repairs would take years to complete. This allowed
Liu Bang to retake Guanzhong by surprise, and eventually led to his
victory over Xiang Yu and the birth of the Han Dynasty.
This
tactic is an extension of the "Make a sound in the east, then
strike in the west" tactic. But instead of simply spreading
misinformation to draw the enemy's attention, physical baits are used
to increase the enemy's certainty on the misinformation. These baits
must be easily seen by the enemy, to ensure that they draw the
enemy's attention. At the same time, the baits must act as if what
they meant to do what they were falsely doing, to avoid drawing the
enemy's suspicion.
9.
Watch the fires burning across the river
Delay
entering the field of battle until all the other players have become
exhausted fighting amongst themselves. Then go in at full strength
and pick up the pieces.
10.
Hide a knife behind a smile
Charm
and ingratiate yourself to your enemy. When you have gained his
trust, move against him in secret.
11.
Sacrifice the plum tree to preserve the peach
tree
There
are circumstances in which you must sacrifice short-term objectives
in order to gain the long-term goal. This is the scapegoat stratagem
whereby someone else suffers the consequences so that the rest do
not.
12.
Take the opportunity to pilfer a goat
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.
Chapter 3: Attacking Stratagems
13.
Stomp the grass to scare the snake
Do
something unaimed, but spectacular ("hitting the grass") to
provoke a response of the enemy ("startle the snake"),
thereby giving away his plans or position, or just taunt him. Do
something unusual, strange, and unexpected as this will arouse the
enemy's suspicion and disrupt his thinking. More widely used as "[Do
not] startle the snake by hitting the grass". An imprudent act
will give your position or intentions away to the enemy.
14.
Borrow a corpse to resurrect the soul
Take
an institution, a technology, a method, or even an ideology that has
been forgotten or discarded and appropriate it for your own purpose.
Revive something from the past by giving it a new purpose or bring to
life old ideas, customs, or traditions and reinterpret them to fit
your purposes.
15.
Entice the tiger to leave its mountain lair
Never
directly attack an opponent whose advantage is derived from its
position. Instead lure him away from his position thus separating him
from his source of strength.
16. In order to capture, one must let loose
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.
17.
Tossing out a brick to get a jade gem
Bait
someone by making him believe he gains something or just make him
react to it ("toss out a brick") and obtain something
valuable from him in return ("get a jade gem").
This
proverb is based on a story involving two famous poets of the Tang
Dynasty. There was a great poet named Zhao Gu and another
lesser poet by the name of Chang Jian. While Chang Jian was
travelling in Suzhou, he heard news that Zhao Gu would be
visiting a temple in the area. Chang Jian wished to learn from the
master poet, so he devised a plan and went to the temple in advance,
then wrote a poem on the temple walls with only two of the four lines
completed, hoping Zhao Gu would see it and finish the poem. Zhao Gu
acted as Chang Jian foresaw, and from this story came the proverb.
18.
Defeat the enemy by capturing their chief
If the
enemy's army is strong but is allied to the commander only by money,
superstition or threats, then take aim at the leader. If the
commander falls the rest of the army will disperse or come over to
your side. If, however, they are allied to the leader through loyalty
then beware, the army can continue to fight on after his death out of
vengeance.
Chapter 4: Chaos Stratagems
19.
Remove the firewood from under the pot
If
something must be destroyed, destroy the source.
20.
Disturb the water and catch a fish
Create
confusion and use this confusion to further your own goals.
21.
Slough off the cicada's golden shell
It's a
stratagem mainly used to escape from an enemy of superior force. Mask
yourself. Either leave flamboyant traits behind, thus going
incognito, or just masquerade yourself and create an illusion to fit
your goals and distract others.
22.
Shut the door to catch the thief
To
deliver capture the enemy, you must plan prudently if you want to
succeed. Do not rush into action. Before you "move in for the
kill", first cut off your enemy's escape routes, and cut off any
routes through which outside help can reach them.
23.
Befriend a distant state while attacking a
neighbour
It is
known that nations that border each other become enemies while
nations separated by distance and obstacles make better allies. When
you are the strongest in one field, your greatest threat is from the
second strongest in your field, not the strongest from another field.
This policy is associated with Fan Sui of Qin, circa 269 BC.
24.
Obtain safe passage to conquer the State
of Guo
Borrow
the resources of an ally to attack a common enemy. Once the enemy is
defeated, use those resources to turn on the ally that lent you them
in the first place. See Duke Xian of Jin.
Chapter 5: Proximate Stratagems
25.
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.
26.
Point at the mulberry tree while
cursing the locust tree
To
discipline, control, or warn others whose status or position excludes
them from direct confrontation; use analogy and innuendo. When names
are not used directly, those accused cannot retaliate without
revealing their complicity.
27.
Feign madness but keep your balance
Hide
behind the mask of a fool, a drunk, or a madman to create confusion
about your intentions and motivations. Lure your opponent into
underestimating your ability until, overconfident, he drops his
guard. Then you may attack.
28.
Remove the ladder when the enemy has ascended
to the roof
With
baits and deceptions, lure your enemy into treacherous terrain. Then
cut off his lines of communication and avenue of escape. To save
himself, he must fight both your own forces and the elements of
nature.
29.
Deck the tree with false blossoms
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
appear useful. This stratagem is identical to that of the Potemkin
village.
30.
Make the host and the guest exchange roles
Usurp
leadership in a situation where you are normally subordinate.
Infiltrate your target. Initially, pretend to be a guest to be
accepted, but develop from inside and become the owner later.
Chapter 6: Desperate Stratagems
31.
The beauty trap (honey trap)
Send
your enemy beautiful women to cause discord within his camp. This
stratagem can work on three levels. First, the ruler becomes so
enamoured with the beauty that he neglects his duties and allows his
vigilance to wane. Second, other males at court will begin to display
aggressive behaviour that inflames minor differences hindering
co-operation and destroying morale. Third, other females at court,
motivated by jealousy and envy, begin to plot intrigues further
exacerbating the situation.
32.
The empty fort strategy
When
the enemy is superior in numbers and your situation is such that you
expect to be overrun at any moment, then drop all pretense of
military preparedness and act calmly so that the enemy will think you
are setting an ambush. This stratagem has to be used sparingly and
only after one has first developed a reputation for military prowess.
This also depends on having a clever opponent who, in perceiving a
trap, may over-think his reaction.
33.
Let the enemy's own spy sow discord in the
enemy camp
Undermine
your enemy's ability to fight by secretly causing discord between him
and his friends, allies, advisors, family, commanders, soldiers, and
population. While he is preoccupied settling internal disputes, his
ability to attack or defend, is compromised.
34.
Inflict injury on oneself to win the enemy's
trust
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.
35.
Chain stratagems
In
important matters, one should use several stratagems applied
simultaneously after another as in a chain of stratagems. Keep
different plans operating in an overall scheme; however, in this
manner if any one stratagem fails, then the chain breaks and the
whole scheme fails.
36.
If all else fails, retreat
If it
becomes obvious that your current course of action will lead to
defeat, then retreat and regroup. When your side is losing, there are
only three choices remaining: surrender, compromise, or escape.
Surrender is complete defeat, compromise is half defeat, but escape
is not defeat. As long as you are not defeated, you still have a
chance.