三十六计全集
The complete collection of the Thirty-Six Stratagems, organized by six strategic categories. Each stratagem includes bilingual definitions, historical origins, and modern applications.
Deceive the opponent by creating an illusion of normalcy. When something is done repeatedly, it becomes familiar and raises no suspicion.
Explore: Crossing the Sea Under Camouflage →When the enemy is too strong to attack directly, strike at their point of vulnerability. Redirect force to where the opponent is weakest.
Explore: Besieging Wei to Rescue Zhao →When you lack the strength to defeat an enemy, borrow power from a third party. Let others do the fighting while you conserve resources.
Explore: Killing with a Borrowed Sword →Conserve your energy while the enemy exhausts themselves. Let the opponent tire themselves out before engaging.
Explore: Waiting at Ease for the Exhausted →Exploit the enemy's misfortune. When an opponent is weakened by crisis, seize the opportunity to advance your position.
Explore: Looting a House on Fire →Create a diversion to draw attention away from your real target. Appear confused while maintaining a clear plan.
Explore: Making a Feint to the East While Attacking in the West →Use bluff and deception to create the illusion of strength. Make the enemy believe you have resources or capabilities you do not.
Explore: Creating Something Out of Nothing →Pretend to attack in one direction while secretly advancing in another. Use visible preparations to mask your true intentions.
Explore: Openly Repairing the Plank Road While Secretly Marching Through Chencang →Wait for the enemy to destroy themselves. When opponents are fighting among themselves, stay out of it and let them weaken each other.
Explore: Observing the Fire from Across the River →Maintain friendly relations while secretly preparing to strike. Charm and trust-building mask your true hostile intentions.
Explore: Hiding a Dagger Behind a Smile →Accept a minor loss to achieve a greater gain. Sacrifice something small to protect something more valuable.
Explore: Sacrificing the Plum Tree for the Peach Tree →Exploit small opportunities as they arise. Never pass up a minor gain even while pursuing a major objective.
Explore: Leading Away a Sheep in Passing →Probe the enemy to reveal their disposition. Test their defenses to understand their strengths and weaknesses before committing.
Explore: Striking the Grass to Startle the Snake →Use something old or discarded as a vessel for new purposes. Revitalize old ideas, brands, or resources with new energy.
Explore: Borrowing a Corpse to Resurrect the Soul →Lure the enemy away from their position of strength. Remove their advantage by drawing them into unfamiliar territory.
Explore: Luring the Tiger Down the Mountain →Let the enemy go to tire them out. Give them rope to hang themselves — temporary retreat can lead to greater capture.
Explore: Wanting Something, Give Up on It First →Offer something of lesser value to obtain something greater. Use bait to draw out the enemy's valuable assets or information.
Explore: Tossing Out a Brick to Attract Jade →Target the enemy's leader or key element. Defeating the head defeats the body — focus on the critical node.
Explore: Capturing the Ringleader First →Undermine the enemy's source of strength. Instead of confronting the problem directly, eliminate what sustains it.
Explore: Removing the Firewood from Under the Pot →Exploit confusion and disorder. When multiple parties are in conflict, the resulting chaos creates opportunities.
Explore: Fishing in Troubled Waters →Escape by leaving a facade behind. Create a convincing illusion of presence while the real force moves elsewhere.
Explore: The Cicada Sheds Its Shell →Cut off the enemy's escape routes. Ensure total victory by eliminating all avenues of retreat.
Explore: Shutting the Door to Catch the Thief →Form alliances with distant powers while attacking nearby enemies. Avoid fighting on multiple fronts simultaneously.
Explore: Befriending the Distant While Attacking the Near →Request passage through a weaker state to attack a third party — then use the opportunity to conquer the state you passed through.
Explore: Offering a Path of Retreat →Replace the enemy's key components with inferior ones. Undermine their strength from within by substitution.
Explore: Stealing the Beams and Replacing Them with Rotten Timbers →Criticize one thing to send a message to another. Use indirect warning to discipline or control without direct confrontation.
Explore: Pointing at the Mulberry While Cursing the Locust →Pretend to be incompetent while secretly preparing. Appear foolish to lower the enemy's guard.
Explore: Feigning Madness Without Losing Composure →Lure the enemy into a trap, then cut off their retreat. Give them a way in but no way out.
Explore: Going Up the Roof to Remove the Ladder →Strengthen what is already strong. Add to the advantages of the powerful to build stronger alliances and positions.
Explore: Adding Flowers on Brocade →Gradually transform from guest to host. Start in a subordinate position and progressively take control.
Explore: The Black Pearl Among the Flock →Use the enemy's weaknesses and desires against them. Target their emotional vulnerabilities rather than their strength.
Explore: The Beauty Trap →When completely outmatched, display total confidence. The boldness of your apparent vulnerability can confuse a cautious enemy.
Explore: The Empty Fort Strategy →Turn the enemy's spies into double agents. Use their own intelligence network against them.
Explore: Using Spies and Double Agents →Deliberately harm yourself to gain the enemy's trust. Self-inflicted suffering can be the most convincing disguise.
Explore: Inflicting a Wound on Oneself to Win Trust →Use a chain of interconnected strategies. Each move sets up the next, creating an inescapable sequence.
Explore: Interlocking Stratagems →When defeat is inevitable, retreat is the best strategy. Living to fight another day preserves future possibilities.
Explore: If All Else Fails, Retreat →