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Shaolin Collection - 8
36 Ancient Chinese Strategies

By: Uwe Schwenk (Ying Zi Long)

Shaolin Collection - 8: 36 Ancient Chinese Strategies

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Introduction
This is the eigth in a series of documents, which are in my opinion
considered essential for studying Shaolin Gong Fu.

About this Library

Most of these documents are translations of historical texts which are just
now (2003) beginning to emerge. For this library, only the texts considered
as core by the author to the study of Shaolin were selected. While some of
the readers might question some of the texts in this collection, please bear
in mind, that Shaolin has a different meaning for every person studying the
art.

Shaolin Collection - 8
The 36 Strategies of Ancient China are a set of information, I consider a
must for the study of Kung Fu.
The little known thirty-six Strategies are a unique collection of ancient
Chinese proverbs that describe some of the most cunning and subtle strat-
egies ever devised. Whereas other Chinese military texts such as Sun Zu’s
The Art of War focus on military organization, leadership, and battlefield
tactics, the Thirty-Six Strategies are more suitably applied in the fields of
politics, diplomacy, and espionage. These proverbs describe not only battle-
field strategies, but tactics used in psychological warfare to undermine both
the enemy's will to fight - and his sanity. 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. Though other Chinese military works of strategy
have at least paid lip service to the Confucian notion of honour, the Thirty-
Six Strategies make no pretence of being anything but ruthless.
However, in a way this also applies in a certain manner to Shaolin Kung
Fu. While the students are not ruthless, in order to be efficient one has to
apply the techniques in a “ruthless manner” and follow through on the the
five cardinal rules of combat:

Surprise No fight, conflict or sparring event is ever won without surprise action. For
Movements a person to be able to defend against attack, they must be conscious of the
technique. A student should practice quick, unorthodox movements.

Introduction: About this Library

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Intelligent A Shaolin should be aware of himself, his art and the world around him.
Thinking Knowledge is an important asset, knowing what you can do and what you
cannot do.

Speed and Not enough can be said of these two elements. First of all, the faster your
Aggressiveness technique is, the sooner it will hit it’s target and the sooner you can return
your technique to shift position and strike again, if neccessary. Speed is
velocity. The more velocity, the more power. Speed is what enables a small
person to defeat a large person. Like Admiral “Bull” Halsey would say in
World War II, “Hit hard, hit fast, hit often.” No technique, even the most
sophisticated, is truly effective without aggressiveness and emotional
content in the movement. Bruce Lee was a firm believer in emotional
content of the technique. He believed as I do, that unless you feel the
motion from deep within yourself, it will lack force.

Violence On this subject, a great number of people disagree with me. However, I
throughout the want to make something quite clear. When I talk about violence, I refer to
action self-defense as a violent situation, not a sport, sparring or non-contact
sparring arena. No would-be attacker ever went down from a passive
technique, unless it was choreographed for an audience. This violence
throughout the action must be controlled by an intelligent mind. If you are
attacked, combine all your training into a vicious defense, “firm, violent and
final”. Return to peace when the deed is done. I do not believe in the “gentle
way” when it comes down to fighting. There is nothing gentle about an
assault. As a former green beret and police officer, I have seen a lot of
people get hurt, because they did not want to hurt back. The gentle way is
fine, if you are in a temple, surrounded by flowers, candles and incense, but
it will not help in the street. I am against violent people, not violent defense.

Perseverance There are times when the winner of an encounter is the one who can
and Endurance “outlast” his opponent. A student must persevere through the action and
have the endurance, which is physical fitness to succeed in the conflict. The
ancient Spartan could run 5 miles, walk 50 miles in single day and still fight
a pitched battle. The Apache Indians could run10 miles and then run down
deer or buffalo. The Zulu warriors of Africa are known to run up to 60 miles
to battle. The training for a Shaolin warrior is hard and strenuous. The more
perseverance you display, the more you will be able to endure.

Introduction: Shaolin Collection - 8

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36 Ancient Chinese Strategies

Introduction
For the western reader the Thirty-Six Strategies offer a timeless insight
into the workings of human nature under conditions of extreme stress. Many
of the proverbs are based on events that occurred during China's Warring
States Era (403-221 BC). This was a time so infamous, that a later Emperor
banned history books of that era on the grounds that they contained
accounts of such a devious nature, they would morally corrupt all who read
them.
The origins of the Thirty-Six Strategies are unknown. No author or
compiler has ever been mentioned, and no date as to when it may have
been written has been ascertained. The first historical mention of the Thirty-
Six Strategies dates back to the Southern Chi dynasty (AD 489-537) where
it is mentioned in the Nan Chi Shi (History of the Southern Chi Dynasty). It
briefly records, “Of the 36 stratagems of Master Tan, running away is the
best”. Master Tan may be the famous general Tan Daoji (d. AD 436) but
there is no evidence to either prove or disprove his authorship. While this is
the first recorded mention of Thirty-Six Strategies, some of the proverbs
themselves are based on events that occurred up to seven hundred years
earlier. For example, the strategy “Openly Repair the Walkway, Secretly
March to Chencang” is based on a tactic allegedly used by the founder of
the Han dynasty, Gaozu, to escape from Szechwan in 223 BC. The strategy
“Besiege Wei to Rescue Zhao” is named after an incident that took place
even earlier in 352 BC and is attributed to the famous strategist Sun Bin.
All modern versions of the Thirty-Six Strategies are derived from a tattered
book discovered at a roadside vendor's stall in Szechwan in 1941. It turned
out to be a reprint of an earlier book dating back to the late Ming or early
Ching 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. Since then several Chinese and English language versions
have been published in China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan.
Without any other information, current speculations about the origins of
the Thirty-Six Strategies suggest that there was no single author. More likely
they were simply a collection of idiomatic expressions taken from popular
Chinese folklore, history, and myths. They may have first been recorded by
general Tan and handed down verbally or in manuscript form for centuries. It
is believed that sometime in the early Ching dynasty some enterprising
editor collected them together and published them in the form that comes
down to us today.

36 Ancient Chinese Strategies: Introduction

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Notes on the Text

The original text of The Secret Art of War, is rather short, (138 Chinese
characters). It merely names each strategy followed by a brief explanation.
The book was divided into six categories of six strategies each. The six
categories are said to correspond to six situations. They are:

1 Stratagems when in a superior position

2 Stratagems for confrontation

3 Stratagems for attack

4 Stratagems for confused situations

5 Stratagems for gaining ground

6 Stratagems for desperate situations

This division is based on the hexagrams of the I-Ching (A hexagram being

a grouping of six broken or unbroken lines). In addition, the explanation of
each strategy is likewise said to be based on the interpretation of each
hexagram as found in the I-Ching (see Shaolin Collection 9). Initially all this
seemed to imply an almost scientific approach, but on closer examination
the structure is flawed. It is a guess, that elements of I-Ching numerology
were added at some time merely to create an aura of mystery and antiquity,
(a common practice among publishers during the Ming and Ching
dynasties). Since the six subtitles did little to improve the understanding,
they were not used in compiling the following text.
For a number of the Strategies, I included 2 translations, because
depending on the reader, he or she might like one better than the other.

Strategy 1
• Translation 1 - Fool the Emperor to Cross the Sea
• Translation 2 - Deceive the sky to cross the ocean
Moving about in the darkness and shadows, occupying isolated places, or
hiding behind screens will only attract suspicious attention. To lower an
enemy's guard you must act in the open hiding your true intentions under
the guise of common every day activities.

Strategy 2
• Translation 1 - Besiege Wei to Rescue Zhao
• Translation 2 - Surround Wei to rescue Zhao
When the enemy is too strong to attack directly, then attack something he
holds dear. Know that in all things he cannot be superior. Somewhere there
is a gap in the armour, a weakness that can be attacked instead.

36 Ancient Chinese Strategies: Notes on the Text

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Strategy 3
• Translation 1 - Kill with a Borrowed Sword
• Translation 2 - Borrow another's hand to kill. (Kill with a borrowed knife.)
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.

Strategy 4
• Translation 1 - Await the Exhausted Enemy at Your Ease
• Translation 2 - Make your enemy work while you wait at leisure
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.

Strategy 5
• Translation 1 - Loot a Burning House
• Translation 2 - Use the opportunity of fire to rob others
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.

Strategy 6
• Translation 1 - Clamor in the East, Attack in the West
• Translation 2 - Display (feint) in the east and attack 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. To do this you must create
an expectation in the enemy's mind through the use of a feint.

Strategy 7
• Translation 1 - Create something from nothing

36 Ancient Chinese Strategies: Strategy 3

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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.

Strategy 8
• Translation 1 - Openly Repair The Walkway, Secretly March to Chencang
• Translation 2 - Secretly utilize the Chen Chang passage. (Pretend to take one path while
sneaking down the other.)

Attack the enemy with two convergent 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.

Strategy 9
• Translation 1 - Observe the Fire on the Opposite Shore
• Translation 2 - 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 full strength and pick up
the pieces.

Strategy 10
• Translation 1 - Hide Your Dagger Behind a Smile
• Translation 2 - Knife hidden under the smiling face
There was no explanatioin given, but there is really none necessary.

Strategy 11
• Translation 1 - Sacrifice the Plum Tree In Place of the Peach
• Translation 2 - Plum tree sacrifices for 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 strategy whereby
someone else suffers the consequences so that the rest do not.

36 Ancient Chinese Strategies: Strategy 8

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Strategy 12
• Translation 1 - Seize the Opportunity To Lead a Sheep Away
• Translation 2 - Walk the sheep home, just because it is there. (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.

Strategy 13
• Translation 1 - Beat The Grass To Startle The Snake
• Translation 2 - Disturb (startle) the snake by hitting the grass
When you cannot detect the opponent's plans launch a direct, but brief,
attack and observe your opponent reactions. His behavior will reveal his
strategy.

Strategy 14
• Translation 1 - Borrow a Corpse to Raise the Spirit
• Translation 2 - Borrow another's body to return the soul. (Raise a corpse from the dead).
Take an institution, a technology, or a method 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 to reinterpret and bring to life old
ideas, customs, and traditions.

Note: How appropriate in regards to Shaolin.

Strategy 15
• Translation 1 - Lure the Tiger Down the Mountain
• Translation 2 - Entice the tiger to leave the mountain
Never directly attack a well-entrenched opponent. Instead lure him away
from his stronghold and separate him from his source of strength.

Strategy 16
• Translation 1 - To Catch Something, First Let It Go
• Translation 2 - To catch something, first let it go

36 Ancient Chinese Strategies: Strategy 12

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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.

Strategy 17
• Translation 1 - Toss Out A Brick To Attract Jade
• Translation 2 - Bait a piece of jade with a brick
Prepare a trap then lure your enemy into the trap by using bait. In war the
bait is the illusion of an opportunity for gain. In life, the bait is the illusion of
wealth, power, and sex.

Strategy 18
• Translation 1 - To Catch the Bandits First Capture Their Leader
• Translation 2 - Defeat the enemy by capturing their chief
If the enemy's army is strong but is allied to the commander only by money
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.

Strategy 19
• Translation 1 - Steal The Firewood From Under the Pot
• Translation 2 - Remove the firewood under the cooking pot
When faced with an enemy too powerful to engage directly you must first
weaken him by undermining his foundation and attacking his source of
power.

Strategy 20
• Translation 1 - Trouble The Water To Catch The Fish
• Translation 2 - Fish in troubled water
Before engaging your enemy's forces create confusion to weaken his
perception and judgment. Do something unusual, strange, and unexpected
as this will arouse the enemy's suspicion and disrupt his thinking. A
distracted enemy is thus more vulnerable.

36 Ancient Chinese Strategies: Strategy 17

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Strategy 21
• Translation 1 - Shed Your Skin Like the Golden Cicada
• Translation 2 - Shed off the cicada's shell
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.

Strategy 22
• Translation 1 - 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.

Strategy 23
• Translation 1 - Befriend a Distant Enemy to Attack One Nearby
• Translation 2 - Befriend a distant state while attacking a neighbor
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.

Strategy 24
• Translation 1 - Borrow the Road to Conquer Guo
• Translation 2 - Obtain safe passage to conquer the Kingdom 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.

Strategy 25
• Translation 1 - Replace The Beams With Rotten Timbers
• Translation 2 - Replace the beams and pillars with rotten timber

36 Ancient Chinese Strategies: Strategy 21

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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.

Strategy 26
• Translation 1 - Point At The Mulberry But Curse The Locust Tree
• Translation 2 - Point at the mulberry and curse the locust
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.
To discipline, control, or warn others whose status or position excludes
them from direct confrontation; use analogy and innuendo. Without directly
naming names, those accused cannot retaliate without revealing their
complicity.

Strategy 27
• Translation 1 - Feign Madness But Keep Your Balance
• Translation 2 - Pretend to be a pig in order to eat the tiger. (Play dumb)
Hide behind the mask of a fool, a drunk, or a madman to create confusion
about your intentions and motivations. Lure your opponent into underesti-
mating your ability until, overconfident, he drops his guard. Then you may
attack.

Strategy 28
• Translation 1 - Lure Your Enemy Onto the Roof, Then Take Away the Ladder
• Translation 2 - Cross the river and destroy the bridge
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.

Strategy 29
• Translation 1 - Tie Silk Blossoms to the Dead Tree
• Translation 2 - Deck the tree with bogus blossoms

36 Ancient Chinese Strategies: Strategy 26

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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.

Strategy 30
• Translation 1 - Exchange the Role of Guest for that of Host
• Translation 2 - Make the host and the quest exchange places
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.

Strategy 31
• Translation 1 - The Strategy of Beautiful Women
• Translation 2 - The beauty trap (The tender trap, use a woman to ensare a man.)
Send your enemy beautiful women to cause discord within his camp. This
strategy can work on three levels. First, the ruler becomes so enamored
with the beauty that he neglects his duties and allows his vigilance to wane.
Second, other males at court will begin to display aggressive behavior 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 exasperating the situation.

Strategy 32
• Translation 1 - The Strategy of Open City Gates
• Translation 2 - Empty city
When the enemy is superior in numbers and your situation is such that you
expect to be overrun at any moment, then drop all pretence of military
preparedness and act casually. Unless the enemy has an accurate
description of your situation this unusual behavior will arouse suspicions.
With luck he will be dissuaded from attacking.

Strategy 33
• Translation 1 - The Strategy of Sowing Discord
• Translation 2 - Let the enemy's own spy sow discord in the enemy camp (Use double
agents.)

36 Ancient Chinese Strategies: Strategy 30

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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.

Strategy 34
• Translation 1 - The Strategy of Injuring Yourself
• Translation 2 - Inflict injury on one's self 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.

Strategy 35
• Translation 1 - The Tactic of Combining Tactics
• Translation 2 - Chain together the enemy's ships
In important matters one should use several strategies applied simulta-
neously. Keep different plans operating in an overall scheme; in this manner
if any one strategy fails you would still have several others to fall back on.

Strategy 36
• Translation 1 - If All Else Fails Retreat
• Translation 2 - Life today and fight tomorrow (Escape is the best policy)
If it becomes obvious that your current course of action will lead to defeat
then retreat and regroup.

36 Ancient Chinese Strategies: Strategy 34