I will never forget asking my literature teacher this question when I was in school, “Why do we need to study literature – especially ancient ones?” His answer was simple, “To understand human nature, which never changes.” I didn’t appreciate that as much as I do now, indeed, human nature doesn’t change and that is why ancient history and classics are still relevant today.

If human nature remains basically the same, then we can expect human to behave rather predictably, whether in the past or now or in future, whether while waging a war or scheming a personal battle against another individual.

This explains why there is an increased interest in ancient Chinese classics for advice in current day application. The wars can be political or economic in nature, but the strategies are just as practical as we will see through this series of study on the “36 Strategems of War”.

 

According to this Chinese military classic – “36 Strategems” – there are 36 strategies that we can use under six different situations:

1 — when in advantaged position
2 — when dealing with equals
3 – when taking offensive
4 – to confuse enemy
5 – to gain ground
6 – desperate measures

Stratagems to employ when in advantaged position:

(1) Deceive the Sky to Cross the Sea

The first stratagem advocates that preparing quietly in the open and public can often be the best place to attack. By going about one’s normal routine, making no attempt to hide, one can actually get away with murder (no pun intended). Daily occurrences will not arouse suspicion and often leads to slackened vigilance. Eg. Police assigned to an area for sudden curfew will often believe the residents are “harmless” – when the perpetrator could be one of the long time residents there.

Another application will be to disguise oneself as a harmless, everyday person and thus creating false appearances, leading the enemy to complacency. Begin the offense when the enemy is relaxed and least expected it. This is in direct contrast and much superior to the usual strategies of the disgraceful – robbing others in the dark alleys and stealing under the cover of the night.

(2) Besiege Wei to save Zhao

Fighting a united force is dangerous. Instead, one is wise to first scatter the opponent and strike from both front and rear to prevail.

It was recorded that Wei and Zhao were two states at war. Zhao sent out distress calls to their allies but their city was already besieged by Wei’s heavy troops. Instead of joining the war at Zhao, Zhao’s allies attack the Wei’s home ground, which had weaker defense as most troops are now deployed at Zhao.

When news of their capital being invaded, Wei’s troops rushed back to their state for defense. Zhao’s allies then went out to meet Wei’s troops half-way and Zhao’s troops charged after their retreating enemy. With attacks coming from both front and rear, Wei was finally defeated.

It may not be easy to decode right away this stratagem which is named after the above incident, the idea is to scatter the enemy and attack from both front and rear.

(3) Kill with a borrowed knife

Induce others to kill one’s enemy is a masterly move – it conserves one’s resources and divert any accusation. This is often used in politics as much as in battlefields. One common application is to sow discord among the enemy’s trusted team, have the enemy to kill his own best generals and advisors. One can either watch the battle he has caused or enter at the end to claim easy victory.

(4) Wait at Ease for Enemy to Tire out

Instead of a direct attack, it is better to weaken the opponents by enticing him to hard and unfamiliar terrain, tire them out by evading them until they have no more resources – both money and energy – and launch an attack.

(5) Loot a Burning House

Exploit the opponents when they are in crisis. Use their misery to bring them to terms or defeat. Some later stratagems will advise that one creates any diversion possible to divide your opponent’s focus: poison the food so that his troops get too sick to fight and attack is a good example. Attack is always easy when opponents are in distress.

 

(6) Feint Offense at East but Attack on the West

By creating a false impression, one can divert the enemies’ energy and resources away and attack where and when they are least prepared. It is important that one remains as unpredictable as possible and sends out fake information through normally trusted source. This stratagem has been used very successfully by the Japanese prior to the Japanese Occupation. When they were expected to attack by air – they invaded the Malaya Peninsula by land from the north.

 

 

 

….. to be continued…..