The 36 Strategies …
These are an ancient Chinese collection of strategies for dealing with all manner of situations.
It is a well-known part of the folk literature of China and is believed to be about 1500 years old.
It is traditionally composed of six sections, each containing six related strategies.
There are different versions of The 36 Strategies, but the arrangement of six sections each containing six strategies is always the same. This is because of the significance of the number six in the I Ching and also the common perception among Chinese that the number six is always associated with deceit.
Most examples of Chinese wisdom relate themselves in some way to the I Ching.
The Thirty-Six Stratagems have variably been attributed to Sun Tzu from the Spring and Autumn period of China, or Zhuge Liang of the Three Kingdoms period, but neither are regarded as the true author by historians. Instead, the prevailing view is that the Thirty-Six Stratagems may have originated in both written and oral history, with many different versions compiled by different authors throughout Chinese history.
Some stratagems reference occurrences in the time of Sun Bin, approx. 150 years after Sun Tzu’s death.
Using the I Ching’s fundamental principle of ever changing Yin and Yang, the 36 Strategies describes methods to manipulate specific manifestations of the duality to one’s advantage.
Strategy 35 ‘Chain Links’ provides an insight into the value of having knowledge of the Art of War.
A classic example of this knowledge, was the combination of trick’s, devices and schemes woven into an interconnected arrangement to achieve the aim of Wong Yen a man of little wealth and power to find a way to overthrow Dong Zou who held power in China during the Han Dynasty.
The Chinese maintain that their studies of these strategies is not motivated by a desire to deceive others, but rather to recognise and prevent these strategies from being used against them!
Readers may find some of these strategies useful in business, sport, social and home life!
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