The Thirty-Six Stratagems is a well-known collection of ancient Chinese military tactics, often referenced in everyday conversation through colorful idioms. Though long believed to date back to the Northern and Southern Dynasties, the version we know today was likely compiled during the Ming and Qing periods—and may have been written even later, in the Republic of China era.
The book organizes its strategies into six groups of six:
1. Winning Strategies
2. Confrontation Strategies
3. Attack Strategies
4. Chaos Strategies
5. Consolidation Strategies
6. Defeat Strategies
The first half focuses on gaining and using an advantage. The second half deals with surviving—or even winning—when the odds are stacked against you.
Here are some of the most widely used stratagems, many of which have become idioms in modern Chinese:
Winning Strategy – Kill with a Borrowed Knife (借刀杀人)
Use someone else’s resources or authority to do your dirty work. Cao Cao, a famous warlord, sent Mi Heng to Liu Biao, hoping Liu would eliminate him. Liu passed Mi to Huang Zu, who ended up killing him—essentially doing Cao Cao’s bidding. Today, it describes situations where one gets rid of a problem using another person’s hand.
Confrontation Strategy – Secretly Cross at Chencang (暗度陈仓)
Create a distraction, then strike where no one expects. General Han Xin pretended to fix an old plank road while secretly leading troops to attack through a different route. The ploy worked and surprised his enemy. Now, the phrase often describes hidden agendas or clandestine affairs.
Attack Strategy – Let Go to Catch Later (欲擒故纵)
Loosen your grip to gain more in the long run. Zhuge Liang famously captured and released Meng Huo seven times before finally winning his loyalty. These days, it’s often used to describe emotional push-and-pull in relationships—especially the classic “hard to get.”
Chaos Strategy – Fish in Troubled Waters (浑水摸鱼)
Take advantage of confusion to benefit yourself. After the Battle of Red Cliffs, Liu Bei took over several territories while his rivals were distracted. In modern slang, the idiom’s last two characters—”摸鱼 (Fish)”—can also refer to slacking off at work during chaotic times.
Consolidation Strategy – Guest Takes Over as Host (反客为主)
Take control step by step, starting from a weaker position. Today, it’s often used in business to describe situations where an outsider slowly dominates negotiations or a project.
Defeat Strategy – Beauty Trap (美人计)
Use physical attraction to destabilize a rival. The most famous case is Xi Shi, whose beauty reportedly distracted King Fuchai and helped lead to his downfall. Today, the idiom sparks more debate than admiration. Many question whether such stories glorify manipulation or shift blame by objectifying women and absolving men of responsibility.
Although The Thirty-Six Stratagems is often seen as a time-honored classic, historians suggest its influence on real warfare was minimal—especially compared to The Art of War. Its true legacy lies not in battlefield strategy but in language. The vivid expressions drawn from its pages continue to shape the way people think, talk, and tell stories in everyday life.