The Thirty-Six Stratagems are not a historical manual but a collection of ancient wisdom
In short: Contrary to popular belief, the famous Thirty-Six Stratagems were never a formal list of thirty-six specific military rules. The number is a metaphorical reference to ancient Chinese philosophy, later codified into a collection of proverbs that illustrate cunning, deception, and tactical maneuvering in both war and civil life.
The origin of the term lies in the Book of Qi, specifically the Biography of Wang Jingze. During the Southern Qi dynasty, the general Wang Jingze used the phrase to mock a retreating commander, referencing the I Ching where the number six represents dark, strategic schemes. By squaring six, Wang used 'thirty-six' as a figure of speech to denote 'numerous strategies' rather than a literal count. The actual collection of proverbs we recognize today was likely compiled long after Wang’s time, drawing from oral and written history to categorize battle scenarios from the Warring States and Three Kingdoms periods.
The collection is structured into six chapters, each containing six stratagems, totaling thirty-six. These are broadly divided into tactics for advantageous situations—such as 'Besiege Wei to rescue Zhao' or 'Kill with a borrowed knife'—and those for disadvantageous ones, like 'Slough off the cicada's golden shell.' The text is written in a laconic, classical style, with each proverb accompanied by a brief explanation of its application. The content ranges from direct military maneuvers to psychological manipulation, such as 'Hide a knife behind a smile' or 'Feign madness but keep your balance.'
The manuscript’s path to modern prominence is relatively recent. An original hand-copied version was reportedly discovered in Shaanxi province, though its author and date remain unknown. It was first printed by a local publisher in 1941, but it only reached a wider audience after a review appeared in the Guangming Daily on September 16, 1961. Since then, the collection has been widely distributed, serving as a cultural touchstone for understanding indirect approaches, the importance of timing, and the art of exploiting an opponent's weaknesses through deception and strategic patience.
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