The Classic 36 Stratagems: 72 Transformations

The Thirty-Six Stratagems are a compendium of ancient Chinese military tactics, and their application remains highly relevant today. These stratagems are widely used not only in business, politics, and interpersonal relationships, but also offer important guidance for everyday life. Here is a brief overview of some modern applications of the Thirty-Six Stratagems:

1. Deceive the Heavens to Cross the Sea: In modern business, this stratagem can be used in marketing by concealing information or creating a false impression to attract customers and consumers.

2. Besiege Wei to Rescue Zhao: This stratagem can be applied in business competition by attacking a rival’s weak points to ease your own predicament.

3. Kill with a Borrowed Knife: In dealing with people, you can sometimes use someone else’s power to achieve your goals, or rely on outside factors to weaken a rival.

4. Wait at Ease for the Weary: In today’s workplace, this stratagem can guide us in organizing our time and tasks sensibly, avoiding overwork, and improving efficiency.

5. Loot a Burning House: In investment or business decisions, this can mean taking advantage of weaknesses in the market or among competitors to make a profit.

6. Make a Feint to the East While Attacking in the West: This stratagem can be applied to communication by changing the subject or creating a smokescreen to conceal your real intentions.

7. Create Something from Nothing: In creativity and marketing, this can mean inventing a concept or product that did not previously exist to attract consumers or boost sales.

8. Secretly Advance through Chencang: This stratagem can be applied to project management by achieving a goal discreetly and avoiding detection by competitors.

The author is Huang Jianzhong, from Kanzao Village, Suicheng Town, Suixi County!