The Thirty-Six Strategies of Ancient China

by Stefan H. Verstappen

The Thirty-Six Strategies of Ancient China is an easy to read and fascinating look at how many of the strategies and tactics mentioned by Sun Tzu in his book The Art Of War, were employed in ancient times.

This is one of the most diverse yet accessible collections of Chinese strategies yet assembled. Brief in form, yet endless in wisdom, these fundamental rules of military engagement are easily adapted to the modern office, sports team, or everyday task.

Taken from sources ranging from Lao Zi to Miyamoto Musashi, Stefan H. Verstappen has assembled a fascinating and impressive selection of historical and anecdotal evidence in support of this classic doctrine of strategy and one of the most influential works of East Asian philosophy. Whether you are a platoon commander or a weekend warrior, this book will enable you to stay three steps ahead.

Genres: History, China, Business, Politics, Military Fiction, Nonfiction, Leadership

207 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 30, 1999

Reviews

[Nick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading this book is like reading The Art of War. I kept thinking, absolutely, the next time I want to convince my enemies -- who know that I'm starving -- that I actually have plenty of food, I'll pile up my food baskets high with sand, and a thin layer of wheat. That'll fool 'em. Then I think, food baskets? sand? wheat? This is one of those classics from ancient China that requires a lot of translation and imagination. The stories of treachery, deception, and bad behavior are fun, but I came away unconvinced that my life was exciting enough to apply this stuff in any meaningful way. This is a book for players, for people with real enemies -- maybe CEOs and politicians?

[Adrian · Rating 5 out of 5]

While some may think that they are familiar with Chinese strategy from Sun Zi's Art of War, there is actually much more to Chinese strategy than Sun Zi's manual, however timeless it is.
The introduction to the 36 strategies it is detailed that it was rediscovered in the form of a book dating from the 1940s, and at the time was out of print. However, it may have continued as an oral tradition, as there is ample evidence that such strategies are widely understood and practiced.
The strategies are primarily about deception and involve feigning weakness, feigning madness, sowing division, misleading, and are expressed in a Chinese aphorism such as "Hide your dagger behind a smile."
The author provides an "in a nutshell" explanation, as well as several examples of the principle being put into practice in battle, often from either Warring States, Three Kingdoms, various other points in Chinese history, or occasionally Japan.
The appeal of this book is not limited to China enthusiasts, it is an equally appropriate read for military enthusiasts, political scientists, business strategists and many more.

[Dennisb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Essentially, the core of warfare (on any scale, in any situation) is deception and misdirection. The strategies put forth in this book are more specific applications of the Art of War, yet general enough to apply (with some imagination) to one's own situation.

Each chapter briefly explains a strategy, then follows with two or three historic or legendary examples, then wraps up with a summary.

I particularly appreciate Verstappen's extensive bibliography in his translation and examples, and I look forward to reading more of his works.

[P · Rating 4 out of 5]

Numerous translations of this ancient Chinese classic are available in the market, but not all of them are worth reading. Peter Taylor's work is, for example, quite subpar. Verstappen's work is far superior because he not only uses examples from Chinese history, but he also uses instances from Japanese history to explain each stratagem. As a result I learnt about the Warring States Period (China) as well as the Heian period (Japan). The major lesson I learnt from this book is that war is all about trickery and guile, and not brute strength. Although Sun Zi's Art of War is more famous, it can be difficult to interpret and consequently may seem boring, whereas this book is more of a practical guide with excellent examples. A must-read for anyone interested in military strategy and Oriental history. Here's the link: https://www.chinastrategies.com/wp-co...

[Mayur Sinha · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's a must-read for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of strategy and tactics. The book provides a fascinating glimpse into the wisdom and strategies used by ancient Chinese military leaders and how they can be applied to modern business and life. The strategies are concise, insightful, and practical, providing valuable lessons on how to outwit, outmaneuver, and outlast your opponents. The writing is clear and engaging, making it easy to digest and implement the strategies in your own life—a true gem for anyone interested in strategy and personal growth.

[Arthur · Rating 4 out of 5]

The 36 war strategies are described in a clear way each with a number of examples drawn from Chinese (notably Warring States, Han Dynasty, Six Dynasties, and Ming Dynasty) and Japanese history. And sometimes a Chinese anecdote is also used. I greatly enjoyed it, though the Kindle version has a fair number of typos and small errors (e.g. the Yongle emperor invaded Nanjing in 1402 and not 1403). Also, the Jianwen Emperor (referred to as Huidi in the book, derived from his posthumous name) is unlikely to have survived, so the story about his escape to a monastery feels a little odd.

[Jestora (muaad) the poet · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started this a long time ago - reading it piecemeal and today I finally finished it. It was shocking, informative, interesting and nice at the same time. I really enjoyed the book. I learnt a lot about the ancient Chinese, their intelligence, their wisdom, the cruelty, their patience and their culture. I find the ancient Chinese to be a very interesting civilisation and war to be a brutal part of human history. I have a feeling that the author of the book, 48 laws of power copied the style and ideas from this book but it’s just my hunch.

[Darya · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my favorite books on strategy. It is interesting to read, engaging with its stories and great summaries at the end of each story. What is a strategy? May be it is the thirty six simple rules than can be wisely applied in different life and business situations. It doesn't mean that this book is the book of golden indisputable truth however worth reading for sure. I have read it several times and find something new for me each time I return to it.

[Yun Rou · Rating 4 out of 5]

In my library, this volume falls into the category of readable and charming works that are a bit idiosyncratic in their blending of philosophy and folklore and history. This might be my favorite kind of non-fiction for the pure pleasure of the reading experience. Really fun and thought-provoking ideas.

[Tony Teri · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for business

Excellent. Art of war meets The Prince. Reading this book is essential for business. You will be glad you did.

[Verity · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eager to add this to my bookshelf next to suntzu and various war philosophies. Very well done, well researched. Has sample audiobook on youtube. Worth checking out

[Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

This a great, easy to digest, and fast read if you want to get up to speed on Chinese history, strategy, and how to apply them to your real life.

The author lays out each chapter in perfect bite sized paragraphs. He starts out with the strategy, then supports it with actual Chinese - and in some cases Japanese - history lessons. In the end, he summarizes the strategy.

Perfect for the bus or train commute, you can read through this in less than a week.

[Michael Thomas Angelo]

In honor of my 36th birthday I am requesting this book.

[Calvin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic book so far. Having just completed The Art of War this was a great transitional book and I love the historical events used as examples for each strategies.

[Mohammed Alsharqawy · Rating 3 out of 5]

واضح ان بتوع زمان كانو فاضيين
يحاربوا الصبح
ويالفوا بليل
فكرني بواحد كان بيقول
العلماء يالفوا النظريات
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