The 36 Stratagems

The 36 Stratagems are a Chinese collection of strategic principles used in politics, warfare, and business. They emphasize clever, adaptable tactics such as deception, disguise, misdirection, and strategic positioning to outmaneuver opponents. Each stratagem offers a different approach—like creating confusion, feigning weakness, or exploiting vulnerabilities—to gain advantage without direct confrontation. While rooted in ancient warfare, these concepts can be applied today to negotiations, competitive situations, or problem-solving, highlighting the importance of strategy, psychological insight, and subtlety in achieving desired outcomes.