论文部分内容阅读
The Thirty-Six Stratagems is a Chinese essay used to illustrate a series of stratagems used in politics， war， as well as in civil interaction， often through unorthodox or deceptive means. No one really knows who the author was; instead， the prevailing view is that the Thirty-Six Stratagems may have originated in both written and oral history， with many different versions compiled by different authors throughout Chinese history.
The Thirty-Six Stratagems has six chapters containing six stratagems each. The first three chapters generally describe tactics for use in advantageous situations， whereas the last three chapters contain stratagems that are more suitable for disadvantageous situations. They are in the form of four-character idioms. Each proverb is accompanied by a short comment， no longer than a sentence or two， that explains how said proverb is applicable to military tactics. These 36 Chinese proverbs are related to 36 battle scenarios in Chinese history and folklore， predominantly of the Warring States Period and the Three Kingdoms Period.
The Culture column of this issue will share with you the first three chapters of the essay， （to encourage you to win）， and then the rest three chapters in July issue， （in case you stand in disadvantageous situation in a battle）.
Chapter 1 勝战计 Winning Stratagems
瞒天过海
Deceive the heavens to cross the ocean
Comment： 备周而意怠，常见则不疑，阴在阳之内，不在阳之对。太阳，太阴。
Prepare too much and you lose sight of the big picture; what you see often you do not doubt. Yin （the art of deception） is in Yang （acting in open）. Too much Yang （transparency） hides Yin （true ruses）.
围魏救赵
Besiege the state of Wèi to rescue the state of Zhào
Comment： When the enemy is too strong to be attacked directly， then attack something he holds dear. Know that he cannot be superior in all things. Somewhere there is a gap in the armour， a weakness that can be attacked instead.
借刀杀人
Kill with a borrowed knife
Comment： Attack using the strength of another （in a situation where using one’s own strength is not favourable）. Trick an ally into attacking him， bribe an official to turn traitor， or use the enemy’s own strength against him. Stratagem
以逸待劳
Leisurely await for the laboured
Comment： It is an advantage to choose the time and place for battle. In this way you know when and where the battle will take place， while your enemy does not. Encourage your enemy to expend his energy in futile quests while you conserve your strength. When he is exhausted and confused， you attack with energy and purpose. 趁火打劫
Loot a burning house
Comment： When a country is beset by internal conflicts， when disease and famine ravage the population， when corruption and crime are rampant， then it will be unable to deal with an outside threat. This is the time to attack.
声东击西
Make a sound in the east， then strike in the west
Comment： In any battle the element of surprise can provide an overwhelming advantage. Even when face to face with an enemy， surprise can still be employed by attacking where he least expects it. To do this you must create an expectation in the enemy’s mind through the use of a feint.
Chapter 2 敵战计 Enemy Dealing Stratagems
无中生有
Create something from nothing
Comment： A plain lie. Make somebody believe there was something when there is in fact nothing.
暗渡陈仓
Openly repair the gallery roads， but sneak through the passage of Chencang
Comment： Advancing secretly by an unknown path. Deceive the enemy with an obvious approach that will take a very long time， while surprising him by taking a shortcut and sneak up to him. As the enemy concentrates on the decoy， he will miss you sneaking up to him.
隔岸观火
Watch the fires burning across the river
Comment： Delay entering the field of battle until all the other players have become exhausted fighting amongst themselves. Then go in at full strength and pick up the pieces.
李代桃僵
Sacrifice the plum tree to preserve the peach tree
Comment： Palming off substitute for the real thing. There are circumstances in which you must sacrifice short-term objectives in order to gain the long-term goal. This is the scapegoat stratagem whereby someone else suffers the consequences so that the rest do not.
笑里藏刀
Hide a knife behind a smile
Comment： Charm and ingratiate yourself to your enemy. When you have gained his trust， move against him in secret.
顺手牵羊
Take the opportunity to pilfer a goat
Comment： While carrying out your plans be flexible enough to take advantage of any opportunity that presents itself， however small， and avail yourself of any profit， however slight.
Chapter 3 攻战计 Attacking Stratagems
打草惊蛇
Stomp the grass to scare the snake
Comment： Do something unaimed， but spectacular （“hitting the grass”） to provoke a response of the enemy （“startle the snake”）， thereby giving away his plans or position， or just taunt him. Do something unusual， strange， and unexpected as this will arouse the enemy’s suspicion and disrupt his thinking. More widely used as“[Do not] startle the snake by hitting the grass”. An imprudent act will give your position or intentions away to the enemy.
The Thirty-Six Stratagems has six chapters containing six stratagems each. The first three chapters generally describe tactics for use in advantageous situations， whereas the last three chapters contain stratagems that are more suitable for disadvantageous situations. They are in the form of four-character idioms. Each proverb is accompanied by a short comment， no longer than a sentence or two， that explains how said proverb is applicable to military tactics. These 36 Chinese proverbs are related to 36 battle scenarios in Chinese history and folklore， predominantly of the Warring States Period and the Three Kingdoms Period.
The Culture column of this issue will share with you the first three chapters of the essay， （to encourage you to win）， and then the rest three chapters in July issue， （in case you stand in disadvantageous situation in a battle）.
Chapter 1 勝战计 Winning Stratagems
瞒天过海
Deceive the heavens to cross the ocean
Comment： 备周而意怠，常见则不疑，阴在阳之内，不在阳之对。太阳，太阴。
Prepare too much and you lose sight of the big picture; what you see often you do not doubt. Yin （the art of deception） is in Yang （acting in open）. Too much Yang （transparency） hides Yin （true ruses）.
围魏救赵
Besiege the state of Wèi to rescue the state of Zhào
Comment： When the enemy is too strong to be attacked directly， then attack something he holds dear. Know that he cannot be superior in all things. Somewhere there is a gap in the armour， a weakness that can be attacked instead.
借刀杀人
Kill with a borrowed knife
Comment： Attack using the strength of another （in a situation where using one’s own strength is not favourable）. Trick an ally into attacking him， bribe an official to turn traitor， or use the enemy’s own strength against him. Stratagem
以逸待劳
Leisurely await for the laboured
Comment： It is an advantage to choose the time and place for battle. In this way you know when and where the battle will take place， while your enemy does not. Encourage your enemy to expend his energy in futile quests while you conserve your strength. When he is exhausted and confused， you attack with energy and purpose. 趁火打劫
Loot a burning house
Comment： When a country is beset by internal conflicts， when disease and famine ravage the population， when corruption and crime are rampant， then it will be unable to deal with an outside threat. This is the time to attack.
声东击西
Make a sound in the east， then strike in the west
Comment： In any battle the element of surprise can provide an overwhelming advantage. Even when face to face with an enemy， surprise can still be employed by attacking where he least expects it. To do this you must create an expectation in the enemy’s mind through the use of a feint.
Chapter 2 敵战计 Enemy Dealing Stratagems
无中生有
Create something from nothing
Comment： A plain lie. Make somebody believe there was something when there is in fact nothing.
暗渡陈仓
Openly repair the gallery roads， but sneak through the passage of Chencang
Comment： Advancing secretly by an unknown path. Deceive the enemy with an obvious approach that will take a very long time， while surprising him by taking a shortcut and sneak up to him. As the enemy concentrates on the decoy， he will miss you sneaking up to him.
隔岸观火
Watch the fires burning across the river
Comment： Delay entering the field of battle until all the other players have become exhausted fighting amongst themselves. Then go in at full strength and pick up the pieces.
李代桃僵
Sacrifice the plum tree to preserve the peach tree
Comment： Palming off substitute for the real thing. There are circumstances in which you must sacrifice short-term objectives in order to gain the long-term goal. This is the scapegoat stratagem whereby someone else suffers the consequences so that the rest do not.
笑里藏刀
Hide a knife behind a smile
Comment： Charm and ingratiate yourself to your enemy. When you have gained his trust， move against him in secret.
顺手牵羊
Take the opportunity to pilfer a goat
Comment： While carrying out your plans be flexible enough to take advantage of any opportunity that presents itself， however small， and avail yourself of any profit， however slight.
Chapter 3 攻战计 Attacking Stratagems
打草惊蛇
Stomp the grass to scare the snake
Comment： Do something unaimed， but spectacular （“hitting the grass”） to provoke a response of the enemy （“startle the snake”）， thereby giving away his plans or position， or just taunt him. Do something unusual， strange， and unexpected as this will arouse the enemy’s suspicion and disrupt his thinking. More widely used as“[Do not] startle the snake by hitting the grass”. An imprudent act will give your position or intentions away to the enemy.