The 36 Stratagems

A field library. Click a stratagem for its full brief.

01

Deceive the Heavens to Cross the Sea (瞒天过海)

02

Besiege Wei to Rescue Zhao (围魏救赵)

03

Kill with a Borrowed Sword (借刀杀人)

04

Wait at Leisure While the Enemy Labors (以逸待劳)

05

Loot a Burning House (趁火打劫)

06

Make a Sound in the East, Then Strike in the West (声东击西)

07

Create Something from Nothing (无中生有)

08

Openly Repair the Road, Secretly March to Chencang (明修栈道，暗度陈仓)

09

Watch the Fire from Across the River (隔岸观火)

10

Hide a Dagger Behind a Smile (笑里藏刀)

11

Sacrifice the Plum Tree to Save the Peach Tree (李代桃僵)

12

Take the Opportunity to Pilfer a Goat (顺手牵羊)

13

Beat the Grass to Scare the Snake (打草惊蛇)

14

Borrow a Corpse to Resurrect the Soul (借尸还魂)

15

Lure the Tiger Down the Mountain (调虎离山)

16

To Catch, First Let Go (欲擒故纵)

17

Toss a Brick to Attract Jade (抛砖引玉)

18

To Capture the Brigand, Capture the King (擒贼擒王)

19

Remove the Firewood from Under the Pot (釜底抽薪)

20

Disturb the Water to Catch the Fish (混水摸鱼)

21

Slough Off the Cicada’s Golden Shell (金蝉脱壳)

22

Shut the Door to Catch the Thief (关门捉贼)

23

Befriend a Distant State While Attacking a Neighbor (远交近攻)

24

Borrow the Road to Conquer Guo (假道伐虢)

25

Replace the Beams with Rotten Timbers (偷梁换柱)

26

Point at the Mulberry, Scold the Locust (指桑骂槐)

27

Feign Madness but Keep Your Balance (假痴不癫)

28

Lure the Enemy to the Roof, Then Take Away the Ladder (上屋抽梯)

29

Deck the Tree with False Blossoms (树上开花)

30

Make the Host and the Guest Exchange Roles (反客为主)

31

The Beauty Trap (美人计)

32

The Empty Fort Strategy (空城计)

33

Let the Enemy’s Own Spy Sow Discord in the Enemy Camp (反间计)

34

Inflict Injury on Oneself to Win the Enemy’s Trust (苦肉计)

35

Chain Stratagems (连环计)

36

If All Else Fails, Retreat (走为上)