The 36 Strategies! : 10 Questions

[Joan]

My Dear Family,

I have wonderful news!

Sifu has kindly and generously agreed to answer 10 Questions on The Thirty Six Strategies.

This is open to everybody and each person is allowed only one question (so you need to act quickly).

I will close the questioning on next Friday 11th January 2013 @ 2pm.

I know many of you are curious and will really appreciate this wonderful opportunity

Thank you Sifu, I know your answers will make our understanding of the 36 strategies much more clear.

With deepest respect,
Joan

[Andrew R]

Fantastic, thank you for creating this opportunity, Sikujie Joan.


Dear Sigung,

It would be great to hear some of your experiences using the 36 strategies. Do you have any particularly memorable moments when you applied them, whether with patients, in work or in combat?

Sincerely,

Andrew

[sancrica]

Dear Sifu

First of all, I want to thank Sije and Sifu for this wonderful present. My expectations are always exceeded with this amazing family. :-)

Here comes my question:

I must be sincere. Before this course was coming I didn't even know that "The 36 strategies" existed. I read a lot about "The Art of War" because it is world famous and very extended. So, What makes "The 36 strategies" so special?

Thanks a lot one more time for everything. I really appreciate this wonderful family.

Shaolin Salute,

Santiago

[Dominic Roche]

Dear Sigung and Sifu,

Thank you for giving us this great opportunity.

My question is what famous strategists would have used the 36 Strategies in the past?

Shaolin Salute,

Dominic.

[Leo Shaolin]

Thank you Sifu and Sije Joan for providing the opportunity to have a deeper understanding of the 36 strategies.


Dear Sifu,

The 10 Shaolin Laws teach us to be compassionate, helpful and fair to others.

The 36 strategies aim at personal advantage and could be interpreted as “dirty tricks” and betrayal in a paradigm of high moral standards.

How can the tricking of the 36 strategies be harmonized with the moral values of the 10 Shaolin Laws and does a morally aim (like helping oppressed people) legitimate dirty means?


I’m looking forward to the course!

Best wishes,
o\

Leo

[Mark Blohm]

Dear Sifu,

What is the relationship between the 36 Strategies and other Chinese classics such as the Yi Jing, the Art of War, the Dao De Jing, the four great Chinese literature classics, or others?

Sincerely,

Mark Blohm

[Joan]

My Dear Family,

Half way there and only Day 2, Congratulations

I was thinking this would be more interesting for you all than me waffling on about them.

Dear Sifu,

Thank you this fantastic opportunity to avail of your wisdom. My question is:

What benefits and advantages are there, for Entrepreneurs and established Business people, to have an indepth knowledge of the 36 strategies as taught by a Shaolin Grandmaster?

With deepest respect and gratitude,
Joan

[Zhang Wuji]

Dear Sifu

A common saying is that of the 36 strategies, running is the best 三十六计， 走为上计）. How true is that in kungfu application and combat? Some commentators have translated the text to explain "running" as yielding in order to attack (以退为进）while others have interpreted this to mean to retire at one's peak or victory. I would like to humbly seek Sifu's views on this strategy. Also, would running away be the best strategy in some cases?

Thank you!

[Andy]

Dear Sifu,

Is there any link between the 36 Strategies and the I-Ching? And if so, could you elaborate on the connection?

Many thanks

[Luo Lang]

Dear Sifu,

Many thanks for your generous offer to recieve another beneficial Q/A series.

Many thanks to Joan Sije starting the thread.

My question:
Which of the Thirty Six Strategies do you personally find the most beneficial and effective one in termes of profundity in simplicity, in order to enrich private and business life?

Best regards,

Roland

[Andrea]

Dear Sigung, Dear Joan Siguma,

Thank you for this opportunity. My question is:

The 36 Strategies seem to be war tactics to overcome an enemy (win-loose). Can we use them, when our aim is to create a win-win outcome in a private or business conflict?

Best regards
Andrea

[Andy]

I just realised that my question has basically already been covered by Sihing Mark

Oh well, great minds think alike

[Kevin_B]

Dear Sigung, Dear Sifu,

Can we use the 36 Strategies in non-conflict situations? Can we for instance use them to enhance our scholarly pursuits to become better poets, better artists etc?

I am really looking forward to this course!

All the best,

Kevin

[Joan]

10 Questions have been achieved!

My Dear Family,

Thank you all for your questions and taking the time to participate on this thread. We have 10 questions earlier than anticipated, which is fantastic

I will post Sifu's answers here in the coming weeks. I am certain that they will make everything more clear and deepen our understanding of these strategies in life and in business.

I, too, am really looking forward to this unique course in February

Smile from the Heart,
Joan

[Joan]

The Answers!

My Dear Family,

Sifu has so very kindly sent me the beginning of the Answers series to your 10 questions on the 36 strategies.

I know you are going to enjoy reading and learning a lot from them over the coming weeks.

Thank you again Sifu, I deeply appreciate this.


Introduction from Sifu:

The Thirty Six Strategies are actually not strategies in the sense of overall plans of action, but rather ruses or tricks to overcome particular problems. In Chinese, the 36 strategies are called ji, whereas the strategies in the Art of War, for example, are call fa. There 36 strategies or tricks were used at different times in history by strategists, generals and important people, but are collected into a book by an unnamed author.

The 36 strategies are conveniently classified into six groups as follows. Like Shaolin kungfu patterns, the titles of the 36 strategies are poetically described in four characters.

Winning Strategies

1. Deceive Heaven to Cross Sea
2. Surround Wei to Save Zhao
3. Borrow Knife to Kill Another
4. Use Rest to Wait for Labour
5. Rob while Fire is Burning
6. Sound East Attack West

Battling Strategies

7. From Nothing Born Something
8. Secretly Escape via Chen Cang
9. Across Beach Watch Fire
10. Knife Hidden in Smile
11. Plum Sacrifices for Peach
12. Snatch Goat Along Way

Attacking Strategies

13. Hit Grass Startle Snake
14. Borrow Body to Reincarnate
15. Trick Tiger Leave Mountain
16. To Catch So Release
17. Throw Stone Attract Jade
18. Catch Bandits Catch Leader

Confusing Strategies

19. Beneath Cauldron Withdraw Firewood
20. Troubled Water Catch Fish
21. Golden Cicada Sheds Shell
22. Close Door Catch Thief
23. Far Befriend Near Attack
24. Borrow Passage Attack Guo

Deceptive Strategies

25. Steal Beam Change Pillar
26. Point Mulberry Scold Acacia
27. Fake Madness Not Insane
28. Ascend Roof Remove Ladder
29. Tree Top Blossom Flowers
30. Turn Guest Become Host

Sacrificial Strategies

31. Beauty Strategy
32. Empty City Strategy
33. Double-Cross Strategy
34. Self-Torture Strategy
35. Continuous Strategy
36. Escape Strategy

I am sure we shall have a lot of fun as well as benefit from the answers to the questions submitted.

Sifu/Sigung/Sitaigung/Sichunggung.