Ancient Chinese Wisdom

There exists in the world a permanent state of war.

This is business as usual.


Tried and tested war tactics can be detected when one knows what one is looking for. Some of these are thousands of years old. And many of them are still in use today. Here are some from China.


Killing with a borrowed sword.

Creating something out of nothing.

Sacrificing plum trees to preserve peach trees.

Raising a corpse from the dead.

Removing firewood from under the pot.

Disturbing water to catch fish.

Playing dumb while remaining smart.

The beauty trap.

Exchanging the role of guest for host.

Sowing discord.

Running away.

Attacking Wei to rescue Zhao.

Resting while the enemy exhausts himself.

The empty fort strategy.

Clamouring in the East, then attacking in the West.

Observing the fires on the opposite shore.

Pretending to follow one path and taking another.

Hiding a dagger behind a smile.

Leading the sheep away.

Stomping on the grass to scare snakes.

Luring tigers out of mountains.

Replacing strong beams with rotten timbers.

Pointing at mulberry trees while cursing locusts.

Removing the enemy's ladders.

Decking the trees with false blossoms.

Inflicting self-injury.

Using chain-stratagems.



The above list is by no means complete and continues to evolve.