三十六计
36 Military Strategies
第一计 瞒天过海
备周则意怠，常见则不疑。阴在阳之内，不在阳之对。太阳，太阴。
Strategy One Cross the Sea Without Heaven’s Knowledge
People who take ample precautions are liable to be off guard. Familiar sights do not rouse suspicion. Yin is the inner instead of the opposite aspect of yang. The great yang contains the great yin.
第二计 围魏救赵
共敌不如分敌，敌阳不如敌阴。
Strategy Two Besiege Wei to Rescue Zhao
Instead of attacking headlong a powerful, concentrated enemy, break it up into smaller, vulnerable groups. Instead of striking first, bide your time and strike only after the enemy has struck.
第三计 借刀杀人
敌已明，友未定，引友杀敌。不自出力，以损推演。
Strategy Three Murder with a Borrowed Knife
When the enemy’s intention is obvious and the ally’s attitude hesitant, induce the ally to fight the enemy while preserving one’s own strength. This can be inferred from Sun.
第四计 以逸待劳
困敌之势，不以战。损刚益柔。
Strategy Four Wait Leisurely for an Exhausted Enemy
It is possible to lead the enemy into an impasse without fighting. The active is weakened to strengthen the passive.
第五计 趁火打劫
敌之害大，就势取利。刚决柔也。
Strategy Five Loot a Burning House
When the enemy suffers from a major crisis, seize the chance to gain advantage. Resolution prevails over pliancy.
第六计 声东击西
敌志乱萃，不虞。坤下兑上之象。利其不自主而取之。
Strategy Six Make Noise in the East and Attack in the West
The enemy’s command becomes confused and unrestrained, with the symbol of Kunbelow and Dui above, signifying river water ready to overflow the bank. Subdue the enemy when it has thus lost its discipline.
第七计 无中生有
诳也，非诳也，实其所诳也。少阴、太阴、太阳。
Strategy Seven Create Something out of Nothing
Make a false move, not to pass it for a genuine one but to transform it into a genuine one after the enemy has been convinced of its falsity. Genuine strength grows under the cover of false appearance, just as yin growing to the extreme transforms into yang.
第八计 暗渡陈仓
示之以动，利其静而有主，“益动而巽”。
Strategy Eight Advance Secretly by Way of Chencang
Make a false move to tie up the main force of the enemy. It is of benefit to set forth in conformity to the situation.
第九计 隔岸观火
阳乖序乱，阴以待逆。暴戾恣睢，其势自毙。顺以动豫，豫顺以动。
Strategy Nine Watch a Fire from Across the River
When the discord of the enemy becomes apparent, take no action but instead wait for the oncoming upheaval. Cruel internecine struggles can only cause the enemy to die at its own hand. Movement at an opportune moment brings happiness.
第十计 笑里藏刀
信而安之，阴以图之。备而后动，勿使有变。刚中柔外也。
Strategy Ten Hide a Dagger in a Smile
Reassure the enemy to make it slack, work in secret to subdue it; prepare fully before taking action to prevent the enemy from changing its mind: This is the method of hiding a strong will under a compliant appearance.
第十一计 李代桃僵
势必有损，损阴以益阳。
Strategy Eleven Sacrifice a Plum to Save a Peach
If loss is inevitable, decrease yin to increase yang.
第十二计 顺手牵羊
微隙在所必乘，微利在所必得。少阴，少阳。
Strategy Twelve Lead Away a Goat in Passing
Take advantage of the smallest flaw; seize the smallest profit. Make use of a minor mistake of the enemy to gain a minor victory.
第十三计 打草惊蛇
疑以叩实，察而后动。复者，阴之媒也。
Strategy Thirteen Beat the Grass to Frighten the Snake
Ascertain the doubtful; find out about the enemy before taking action. Return and bring the enemy’s secrets to light.
第十四计 借尸还魂
有用者，不可借；不能用者，求借。借不能用者而用之。匪我求童蒙，童蒙求我。
Strategy Fourteen Find Reincarnation in Another’s Corpse
The useful declines to be used, whereas the useless asks to be used. Make use of the useless. It is not I who seek help from the callow youth but the callow youth who seeks help from me.
第十五计 调虎离山
待天以困之，用人以诱之。往蹇来返。
Strategy Fifteen Lure the Tiger out of the Mountains
Wait for Heaven to encumber the enemy and make plots to allure it. When going leads to obstruction, come back.
第十六计 欲擒故纵
逼则反兵，走则减势。紧随勿迫。累其气力，消其斗志，散而后擒，兵不血刃。需，有孚，光。
Strategy Sixteen Leave at Large, the Better to Capture
Close in upon the [defeated] enemy and it will strike back; let it go and its position will weaken. Follow it closely but do not press too hard. Fritter away its strength and sap its will. After it has scattered, subdue it without staining the swords with blood. Waiting. Sincerity brings glory.
第十七计 抛砖引玉
类以诱之，击蒙也。
Strategy Seventeen Cast a Brick to Attract Jade
Lure the enemy with counterfeits. Punish the callow youth.
第十八计 擒贼擒王
摧其坚，夺其魁，以解其体。龙战于野，其道穷也。
Strategy Eighteen To Catch Bandits, First Catch the Ringleader
Crush the enemy’s main force and capture its chief to disintegrate its body. A dragon compelled to fight on land is faced with an impasse.
（编辑：李梦婕）