36 Stratagems Plus

Book excerpt: "He who knows not the stratagems is respectable, but he who plays no stratagems in spite of knowing them deserves more respect." In 36 Stratagems Plus, authors Douglas S. Tung and Teresa K. Tung provide a unique collection of ancient Chinese tactics that describe some of the cunning and subtle stratagems-a strategic plan that contains a trap or a ruse for the enemy. Many of these stratagems had their origins in events that occurred during the Warring States Period (475-221 BC) and the Three Kingdoms Period (220-280) in China. This collection includes sixty stratagems that illustrate the enlightened exploitation of strategic power. For each stratagem, the Tungs present an eclectic discussion of its theme, the classic Chinese case supplemented by two international cases to illustrate the use of these strategic acts by other nationalities. They then trace its source which is usually the exploit of some of the Chinese generals, statesmen, and ordinary people. The source may be from The Art of War. 36 Stratagems Plus demonstrates that it is not the quantity of stratagems that matter, but rather the way in which they are deployed.