Tam Thập Lục Kế (三十六計) was a set of tactics used ancient China by warring countries. Its origin (including the name) was not clear. Some people attribute it to Tôn Tử (孫子, Sun Tzu) who wrote Tôn Tử Binh Pháp (孫子兵法, Sun Tzu's The Art of War). However, its origin dated back further.
The book was divided into a preface, six chapters containing six tactics each, and an incomplete afterword.
Chapter 1: Thắng Chiến Kế (勝 戰 計) - Tactics to gain the superior position
01) Man Thiên Quá Hải (瞞天過海) - "Deceive the heaven to cross the ocean."
Deceive the enemy into believing that you have a different goal, while you work to achieve your real goal.
02) Vây Ngụy Cứu Triệu (圍魏救趙) - "Besiege Ngụy to rescue Triệu."
Use an indirect attack or a decoy to get the enemy to rechannel their energy somewhere else. Divert the enemy's attention away from its current battle to alleviate the pressure some place else.
03) Tá Đao Sát Nhân (借刀殺人) - "Borrow knife to kill."
Attack using the strength of another. Use leverage.
04) Dĩ Dật Đãi Lao (以逸待勞) - "Use strength to confront the tired."
Conserve your strength while make the enemy spend his energy in futility, then attack a weakened enemy.
05) Sấn Hỏa Đả Kiếp (趁火打劫) - "Take advantage of the fire to loot the house."
Exploit the enemy's weakened state to deal the blow.
06) Thanh Đông Kích Tây (聲東擊西) - "Make noise to the east, attack the west."
Diversion. Make noise in one area, then attack another.
Chapter 2: Địch Chiến Kế (敵 戰 計) - Tactics during confrontation
07) Vô Trung Sinh Hữu (無中生有) - "Make something ouf of nothing."
Illusion, propaganda. Create something out of nothing to deceive the enemy.
08) Ám Độ Trần Thương (暗渡陳倉) - "Block the road to Trần Thương."
Deception and surprise. Use a decoy to divert the enemy's attention, give them false information about your approach, then sneak up on them with a different approach.
09) Cách Ngạn Quan Hỏa (隔岸觀火) - "Across the river bank, watch the fire."
Watch and wait. Don't enter the battlefield until conditions are favorable.
10) Tiếu Lý Tàng Đao (笑裡藏刀) - "Behind a smile, hide a dagger."
Hide a knife behind a smile. Hide your intention behind a veil of diplomacy.
11) Lý Đại Đào Cương (李代桃僵) - "Sacrifice the plum to save the peach."
Use a scapegoat. Sacrifice one objective to get another.
12) Thuận Thủ Khiên Dương (順手牽羊) - "Take the opportunity to take the goat."
Be flexible for open opportunities, and when they arrive, exploit them.
Chapter 3: Công Chiến Kế (攻 戰 計) - Tactics during attack
13) Đả Thảo Kinh Xà (打草驚蛇) - "Kick the grass to startle the snake."
Startle the enemy with an unexpected move, to get them to reveal their position or plans.
14) Tá Thi Hoàn Hồn (借屍還魂) - "Borrow a corpse to resurrect a soul."
Fake surrendering to make a comeback to attack.
15) Điệu Hổ Ly Sơn (調虎離山) - "Draw the tiger out, separate it from the mountain."
Draw the enemy out of their stronghold or territory before attack.
16) Dục Cầm Cố Túng (欲擒故縱) - "Want to capture, need to release."
Let loose of the enemy then capture them later. Letting them loose will either wear down their will or gain their trust, which helps in the ensuing battles.
17) Phao Chuyên Dẫn Ngọc (拋磚引玉) - "Toss away a pebble, get a jade."
Bait the enemy with something small to get a larger return. Get the enemy believe that they will gain something when in fact they will lose something else, more valuable, later.
18) Cầm Tặc Cầm Vương (擒賊擒王) - "To capture the enemy, capture the king."
Eliminate the leader to eliminate the enemy. Kill the snake by cutting off its head.
Chapter 4: Hỗn Chiến Kế (混 戰 計) - Tactics during chaos
19) Phủ Để Trừu Tâm (釜底抽薪) - "Remove the firewood from under the pot."
Cut off the enemy's supply and morale.
20) Hỗn Thủy Mạc Ngư (混水摸魚) - "Disturb the water, catch the fish."
Create confusion, then take advantage of the chaos to capture the enemy.
21) Kim Thiền Thoát Xác (金蟬脫殼) - "Cicada sheds shell."
Use disguise to escape from enemy.
22) Quan Môn Tróc Tặng (關門捉賊) - "Close the door, catch the thief."
Corner the enemy, close all their escape routes, and eliminate them.
23) Viễn Giao Cận Công (遠交近攻) - "Far: diplomacy; close: attack."
Make friends with a distant enemy; attack the nearby one.
24) Giả Đạo Phạt Quắc (假道伐虢) - "Borrow road to conquer Quắc."
Form a temporary and fake alliance with an enemy to conquer another, then attack the ally.
Chapter 5: Tịnh Chiến Kế (併 戰 計) - Tactics during calm periods to gain ground
25) Thâu Lương Hoán Trụ (偷梁換柱) - "Get the rotten timber to replace the beam."
Disrupt the enemy's position and formation.
26) Chi Tang Mạ Hòe (指桑罵槐) - "Point at the berry tree to curse the locust tree."
Use indirect confrontation to gain power, trust, or loyalty.
27) Giả Si Bất Điên (假癡不癲) - "Pretend stupidity, but you are not crazy."
Pretent to be a fool; let the enemy underestimate your ability and become overly confident and complacent; then attack.
28) Thượng Ốc Trừu Thê (上屋抽梯) - "Ascend the building, remove the ladder."
Kill the enemy's escape route once you have lured them into position.
29) Thụ Thượng Khai Hoa (樹上開花) - "Flower blossoms on the tree."
Deception through disguise. Disguise something to make the enemy think that it's better than it really is.
30) Phản Khách Vi Chủ (反客為主) - "From guest become host."
Infiltrate the enemy and slowly gain control.
Chapter 6: Bại Chiến Kế (敗 戰 計) - Tactics during defeat
31) Mỹ Nhân Kế (美人計) - "Beautiful person tactic."
Beauty trap. Use beautiful women to distract, divert, and deceive.
32) Không Thành Kế (空城計) - "Empty-castle tactic."
The empty-fort tactic. Deception by counter-psychology. Let the enemy think that they are running into a trap while you are actually defenseless.
33) Phản Gián Kế (反間計) - "Counter-intelligence tactic."
Use counter-intelligence to trick the enemy's intelligence.
34) Khổ Nhục Kế (苦肉計) - "Pain-and-suffering tactic."
Purposely inflict your own wound and suffering to lower the enemy's guard and gain their trust.
35) Liên Hoàn Kế (連環計) - "Continuous tactics."
Use multiple tactics in a series.
36) Tẩu Kế (走計) - "Run tactic."
Retreat and regroup.
This phrase has been immortalized in Chinese literature: "Tam thập lục kế, tẩu vi thượng sách" (三十六計，走為上策, "Thirty six tactics, run is the best").
