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Chinese "Thirty-six Stratagems" helps countless politicians, businessmen and military experts make their names thoughout the world.

There are morning, afternoon and evening in one day. We have morning papers, noon papers and evening papers. There are 24 hours in one day. We have radio and TV broadcast all the time. What's more, the Internet is indeed a comprehensive ghost which pokes into every nook and corner. All these show that:

We are in an age when the information explodes.

It is information that influences the decision in foreign affairs by determining whether to make a compromise or be obedient.

It is information that makes contribution to super richness and extreme poverty.

Is is safe to say that the amount of information you obtain is crucial to your survival and success in the fierce competition. In this modern society, those who do not attach enough importance or have adequate access to information are bound to be out of date or suffer from punishment or even be sifted out.

Wasn't there any information in the ancient times? Definitely yes. All that people see and hear or is conveyed by characters fall into the category of information.

Didn't our ancestors give information its due weight? Definitely yes. As has always been the case, the elites were those who valued information.

Being brave, hard-working and intelligent, Chinese people have perceived the importance of information for quite a long time. 2,500 years ago in the Spring and Autumn Period, the famous military expert Sun Wu pointed out that "Know the enemy and know yourself, and you can fight a hundred battles with no danger of defeat". (Stratagems for Attack of Sun Zi) This expression was well-known because of its later interpretation; "To know one's own strength and the enemy's is the sure way to victory." It means that a thorough grasp of one's information as well as the enemy's is invincible.

Thirty-six Stratagems is a military masterpiece which embodies the value of information. All the stratagems introduce the tactics that contribute to the success not ony in superiority, but also in parity or inferiority. To guarantee success, information of both sides must be used as a basis not only to make best use of the advantages and bypass the disadvantages but to convert the inferiority to superiority. In this process, information is the key.

Thirty-six Stratagems first appeared in our ancestors' works. In Nan Qi Shu, there is "thirty-six tactics". In Song Dynasty, Hui Hong referred it as "thirty-six stratagems" in Leng Zhai Ye Hua, where the name of the book Thirty-six Stratagems is from. However, Nan Qi Shu and Leng Zhai Ye Hua only mentioned one stratagem - Retreat. Other thirty-five stratagems were not listed.

Most of the names of the thirty-six stratagems are from the idioms, allusions and tactics circulated among the people. It seems that they were not all given by the writer.

The original text is quite simple. Besides, the use of The Book of Changes to discuss military affairs is far too dull. It was influenced by the social atmosphere in the time when the book was written (in the later period of Ming Dynasty and earlier period of Qing Dynasty). Luckily, examples in the comments make up for the shortage.

Thirty-six Stratagems absorbs the cumulated military theories from ancient China and conveys successful experience due to the value of information and laws in a condensed and concise way. Moreover, the name of the book, which is a household name, promotes the book and enhances the influence.

Military masterpiece as it is, Thirty-six Stratagems has more tan military values and significance. It makes clear the truth that is of universal significance, such as the value of and respect for information, which can benefit readers of every profession and trade.

Whether you are a student, a graduate or a professional, whether you are in favorable or adverse circumstances, the value of information and the respect of laws expressed in this book can enlighten and encourage you to grasp the nature of the current situation and set up desirable confidence to gain victory by knowing one's own strength and the enemy's. Of course, if you are serving the army, you can obtain direct benefits from this book and fulfill better your holy and glorious mission.

One thing should be pointed out clearly. Thirty-six Stratagems has the victory as its utmost aim. The thought that deceit is not to be despised in war is rooted deeply in this book. Therefore, when applying the essence of the Thirty-six Stratagems, i.e. the universal truth contained in this book, be sure to absorb what is good and reject what is bad.