Use when deciding whether to launch a military campaign or evaluating battle readiness. Applies Sun Wu's advice to King Helu of Wu: assess troop fatigue (民劳), alliance potential, enemy leadership weaknesses, and multi-pronged coordination.
Use when applying disciplined archery in combat or hunting. Prioritizes shot certainty over volume of fire, conserving ammunition and maximizing psychological impact through patience and precise target assessment.
Use when planning or conducting the Fengshan ceremony (封禅仪式) to legitimize imperial rule. Covers legitimacy requirements, material preparations, the four-phase ritual at Mount Tai, and historical precedents from 无怀氏 through 周成王.
Use when interpreting celestial phenomena for governance guidance or predicting earthly events. Tracks the five planets (五星) against 28 constellations (二十八宿) and applies the response framework: 日变脩德, 月变省刑, 星变结和.
Use when deploying music as a governance tool (乐治) to influence social behavior or diagnose political health. Maps the six emotional responses to sound qualities and the five tones (宫商角徵羽) to organs and virtues.
Use when a small force encounters a much larger enemy and retreat means destruction. Employs psychological deception by advancing, dismounting, and displaying calm to convince the enemy of a hidden ambush, forcing withdrawal.
Use when analyzing Xiongnu governance cycles. Covers the three annual assemblies (正月 court, 五月 Longcheng worship, autumn Dailin census), daily solar/lunar rituals, and meeting protocols for tribal administration.
Use when defending a small force surrounded by superior numbers. Employs circular formation, ammunition conservation, targeted strikes on enemy commanders, and aggressive sorties to maintain morale until relief arrives.
Use when captured by enemy forces and seeking to escape. Involves feigning death or injury, observing guards and resources, then seizing a sudden opportunity to commandeer a horse and flee to friendly territory.
Use when commanding infantry-heavy forces against cavalry on flat terrain. Prioritizes speed over siege warfare, bypasses fortified cities, and seizes strategic objectives (armories like Luoyang武库, granaries like Ao) to neutralize cavalry advantages.
Use when regaining authority over those who wronged you. Demonstrates magnanimity through measured threats, acceptance of contrition, and strategic forgiveness to convert former enemies into loyal supporters.
Use when navigating a hostile banquet, diplomatic ambush, or dangerous political gathering. Guides escape from the Hongmen Banquet (鸿门宴) scenario using alliances, deference, and covert withdrawal.
Use when establishing social order through ritual principles (礼治) or regulating desires to prevent chaos. Implements the three-step framework: cultivate the self, establish distinctions (贵贱有等), and balance restraint with satisfaction.
Use when persuading a superior to reverse hostility toward an ally. Combines emotional appeal, intermediary strategy, and evidence of loyalty to reframe grievances and restore relations.
Use when competing against more established figures for leadership positions. Advances career through strategic yielding—publicly advocating for the rival while securing an alternative position of equal authority (e.g., Chancellor vs. Grand Commandant).
Use when facing public criticism or accusations in a political or organizational context. Guides officials to preserve reputation through humble acknowledgment, symbolic authority surrender, and strategic resignation offers rather than retaliation.
Use when assessing foreign state stability, predicting political upheaval, or advising allies on self-preservation. Follows Ji Zha's diplomatic mission model across Qi, Zheng, Wei, and Jin to evaluate leadership and identify safe havens.
Use when a powerful subordinate has shown disloyalty but direct confrontation is too costly. Based on Emperor Wen's handling of Wu Wang, employs symbolic honors, face-saving exits, and indirect acknowledgment of grievances to reduce tensions.
Use when submitting appeals or petitions to imperial authority on behalf of someone facing punishment. Covers concealing intentions, secret departure, formal petition drafting, direct audience requests, and presenting mitigating arguments.
Use when mobilizing troops, establishing military authority, or enforcing battlefield discipline. Covers the ritualized oath procedure with 黄钺 and 白旄 symbols, troop assembly, consequence announcements, and campaign execution.
Use when deciding whether to honor agreements made under duress or coercion. Applies Duke Huan of Qi's model: fulfilling coerced promises to build long-term diplomatic credibility rather than seeking short-term revenge (愈一小快耳).
Use when performing pulse examination (脉诊) to determine organ pathology and prognosis. Covers the three positions (寸关尺), three depths of pressure (浮中沉), eight pulse qualities, and seasonal correlation as practiced by Bian Que and Cang Gong.
Use when performing a comprehensive Traditional Chinese Medicine diagnosis. Applies the 四诊 framework (望诊 observation, 闻诊 listening/smelling, 问诊 inquiry, 切诊 pulse) to achieve pattern differentiation (辨证) and treatment planning.
Use when screening patients before committing treatment resources. Applies Bian Que's 六不治 framework to identify six incurable conditions (arrogance, greed, poor self-care, yin-yang chaos, extreme weakness, trust in shamans over physicians).
