Chi and Cheng

Orthodox strategies (cheng), and unorthodox strategies (chi) is very central to Sun Tzu's thinking. But most readers reduced the concept of chi and cheng to "flanking". While flanking is certainly one way to apply the concept of chi and cheng, it is not the only way. a broader understanding of chi and cheng is warranted.

In general, orthodox simply means "common sense wisdom", or knowledge and insights that everybody knows already. In fact, so well known are those insights and knowledge that they have become commonly mentioned topics in textbooks. Students who graduate with a degree must know those as the minimum base knowledge.

Unorthodox strategies mean unique insights into things that have not been discovered by others. Textbooks don't talk about them because the ideas are so new that even the authors may not have heard of it. They are "unconventional" thinking. In fact, they sometimes defy "conventional wisdom".

One great example of defying conventional wisdom is General Han Shin. Art of War taught that it is disadvantageous to position an army whose back faces the mountain. Yet, General Han Shin did just that, much to the bewilderman of his subordinates. In fact, such a move aroused so much fear in his subordinates that they are almost sure that they will lose and die in the impending battle against the enemy. This mentality is exactly what General Han Shin was counting on because knowing that their positions are so bad that the only way to save their lives is to fight with all the strength that they have, the subordinates and all the soldiers suddenly turned into very fierceful warrios, which took the enemy completely by surprise. The result was that Han Shin's army won the day.

The point of unorthodox strategies is to create an element of surprise. This shouldn't be difficult to grasp. If one is going to attack using the same strategies prescribed in all major military textbooks, the defender will already have been sufficiently prepared. This will dramatically increases the cost of taking on this action. Sun Tzu's Art of War is all about winning at the least cost. So the point of unorthodox strategy is to take the enemy by surprise, so that the enemy is unprepared to respond, making victory cheap.

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Excellent post, chuckiecow.

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chuckiecow,

What are your thoughts about the strategist first master the orthodox, textbook maneuvers before trying to execute the unorthodox, unconventional maneuvers?

I believe doing the basics consistently should work most of the time, but for higher caliber competition, no doubt you'll depend upon the more esoteric to obtain if just a slight advantage.

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chuckiecow,

Now that is a post. The insight in your thoughts are why we are all here. Outstanding!

Engage with the orthodox. Win with unorthodox.

Thanks chuckiecow!!

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Truthseeker


Suffering is the breaking of the shell that encloses our understanding


"Truth is narrowed down and made a plaything for those who are weak, for those who are only momentarily discontented. Truth cannot be brought down; rather the individual must make the effort to ascend to it."

Krishnamurti

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quote:

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Originally posted by sonshi
chuckiecow,

What are your thoughts about the strategist first master the orthodox, textbook maneuvers before trying to execute the unorthodox, unconventional maneuvers?

I believe doing the basics consistently should work most of the time, but for higher caliber competition, no doubt you'll depend upon the more esoteric to obtain if just a slight advantage.

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quote:

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Originally posted by Truthseeker
chuckiecow,

Now that is a post. The insight in your thoughts are why we are all here. Outstanding!

Engage with the orthodox. Win with unorthodox.

Thanks chuckiecow!!

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Thanks for your compliments, Truth. I need that to get the courage to write more in the future

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quote:

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Originally posted by Truthseeker
chuckiecow,

Engage with the orthodox. Win with unorthodox.

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__________________
Respectfully Yours,


{* CARDINAL999 *}

"In the Field of Observation, Fortune Favors the Prepared (and the Bold)."

"The stillness in stillness is not the true stillness; only when there is stillness in motion does the universal rhythm manifest." - Old Daoist Text

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I agree with you as far as appearing orthodox and then becoming unorthodox to seize advantages. This is also a matter of being formless and knowing when its favorable to be each.

I believe in government this is definitely a huge part of the game that politicians play appearing one way then doing something else.

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Process Precedes Performance

quote:

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Originally posted by Hazard
I agree with you as far as appearing orthodox and then becoming unorthodox to seize advantages. This is also a matter of being formless and knowing when its favorable to be each.

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__________________
Respectfully Yours,


{* CARDINAL999 *}

"In the Field of Observation, Fortune Favors the Prepared (and the Bold)."

"The stillness in stillness is not the true stillness; only when there is stillness in motion does the universal rhythm manifest." - Old Daoist Text

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quote:

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Originally posted by Hazard
I agree with you as far as appearing orthodox and then becoming unorthodox to seize advantages.

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__________________
nils zilch
game designer
www.zilchgames.net

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quote:

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Originally posted by zilchgames
it is important to know what the opponent considers orthodox, orthodox and unorthodox are not set and are as fickle as fashion.
...if you know your opponet and know your self...

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__________________
Respectfully Yours,


{* CARDINAL999 *}

"In the Field of Observation, Fortune Favors the Prepared (and the Bold)."

"The stillness in stillness is not the true stillness; only when there is stillness in motion does the universal rhythm manifest." - Old Daoist Text

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Orthodox and Unorthodox can be seen very clearly in professional Chess games. Up to the first twenty moves (no joke) nowadays are already prepared openings. Everyone knows the openings, but it is the novel plays that catch players off guard. Who strikes the first blow is not nearly as important who strikes the last. It is in the last few moves of Chess that the really unique maneuvers are played out, and this is because this is the only time that anything surprising or unexpected can happen, and it is the surprising and unexpected that make up Unorthodox.

Orthodox is a product of Crystallized intelligence (knowledge, experience etc.) and Unorthodox is a product of Fluid intelligence (ingenuity, creativity, etc.). Cystallized (Orthodox) tends to be a science anyone can learn, but Fluid (Unorthodox) is an art that is different for everyone.

"The method to his madness is to decieve everyone into believing there is a method to his madness, causing them to believe they know what to expect when they really have no clue." -Anonymous.

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"It is the things eternal that count in the end."
-Ghandi

"When all else fails, follow the directions."

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quote:

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Originally posted by Theophilite
Orthodox and Unorthodox can be seen very clearly in professional Chess games. Up to the first twenty moves (no joke) nowadays are already prepared openings. Everyone knows the openings, but it is the novel plays that catch players off guard. Who strikes the first blow is not nearly as important who strikes the last. It is in the last few moves of Chess that the really unique maneuvers are played out, and this is because this is the only time that anything surprising or unexpected can happen, and it is the surprising and unexpected that make up Unorthodox.

Orthodox is a product of Crystallized intelligence (knowledge, experience etc.) and Unorthodox is a product of Fluid intelligence (ingenuity, creativity, etc.). Cystallized (Orthodox) tends to be a science anyone can learn, but Fluid (Unorthodox) is an art that is different for everyone.

"The method to his madness is to decieve everyone into believing there is a method to his madness, causing them to believe they know what to expect when they really have no clue." -Anonymous.

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__________________
Respectfully Yours,


{* CARDINAL999 *}

"In the Field of Observation, Fortune Favors the Prepared (and the Bold)."

"The stillness in stillness is not the true stillness; only when there is stillness in motion does the universal rhythm manifest." - Old Daoist Text

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Re: Process Precedes Performance

quote:

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Originally posted by Cardinal999
General Approach
1. Be formless
2. Read the situation
3. Assess the +'s and -'s of the situation.
4. Determine the approach of orthodox and unorthodox.
5. Implement the approach

Is this what you are saying?

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