The Thirty-Six Strategies is originally a collection of ancient Chinese strategies applied to military engagement. Today, many people use this ancient 【小题1】 (wise) in business, sports as well as their daily life, often through unconventional means.

But the origins of the Thirty-Six Strategies are unknown. No author or compiler has ever been mentioned, and no date 【小题2】 it may have been written has been confirmed. The first historical mention of the Thirty-Six Strategies 【小题3】 (date) back to the Southern Chi Dynasty (AD 489-537) where it is mentioned in the History of the Southern Chi Dynasty. It 【小题4】 (brief) records, “Of the 36 strategies of Master Tan, 【小题5】 (run) away is the best." Master Tan may be the famous general Tan Daoji (AD 436) but there is no evidence to prove 【小题6】 (he) authorship.

All modern versions of the Thirty-Six Strategies are originated from a ragged book 【小题7】 (discover) at a roadside vendor’s stall in Szechwan in 1941. It turned out to be a reprint of an earlier book traced back to 【小题8】 late Ming or early Ching Dynasty. A reprint was first published 【小题9】 the general public in Beijing in 1979. Since then, several Chinese and English language versions 【小题10】 (publish) in China mainland, Hong Kong and Taiwan.

2024 marks the 940th anniversary (周年纪念) of the birth of Li Qingzhao (1084-1155), one of the best-known female 【小题1】 (writer) in Chinese history. 【小题2】 (honor) the famous Song Dynasty (960—1279) poetess, the first International Qingzhao Poetry and Arts Festival will be held between June 20 and 27 at the poet’s birthplace, today’s Zhangqiu district of Jinan in Shandong province.

Themed on “What Springs Forth”, the week-long event will take place at the Zhangqiu Mingshui Ancient City, a 【小题3】 (new) opened tourist destination where Li’s former residence is located, with dozens of springs gushing (涌出) all year round.

During the festival, famous poets, artists, critics and translators from home 【小题4】 abroad will gather at the ancient city to join in a wide variety of activities. With a focus on 【小题5】 (fresh), experimentation and futurism, the festival’s organizing committee has designed 【小题6】 series of programs for young people. For example, two poetry awards for young poets and university students will 【小题7】 (present) after careful selection.

“Regarding the young poet awards, we should use our judging process to discover and reward those 【小题8】 have true breakthroughs in concepts, aesthetics, language, and even 【小题9】terms of the relationship between poetry and society,” said the festival’s academic director Jiang Tao.

Meanwhile, international poets and translators will be invited to attend the festival, and translation workshops aimed at 【小题10】 (promote) translation between Chinese poetry and poetry of foreign languages will be held during the event.