36 Stratagems. The Secret Book on Military Tactics

Stratagem is a kind of algorithm of behavior, a calculated sequence of actions aimed at achieving a hidden goal or solving a particular task, with mandatory consideration of the psychology of the subject, its position, the situation, and other features... of the context. This concept has existed in Chinese culture for at least three thousand years.
It is impossible to accurately determine the date of creation of this collection of stratagems. The book can approximately be attributed to the Ming dynasty, although there is no indication of either the author or the date. Authorship has been attributed at different times to Sun Tzu (Spring and Autumn period) and Zhuge Liang (Three Kingdoms). Most modern scholars lean towards the view that the treatise emerged from oral and written tradition and has many variants and authors.