36 Stratagems. The Secret Book of Military Tactics

Stratagem is a certain algorithm of behavior, a calculated sequence of actions aimed at achieving a hidden goal or solving a task, taking into account the psychology of the object, its position, the situation, and other features of the situation. This concept has existed in Chinese culture for at least three thousand years.

It is impossible to pinpoint the exact date of the compilation of these stratagems. The book can roughly be dated to the Ming dynasty, although it does not indicate either an author or a date. Authorship has been attributed at different times to Sun Tzu (the Spring and Autumn period) and Zhuge Liang (the Three Kingdoms). Most modern scholars lean towards the view that the treatise emerged from oral and written traditions and has many variants and authors.