Science of Strategy Institute

The final reason that translation is difficult is that it was written in a kind of code. Much of Sun Tzu's writing the relationships of his elements within that system.  The elements of the system are defined primarily not by their essence (as in the Greek view) but by their relationship with other elements. 

Much of his work explain these relationships in a what that can be diagrammed. Think of these diagrams as his equivelent of the periodic table of elements that shows the relationships of elements in modern science. Sun Tzu developed his unique system, basing it on the system used by classical science. This system is largely based on conceptual connections. Man of these relationship read like metaphors but they actually go much deeper. The ancient Chinese scientists and philosophers relied upon the many connections in this system to express complicated ideas without having to explain them in detail.

Sun Tzu's system is less about specific concepts themselves than it is about their relationships with each other. It is less about individual actions than it is about the larger processes in which those actions play a small role. Everything is connected to everything else and systems must be viewed as whole not separate piecves. The Art of War itself doesn't describe these processes in detail, referring just to Sun Tzu's differences with the classical models.

Ancient Chinese science had a system of diagramming that captures relationships and processes. People today may be familiar with Chinese nature diagrams from feng-shui. The Art of War doesn't describe this model itself. The model comes only from studying Chinese culture and history.

Almost all those who have translated Sun Tzu's The Art of War are unaware that this system even exists. The connection between this ancient system and Sun Tzu wasn't made until Gary Gagliardi began diagramming Sun Tzu's system as part of his lectures and writing. It was an audience member who pointed out the connection between his diagrams of Sun Tzu and the ancient Bagua of Chinese science.

It takes an entire book to describe all the relationships in this diagram and their relationships to Sun Tzu's system. Gagliardi created such a work; he replaced the classical elements in traditional diagrams with the elements that Sun Tzu describes, creating the key to transforming a collection of vague aphorisms into a rigorous system. He explained this diagramming first in his award-winning Amazing Secrets book and later in his training seminars.