Sun Tzu

Lore & Background

The earliest account of Sun Tzu's life is a short biography in Shiji (Records of the Grand Historian) written around 97 BC by Sima Qian. It states that Sun Tzu was born in Qi (now in modern Shandong) near the end of the Spring and Autumn period (776–471 BC), and had the courtesy name of 'Wu.' The biography recounts how King Helü of Wu summoned Sun Tzu to train his harem of 180 concubines into soldiers; when the concubines laughed at orders, Sun Tzu executed the two favorites, after which the rest obeyed. He then led Wu to victory against Chu at the Battle of Boju in 506 BC. However, some scholars consider the biography 'essentially fictional,' and the Zuo Zhuan, which provides a more detailed account of the battle, does not mention Sun Tzu at all.

Beginning in the 12th century, Chinese scholars doubted Sun Tzu's historical existence. The name 'Sun Wu' does not appear in any text prior to the Records of the Grand Historian, and may have been an invented descriptive cognomen. Anachronisms in The Art of War—such as crossbows and professional generals—suggest the text dates to the Warring States period, not Sun Tzu's lifetime. The discovery of bamboo slips in 1972 at Yinque Shan in Shandong, sealed between 134 and 118 BC, contained about one-third of the modern text, confirming its later composition. Another text found there, Sun Bin's Military Methods, was attributed to a descendant of Sun Wu, and some historians now believe Sun Bin may have been the actual historical figure behind the 'Sun Tzu' legend.

Reader's Guide

Sun Tzu's Art of War has influenced many notable figures and is accepted as a masterpiece on strategy. It was one of the most widely read military treatises in the subsequent Warring States period, a time of constant war among seven ancient Chinese states. For almost 1,500 years, it was the lead text in an anthology formalized as the Seven Military Classics by Emperor Shenzong of Song in 1080. The work remains the most influential strategy text in East Asian warfare. The Art of War is composed of 13 chapters, each devoted to a different set of skills or arts related to warfare and how they apply to military strategy and tactics. It outlines theories of battle but also advocates diplomacy and the cultivation of relationships with other nations as essential to the health of a state. Taoist rhetoric is incorporated into the text, with warfare used as a metaphor for persuasion, emphasizing frugal behavior, avoiding confrontation, and being spiritual in nature. The legacy of Sun Tzu is complicated by historical uncertainty: the earliest parts of The Art of War probably date to at least a century after his traditional lifetime, and the figure of Sun Tzu may have been partly invented or conflated with his descendant Sun Bin. Nonetheless, the text attributed to him has shaped military and strategic thought for over two millennia.

Did You Know?

• Sun Tzu's birth name was said to be Sun Wu, and he is posthumously known by his courtesy name Changqing.
• The earliest account of Sun Tzu's life is a short biography in Shiji written around 97 BC by Sima Qian.
• The Zuo Zhuan, which provides a much more detailed account of the Battle of Boju, does not mention Sun Tzu at all.
• A 1972 discovery of bamboo slips at Yinque Shan in Shandong contained about one-third of the modern The Art of War, sealed between 134 and 118 BC.

Notable Quotes (Wikiquote)

"Original text in Traditional American wikisource:zh:孫子兵法, English translation wikisource:The Art of War (Sun) by w:Lionel Giles." — Sun Tzu "The art of war is of vital importance to the State. It is a matter of life and death, a road either to safety or to ruin. Hence it is a subject of inquiry which can on no account be neglected." — Sun Tzu "A military operation involves deception. Even though you are competent, appear to be incompetent. Though effective, appear to be ineffective." — Sun Tzu "Note: "If his forces are united, separate them" is also interpreted: "If sovereign and subject are in accord, put division between them." — Sun Tzu