Sun Tzu
traditionally 544–496 BC · Ancient Chinese general and strategist traditionally credited with The Art of War.
Sun Tzu, meaning 'Master Sun', is the honorific name of a Chinese general and strategist traditionally credited with writing The Art of War, a short classic on military strategy. Very little is known about him for certain. The earliest account of his life is a brief biography written around 97 BC by the Han dynasty historian Sima Qian, which says that his name was Sun Wu, that he was born in the state of Qi, in what is now Shandong, and that he served King Helü of Wu as a general. Traditional histories date his life to about 544–496 BC. According to the story, the king tested him by asking him to drill the palace women as soldiers. Many modern scholars consider this biography largely legendary, and the earliest parts of The Art of War probably date to at least a century after the time given for him. The book teaches that the best victory is won without fighting, and stresses planning, deception and knowing both oneself and one's enemy.
Sun Tzu is also an author in the library: author page and works.
Faith: Faith not well documented. Source: Wikipedia
Key dates
- c. 544 BC Traditional date of birth
- c. 496 BC Traditional date of death
- c. 97 BC Sima Qian writes his biography
Read about them
Grades 9–12
- The Art of War · In the library
More lives
Alexander the Great · Aristotle · Julius Caesar · Cicero · Confucius · Epictetus
Notes: Sun Tzu is known mainly from Sima Qian's brief and possibly legendary biography; the dates 544–496 BC are traditional, and scholars doubt that he wrote The Art of War in its present form.