14 Facts About Sun Tzu

Sun Tzu was a Chinese military general, strategist, philosopher, and writer who lived during the Eastern Zhou period.

Sun Tzu is traditionally credited as the author of The Art of War, an influential work of military strategy that has affected both Western and East Asian philosophy and military thought.

Sun Tzu is revered in Chinese and East Asian culture as a legendary historical and military figure.

Sun Tzu mastered the military science of ancient China and created the military doctrine of asymmetrical warfare.

Traditional accounts state that the general's descendant Sun Bin wrote a treatise on military tactics, titled The Art of War.

Sun Tzu's work has been praised and employed throughout the arc of East Asian military history since its composition, and eventually earned global attention.

The Spring and Autumn Annals and Sima Qian's later Records of the Grand Historian state that Sun Tzu was born in Qi.

Sun Tzu divided them into two companies, appointing the two concubines most favored by the king as the company commanders.

When Sun Tzu first ordered the concubines to face right, they giggled.

Sun Tzu then ordered the execution of the king's two favored concubines, to the king's protests.

Sun Tzu explained that if the general's soldiers understood their commands but did not obey, it was the fault of the officers.

Sun Tzu said that, once a general was appointed, it was his duty to carry out his mission, even if the king protested.

Sima Qian claimed that Sun Tzu later proved on the battlefield that his theories were effective, that he had a successful military career, and that he wrote The Art of War based on his tested expertise.

Against this, Sawyer argues that the teachings of Sun Tzu Wu were probably taught to succeeding generations in his family or a small school of disciples, which eventually included Sun Tzu Bin.