The Art of War is an enduring classic that holds a special place in the culture and history of East Asia. An ancient Chinese text on the philosophy and politics of warfare and military strategy, the treatise was written in 6th century B.C. By a warrior-philosopher now famous all over the world as Sun Tzu. Sun Tzu’s teachings remain as relevant to leaders and strategists today as they were to rulers and military generals in ancient times. Divided into thirteen chapters and written succinctly, the art of War is a must-read for anybody who works in a competitive environment.
About the Author
Sun Tzus exact year of birth is as mysterious as his war strategies: Written records do not exist. However, an erudite but vague ancient Chinese text called Shiji or Records of the Grand Historians claims, Sun Tzu lived in an era called as The Spring and Autumn Period of China, dated between 770BC and 476BC. His true identity remains unknown. The name Sun Tzu means Grand Master, in ancient Han Chinese.
Modern day historians who studied The Art of War deduce the book was completed between 470BC and 220BC- based on various features such as the type of weaponry used and writing style, among others. It is therefore likely that Sun Tzu was born around 450BC and lived up to 380BC. During these years called Era of the Warring States, China witnessed unprecedented political and social upheavals due to small kingdoms and territories incessantly battling one-another to expand their dominions. They attribute this loss of records related to Sun Tzus birth and other details to this turmoil.
Despite, historians have laboriously compiled a sketch of what Sun Tzus life would have possibly been, using advanced translation technologies coupled with extensive studies into ancient China and its culture.
Historians, military analysts, psychologists and history enthusiasts agree that Sun Tzu was a Chinese general who served as a war strategist and military leader during the reign of King He Lu, the ruler of the Wu state, around 470BC.
Sun Tzu, historians assume, was born in the city called Qi, in Wu state of ancient China. Details including his parentage, childhood, education, family life and rise to prominence as a general and military strategist par excellence, various other aspects of life remain shrouded in mystery. Modern day Chinese historians and their counterparts across the globe continue to piece Sun Tzus biography to date, with limited success. Translations of Sun Tzus works began about 300 years ago and are ongoing.
Ancient Chinese historian and chronicler, Suma Qian, in his The Records of the Grand Historians, cites the Era of the Warring States, wider acceptance of Taoism and military expediency as the three precursors that impelled Sun Tzu to devise and later, author The Art of War. During this extremely turbulent period, the seven main kingdoms of ancient China, the Jin, Chu, Qin, Qi, Wei, Yue and Wu were at loggerheads. These kingdoms, along with their vassal states, attacked one-another to win large swathes of territory to unify China under their influence.
Sun Tzu is said to have began his military career as an ordinary soldier in the army of King He Lu of Wu, whose state was among ones frequently at war.
Despite his young age, he rose through the rank and file of the Wu army and attained some of the highest positions in the military echelons. A tested and efficient strategy utilized by Sun Tzu was to learn the vulnerability of foes and the extent of their tactical disadvantages. The opportunity to secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands, but the opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself, he said. This profound observation culminated into several war victories for Sun Tzu.
