- This article is about the military strategist Sun Tzu. For the mathematician of the same name, see
Sun Tzu (mathematician)
.
Sun Tzu
(544
BC
? 496 BC) also called
Sun Wu
, was an
ancient Chinese
general
,
military
expert
, and
philosopher
. He is widely believed to have been the
writer
of the most important work of
military strategy
and
theory
,
The Art of War
.
[1]
His name means "Master Sun". His family name is Sun, Tzu is an
honorific
(title of respect) meaning "master."
Most of what is known about Sun Tzu comes from
Ssu-ma Ch'ien
's
Shih chi
, also called the
Records of the Grand Historian
.
[2]
According to Ssu-ma, Sun Tzu lived during the
era
called the Spring and Autumn Period of China
[3]
(770 to 476
BC
).
Sun Tzu was born in the State of Qi (now
Shandong
Province
).
[4]
This is according to the Records of the Grand Historians. However, the
Spring and Autumn Annals of Wu and Yueh
claim he was born in Wu.
[2]
Sun Tzu lived during the turbulent period of the late
Chou dynasty
. He grew up in a military family and he studied
military science
.
[4]
Not much is known about his childhood or early life. It is known that at some point in his life he became known as a great general and a military strategist.
[5]
He became a general for King Helu of Wu.
[6]
Sun Tzu won
battles
by not actually fighting his
enemy
if it was unnecessary.
[7]
He recommended
spies
,
deception
and a
commander
having complete control of his
soldiers
.
[7]
When he fought, he understood
warfare
better than most of his
opponents
.
[7]
Sun Tzu learned to win battles with the least loss of his own men.
Many
historians
believe he was the
victor
at the Battle of Boju in 506 BC.
[9]
The great historian
Sima Qian
(145/135?86 BC), writer of
Shiji
(Historical Record), called Sun Tzu an exceptional strategic battlefield commander.
[10]
He also said Sun Tzu was both flexible and had unlimited surprises for his enemies.
[10]
Sima Qian wrote that in his nearly 40 years as a general, Sun Tzu never lost a battle, a
campaign
or a
war
.
[10]
The Art of War
was one of the earliest books on Chinese warfare. It remains one of the best known and most
influential
books ever written.
[5]
The book was widely copied in the ancient world. An early copy was discovered in 1972.
[1]
It was written on
bamboo
slats that were
sewn
together.
[1]
It became known in the
Western world
during the late
18th century
.
[11]
It was translated to
English
only in the
20th century
.
[11]
At that time the rules for warfare were based on
chivalry
. War was the
sport
of rich
noblemen
.
[12]
Sun Tzu refused to see war as a sport.
[12]
He used Taoist
principles
and applied them to warfare.
[12]
In doing so, he changed the rules of war. Unlike generals who enjoyed long campaigns, he understood that war is serious. Sun Tzu believed that once a war started, the
goal
was to defeat the enemy.
[12]
Sun Tzu was
unconventional
in that he did not follow the prevailing
wisdom
of his time. Other generals were simply unprepared for Sun Tzu's
tactics
.
“
|
All warfare is based on deception. Hence, when able to attack, we must seem unable; when using our forces, we must seem inactive; when we are near, we must make the enemy believe we are away; when far away, we must make him believe we are near. Hold out baits to entice the enemy. Feign disorder, and crush him.
[13]
|
”
|
For at least the last 2000 years, Sun Tzu has had a tremendous influence on military thinking. The Art of War is credited by
Mao Zedong
as having helped him defeat
Chiang Kai-Shek
in the
Chinese Civil War
.
[14]
Ho Chi Minh
was a fan of Sun Tzu. He led the
Communist
Vietnamese
in their fight against
American
-backed
South Vietnam
.
[14]
The American generals
Norman Schwarzkopf, Jr.
and
Colin Powell
followed Sun Tzu's principles during the
Gulf War
.
[14]
“
|
If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a
defeat
. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will
succumb
(lose) in every battle.
[8]
|
”
|
- ↑
1.0
1.1
1.2
"Sun Tzu"
. Totallyhistory.com. April 8, 2013
. Retrieved
July 19,
2015
.
- ↑
2.0
2.1
"WHO WAS SUN TZU?"
. Sonshi.com
. Retrieved
July 19,
2015
.
- ↑
"Sun Tzu"
. Simply Knowledge/Aatman Innovations Pvt. Ltd
. Retrieved
July 19,
2015
.
- ↑
4.0
4.1
Dorothy Perkins,
Encyclopedia of China: History and Culture
(Ambigndon, OX; New York: Routledge, 2013), p. 496
- ↑
5.0
5.1
"Sun Tzu and The Art of War"
. AncientMilitary.com
. Retrieved
July 19,
2015
.
- ↑
"Sun Tzu Biography"
. Famous People
. Retrieved
July 19,
2015
.
- ↑
7.0
7.1
7.2
"Sun Tzu's Art of War"
. Single Step Media. Archived from
the original
on February 29, 2016
. Retrieved
July 19,
2015
.
- ↑
8.0
8.1
Eric Jackson (May 23, 2014).
"Sun Tzu's 31 Best Pieces Of Leadership Advice"
.
Forbes
. Retrieved
July 19,
2015
.
- ↑
Joshua J. Mark (January 4, 2013).
"Sun-Tzu"
. Ancient History Encyclopedia Limited
. Retrieved
July 19,
2015
.
- ↑
10.0
10.1
10.2
China’s Many Dreams: Comparative Perspectives on China’s Search for National Rejuvenation
, ed. David Kerr (New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2015), p. 208
- ↑
11.0
11.1
"Sun Tzu"
. History/A&E Television Networks, LLC
. Retrieved
July 19,
2015
.
- ↑
12.0
12.1
12.2
12.3
"Sun-Tzu"
. Ancient History Encyclopedia Limited
. Retrieved
July 5,
2015
.
- ↑
"Sun Tzu Quotes ? The Art of War"
. Military-Quotes.com
. Retrieved
July 19,
2015
.
- ↑
14.0
14.1
14.2
"The Art of War"
. History.com/A&E Television Networks, LLC
. Retrieved
July 5,
2015
.
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