Sun Tzu (pronounced “Suen Dzu”) was a Chinese military general, strategist, and philosopher who lived in the 6th century BC.
Sun Tzu was born between 544 BC and 542 BC in what is now Shandong Province in China. He died around 496 BC during the Spring and Autumn period. His birth name was Sun Wu (“Master Sun”) and he was known outside his family by his courtesy name Changqing (“Eternal Youth”).
The Art of War is one of the oldest books on military strategy in the world. It is said to have been written during China’s Spring and Autumn Period some time between 500 BC to 300 BC.
Sun Tzu’s work has been praised and employed from ancient times to the present day. During the twentieth century, The Art of War grew in popularity and saw practical use in Asian countries and the West because of its uniqueness. As such, Sun Tzu is commonly considered to be one of the most influential war strategists in world history.
As with many ancient texts, it is difficult to determine if Sun Tzu existed as a real figure or not. Those who believe he did exist point to references in older writings such as Spring and Autumn Annals; however, others dispute this claim by pointing out that these references are unreliable at best (as they were historically written by Confucian scholars).
Regardless of whether or not Sun Tzu existed as a real person, his philosophies have had a profound impact on how leaders view warfare throughout history.
