Campaigners › Strategists

Sun Wu (Sun Tzu)

Military writer from Qi who, according to the Records of the Grand Historian, presented thirteen chapters on war to King Helu of Wu and served as his general

Also known as Sun Zi · Zhang Qing · Bing Sheng

Roles: StrategistsCommandersPhilosopher / Thinker

Sun Wu was a native of Qi whose story comes mainly from the joint biography of Sunzi and Wu Qi in the Records of the Grand Historian (Shiji); the Zuo Commentary never mentions him. According to the Shiji, he sought an audience with King Helu of Wu, who had read his thirteen chapters on war and asked him to drill the palace women as a test. When they laughed at his orders he executed the king's two favourites who led them, and Helu made him a general. Sima Qian credits him with a share in Wu's victories, when it broke Chu and entered its capital Ying and overawed Qi and Jin. The later Annals of Wu and Yue (Wu Yue chunqiu) adds that Wu Zixu recommended him seven times. Nothing reliable is known of his birth, death or later life. In 1972 bamboo copies of the Sunzi and of Sun Bin's Art of War were found together in a Han tomb at Yinqueshan, Shandong, proving them separate works.

Life and times

UnknownBornZhoulate Spring and Autumn period
UnknownDied

Works

Literature · Prose14
1. The Art of WarZhouSun Wu's thirteen-chapter treatise on strategy, from the late Spring and Autumn state of Wu
2. The Art of War: Strategic AttackZhou
3. The Art of War: Laying PlansZhou
4. The Art of War: Waging WarZhou
5. The Art of War: DispositionsZhou
6. +9 more
Literature · Sayings8
1. Know Yourself and Know Your EnemyZhouIdiom from The Art of War: know yourself and your opponent to act rightly
2. Victorious in a Hundred BattlesZhouIdiom from The Art of War: victorious in every battle
3. In the Same Boat Crossing TogetherZhouIdiom from The Art of War: in the same boat, pulling together
4. Know the Enemy and Know YourselfZhouIdiom from The Art of War: knowing the enemy and oneself, never imperiled
5. Never Imperiled in a Hundred BattlesZhouIdiom from The Art of War: never imperiled in a hundred battles if you know both sides
6. +3 more
  1. Ruler and Ranks of One DesireZhouIdiom from Sunzi's Art of War: an army whose leaders and soldiers want the same thing wins
  2. The Best Warfare Defeats the Enemy's PlansZhouIdiom from Sunzi's Art of War: the highest warfare thwarts plans, the lowest besieges cities
  3. Subdue the Enemy Without a BattleZhouFamous line from Sunzi's Art of War: winning without fighting is the highest skill
Literature · Fables1
1. In the Same Boat, Crossing TogetherZhouPassage in the Art of War: men of Wu and Yue in one boat help each other in a storm