Who was Sun Tzu?
Sun Tzu (孙子, sunzi, pronounced shwun-zuh) means Master Sun. Thus, Sun was his family name and Tzu is an honorary title. His given name was Wu.
(Therefore, it's incorrect to refer to him as Mr. Tzu, which is a common mistake many people make. It's Mr. Sun, or more accurately, Master Sun, which is the literal rendering of Sun Tzu.)
You will also often see "Sunzi." This is a newer transliteration and closer in pronunciation of Sun Tzu using the Pin-yin transcription system implemented by China's government in 1958. "Sun Tzu" is from the Wade-Giles system created by Thomas Wade in 1867. Much like Kongzi's latinized name Confucius, the name Sun Tzu is ubiquitous and recognizable in many English-speaking countries.
According to Ssu-ma Ch'ien's Shih chi, also called the Records of the Grand Historian, Sun Tzu was a Chinese military general during the Spring and Autumn period (722-481 BC). The Spring and Autumn Annals of Wu and Yueh confirms this account except it claims he originates from the state of Wu, not Ch'i. Traditional scholars surmise he lived from 544 BC to 496 BC.
Sun Tzu wrote the earliest -- and still the most revered -- military treatise in the world. This masterpiece is best known to most of us as The Art of War. Since naming a written work after its author was customary in early China, the text was originally referred to as simply "Sun Tzu." We sometimes use the terms "Sun Tzu" and "The Art of War" interchangeably.
The Spring and Autumn Annals of Wu and Yueh states:
(Therefore, it's incorrect to refer to him as Mr. Tzu, which is a common mistake many people make. It's Mr. Sun, or more accurately, Master Sun, which is the literal rendering of Sun Tzu.)
You will also often see "Sunzi." This is a newer transliteration and closer in pronunciation of Sun Tzu using the Pin-yin transcription system implemented by China's government in 1958. "Sun Tzu" is from the Wade-Giles system created by Thomas Wade in 1867. Much like Kongzi's latinized name Confucius, the name Sun Tzu is ubiquitous and recognizable in many English-speaking countries.
According to Ssu-ma Ch'ien's Shih chi, also called the Records of the Grand Historian, Sun Tzu was a Chinese military general during the Spring and Autumn period (722-481 BC). The Spring and Autumn Annals of Wu and Yueh confirms this account except it claims he originates from the state of Wu, not Ch'i. Traditional scholars surmise he lived from 544 BC to 496 BC.
Sun Tzu wrote the earliest -- and still the most revered -- military treatise in the world. This masterpiece is best known to most of us as The Art of War. Since naming a written work after its author was customary in early China, the text was originally referred to as simply "Sun Tzu." We sometimes use the terms "Sun Tzu" and "The Art of War" interchangeably.
The Spring and Autumn Annals of Wu and Yueh states:
Sun Tzu, whose name was Wu, was a native of Wu. He excelled at military strategy but dwelled in secrecy far away from civilization, so ordinary people did not know of his ability. Wu Tzu-hsu [King Ho-lu's advisor], himself enlightened, wise, and skilled in discrimination, knew Sun Tzu could penetrate and destroy the enemy. One morning when he was discussing military affairs he recommended Sun Tzu seven times. King Ho-lu said: "Since you have found an excuse to advance this shih, I want to have him brought in." He questioned Sun Tzu about military strategy, and each time that he laid out a section of his book the king could not praise him enough. |
Skilled and experienced in warfare matters during a time of unprecedented political and military turmoil, Sun Tzu validated his words with results. When asked by King Ho-lu whether the book's principles can be applied to anyone, Sun Tzu replied, "Yes." As proof of his competency and to confirm his principles' effectiveness, he successfully transformed 180 court women into trained soldiers in one session.
With Sun Tzu as general, King Ho-lu captured the capital city of Ying to defeat the powerful Ch'u state in 506 BC. He then headed north and subdued the states of Ch'i and Chin. Not surprisingly, Sun Tzu's name quickly spread throughout the land and among the feudal lords.
The Hsun-tzu states:
With Sun Tzu as general, King Ho-lu captured the capital city of Ying to defeat the powerful Ch'u state in 506 BC. He then headed north and subdued the states of Ch'i and Chin. Not surprisingly, Sun Tzu's name quickly spread throughout the land and among the feudal lords.
The Hsun-tzu states:
What the military esteems is seizing advantage; what it practices is change and deception. One who excels at employing the military responds precipitously, distantly, and darkly. No one knows from where he goes forth. When Sun Tzu and Wu Tzu employed them, they had no enemies under Heaven. |
How Sun Tzu later lived or died is unknown. However, the Yueh Chueh Shu declared "ten miles outside the city gate of Wu Hsieh, there is a large tomb of the great strategist Sun Tzu." By the Han dynasty, his reputation as a wise and respected military leader was established and well-known. Considering the countless texts lost or destroyed throughout China's history, the remarkable survival and relevancy of Sun Tzu's Art of War to this very day attest to its immeasurable value.