rendered chinese general military philosopher lived spring autumn period ancient china traditionally credited author art war widely influential work military strategy affected western eastern philosophy aside legacy author art war revered chinese asian culture legendary historical figure birth known outside family courtesy best known west means master sun uncertain traditional historians placed minister king dated lifetime modern scholars accepting nonetheless place existing text art war later states period based style composition descriptions warfare traditional accounts state general descendant wrote treatise military tactics titled art war referred classical chinese texts historians believed identical prior treatise work praised employed composition twentieth century art war grew popularity saw practical use western society continues influence competitive endeavors asia europe america including culture politics business sports modern warfare life oldest available sources disagree born states born later records grand historian states native sources agree born late spring autumn period active general serving king late sixth century beginning victories inspired write art war art war widely read military subsequent period time constant war seven nations han fought control vast fertile territory known stories taken illustrates temperament follows hiring king tested skills commanding train soldiers divided companies appointing favored king company commanders ordered face right response said general case responsible ensuring soldiers understood commands given reiterated command ordered execution king favored king protests explained general soldiers understood commands obey fault officers said general appointed duty carry mission king protested killed new officers chosen replace companies aware costs performed maneuvers claimed later proved battlefield theories effective example battle successful military career wrote art war based tested expertise historical text written centuries earlier provides detailed account mention art war art war traditionally ascribed presents philosophy war managing conflicts winning battles accepted masterpiece strategy frequently cited referred generals published translated distributed internationally numerous theories concerning text completed concerning identity author authors art war taken roughly current form early han impossible prove definitively completed date differing theories concerning work author authors date completion unlikely completely resolved modern scholars believe contains thoughts original author commentary later military military texts written unification china subsequent book burning second century major works survived later song dynasty works combined text collection called central compilation art war formed foundations orthodox military theory early modern china illustrating point book required reading pass tests imperial appointment military positions uses language unusual western text warfare strategy example eleventh chapter states leader capable plans text contains similar remarks long confused western readers lacking awareness east asian context meanings statements interpreted context thought practice viewed ideal general master led art war considered prime example strategy book popular political leaders business management despite title art war addresses strategy broad fashion touching public administration planning text outlines theories battle advocates diplomacy cultivation relationships nations essential health state april han tombs accidentally unearthed construction workers scholars uncovered collection ancient texts written unusually preserved bamboo slips art war han dynasty noted publication extant written descendant sun previously lost work regarded extremely important scholars relationship work addition body military thought chinese late antiquity discovery significantly expanded body surviving military theory treatise known military text surviving period discovered twentieth century bears closest similarity art war surviving texts long debated traditional dating art war existed cite possible historical text book actually compilation different authors military authorship art war varies scholars included people movements including sun scholar anonymous author school attribute authorship art war historical figure chronicled place origin varies books stated state appear text prior suspected descriptive meaning fugitive warrior surname sun related term fugitive ancient chinese virtue martial corresponds role hero story historically mentioned primary record events 4th century appear sources historical battle attributed battle records fighting battle scholar writes spring autumn annals brief inconsistent choice events note appearance features art war historical texts considered proof authorship certain strategic concepts terrain classification attributed use works methods considered proof historical priority according likely exist served general wrote core book bears argued large scale wars sophisticated techniques detailed text primitive small scale battles believe china 6th century argues teachings probably taught succeeding generations family small school disciples eventually included descendants students revised expanded certain points original text identify issues view point possible art war including terms technology cavalry philosophical ideas events military techniques available additionally records professional generals spring autumn period extant period doubt rank caused confusion art war actually written traditional view written historical active years spring autumn period second view held scholars places art war middle late states period finally school claims slips published half 5th century based adherents interpret bamboo slips discovered varying theories evidence compilation military later years instead written historical legacy influenced notable figures recounted china historical emperor considered book ending time 20th century chinese communist leader partially credited victory art war work strongly influenced writings guerrilla warfare influenced communist world art war introduced japan book quickly popular japanese generals later influence significantly affected unification japan early modern era prior restoration mastery teachings honored teachings exemplified influential subsequently remained popular imperial japanese armed forces admiral fleet led japan forces victory russo japanese war avid reader translated work vietnamese officers study general victories french american forces vietnam likewise avid student ideas america asian conflicts japan north_korea brought attention american military leaders united_states command directed units maintain libraries respective headquarters continuing education personnel art war art war mentioned example works maintained facility staff duty officers obliged prepare short papers presentation officers readings similarly listed gulf war 1990s generals employed principles related deception speed striking enemy weak points united_states western countries criticised truly understanding work art war wider context chinese society rhetoric component incorporated art war according sun art war rhetoric warfare metaphor rhetoric based arts writes warfare analogous battle hearts minds application art war strategies history attributed philosophical rhetoric central principle art war compares ancient chinese traditional rhetoric notably differences rhetoric art war warfare strategies described peaceful passive favoring silence speech form communication behavior highly emphasized art war avoiding confrontation spiritual nature shapes basic principles writes art modern warfare modern interpretation sun importance chinese history critical understanding china push century modern chinese scholars explicitly rely historical strategic lessons art war developing theories seeing direct relationship modern struggles china time great perceived value teachings traditional chinese writers regularly developing strategies chinese state leaders producer adapted life story episode historical drama television series entitled starring
Sun Tzu