Overview

The Art of War is an ancient Chinese military treatise attributed to Sun Tzu, a high-ranking military general, strategist and tactician. The text is composed of 13 chapters, each of which is devoted to one aspect of warfare. It is commonly known to be the definitive work on military strategy and tactics of its time. It has been the most famous and influential of China's Seven Military Classics, and for the last two thousand years it remained the most important military treatise in Asia, where even the common people knew it by name. It has had an influence on Eastern and Western military thinking, business tactics, legal strategy and beyond.

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9781508517740

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Early Life Little is known of Sun Tzu's early life. He was originally born Sun Wu, the son of an aristocrat during the Spring and Autumn period of Ancient China. He had a strong interest in battle and became a mercenary soldier. Over time Sun Tzu gained a reputation as a good leader of soldiers. The King's Test The King of Wu noticed that Sun Tzu was a good leader. He brought Sun Tzu to his palace to test him. He ordered Sun Tzu to train 180 of his concubines (wives) as soldiers. Sun Tzu divided the women up into two groups and assigned two of the women as their leaders. He then gave them a command. The women just giggled. Sun Tzu had the two leaders executed. He then assigned two more women as leaders. The next time he gave the command, the women obeyed flawlessly. Military Leader As his knowledge about war grew, Sun Tzu had begun to form his own theories and strategies regarding war. He tested many of them out as general for the King of Wu. When the state of Wu went to war against the powerful Chu state, Sun Tzu led them to many victories including the capture of the Chu capital city of Ying. The Art of War Sun Tzu wrote down his theories about war in a book called the Art of War. This became one of the most famous books on war strategy in the world. There are thirteen chapters in the book. Each one describing strategies for a different aspect of war. 1.Laying Plans 2.Waging War 3.The Plan of Attack 4.Positioning 5.Directing 6.Weak Points and Strong 7.Maneuvering 8.The Nine Variations 9.The Army on the March 10.Terrain 11.The Nine Terrains 12.Attack by Fire 13.The Use of Spies Sun Tzu did not advocate war. He recommended avoiding war if possible, but also thought that it was best to win any war quickly. He believed that long wars were harmful even for the winner. Famous Sayings from the Art of War -To know your enemy, you must become your enemy. -A leader leads by example, not by force. -The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting. -Attack the enemy where he is unprepared, appear where you are not expected. -He will win who knows when to fight and when not to fight. -All warfare is based on deception. -A clever fighter is one who not only wins, but excels in winning with ease. -What is of the greatest importance in war is extraordinary speed; one cannot afford to neglect opportunity.

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