Military Strategist & Philosopher · Chinese · b. c. 544 BC · d. c. 496 BC
Sun Tzu (Sūnzǐ, 'Master Sun') was a Chinese general, military strategist, writer, and philosopher who lived in the Eastern Zhou period during the Spring and Autumn era. Sun Tzu is traditionally credited as the author of *The Art of War*, an influential work of military strategy that has affected both Western and East Asian philosophy and military thinking. Sun Tzu has had a significant impact on Chinese and Asian history and culture, both as the author of *The Art of War* and as a legendary historical figure. His work has been studied for centuries by generals, statesmen, and business strategists alike — Mao Zedong, General Vo Nguyen Giap, and General Douglas MacArthur all claimed to have drawn inspiration from it. The text emphasizes that the supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting, prizing strategy, deception, terrain, leadership, and the careful management of resources over brute force.
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