Sun Tzu (Chinese: 孫子; pinyin: Sūn Zǐ) ("Master Sun") is an honorific title bestowed upon Sūn Wǔ (孫武; c. 544 BC—496 BC), the author of The Art of War, an immensely influential ancient Chinese book on military strategy. He is also one of the earliest realists in international relations theory.
In the author's name, Sūn Wǔ, the character wu, meaning "military", is the same as the character in wu shu, or martial art. Sun Wu also has a courtesy name, Chang Qing (長卿; Cháng Qīng).
Biography
Historians debate whether or not Sun Tzu was a real historical figure. In some histories, such as the biography written in the 2nd century BC by the historian Sima Qian, Sun Tzu is born in the state of Ch'i, during the Spring and Autumn Period of China (722-481 BC), and becomes a heroic general for the King of Wu. His victories inspire him to write the Art of War. Other historians place the writing of the Art of War to the Age of Warring States (403-221 BC), based on its description of warfare. It was a time of constant war between seven nations (Chao, Ch'i, Ch'in, Ch'u, Han, Wei and Yen) seeking to control all of China.[1]
According to Sima Qian, the king of Wu put Sun Tzu to the test, commanding him to train a harem of three hundred sixty concubine in the art of war. He divided them into two companies, making the two most favored by the king the commanders. Sun Tzu is said to have received giggles when he first commanded the companies, telling them in response that the general is as fault if his soldiers do not understand. He taught the manuever to them again, and again they giggled. Sun Tzu ordered the execution of the two concubines to the king's protest. He explained that if his soldiers understand but do not obey, it is the fault of the officers. New officers were named and the two companies performed their manuevers flawlessly thereafter. In his biography, Sun Tzu further proved his theories on the battlefield and wrote the Art of War based on his tested expertise. His grandson, Sun Bin, also became a famous scholar of the military arts.[2]
The Art of War
In Chinese Sun Tzu (the original book title) is now commonly called Sunzi bingfa (also transliterated as Sun-tzu ping fa or Sun-tse ping fa). Sunzi is a modern transliteration of Sun Tzu. Bing Fa can be translated as "the principles for using forces",[3] "military methods", "army procedures", or "martial arts". Around 298 BC, the historian Zhuang Zi, writing in the state of Zhao, recorded that Sun Tzu’s theory had been incorporated into the martial arts techniques of both offense and defense and of both armed and unarmed combat. His Bing Fa was the philosophical basis of what we now know as the Asian martial arts. Amiot's AD 1722 translation of Sun Tzu into French (the first time it had been translated into a European language) entitled Art Militaire des Chinois is likely to have influenced translations into the English often titled The Art of War.
However, Singaporean writer Wee Chow-Hou argued in his book Sun Zi Binga - Selected Insights and Applications that the direct translation of the title of the writings by Sun Tzu to be somewhat inaccurate, since there does not seem to be an advocacy of actual battles; rather a set of philosophies on what to do in times of conflict. Indeed it seems that actual war was never advocated; rather how to strategically avoid war and yet still retain control of a tight situation with an adversary.
In 1972 a set of bamboo engraved texts were discovered in a grave near Linyi in Shandong.[4] These have helped to confirm parts of the text which were already known and have also added new sections.[5] This version has been dated to between 134 BC – 118 BC,[6] and so rules out older theories that parts of the text had been written much later.
Related text
Sun Bin, a later military strategist, was allegedly a crippled descendant of Sun Tzu, also wrote a text known as the Art of War. A more accurate title might be the Art of Warfare since this was more directly concerned with the practical matters of warfare, rather than military strategy.[7] At least one translator has used the title The Lost Art of War, referring to the long period of time during which Sun Bin's book was lost. There is, however, no similarity between the content or writing style of Sun Bin and Sun Tzu.
Influence
The Art of War has been one of the most popular combat collections in history. Ancient Chinese long viewed this book as one of the entrance test materials, and it is one of the most important collections of books in the Chinese literature.
It is said that Mao Zedong, Ho Chi Min, Joseph Stalin all read this book while in war. Other notable figures who have been influenced by the book includes retired general Tommy Franks and possibly Napoléon Bonaparte.
See also
Notes
References
External links
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