The work, which is attributed to the ancient Chinese military strategist Sun Tzu "Master Sun" , is composed of 13 chapters. Each one is devoted to a different set of skills or art related to warfare and how it applies to military strategy and tactics. For almost 1, years, it was the lead text in an anthology that was formalized as the Seven Military Classics by Emperor Shenzong of Song in The Art of War remains the most influential strategy text in East Asian warfare, [ 1 ] has influenced both East Asian and Western military theory and thinking, and has found a variety of applications in myriad competitive non-military endeavors across the modern world including espionage, [ 2 ] culture, politics, business, and sports.
The book contains a detailed explanation and analysis of the 5th-century BC Chinese military, from weapons, environmental conditions, and strategy to rank and discipline. Sun also stressed the importance of intelligence operatives and espionage to the war effort.
Considered one of history's finest military tacticians and analysts, his teachings and strategies formed the basis of advanced military training throughout the world. The book was translated into French and published in by the French priest Jesuit Jean Joseph Marie Amiot ; it was re-published in The first annotated English translation was completed and published by Lionel Giles in Outside of military use, The Art of War has also become a source of inspiration in business, politics, sports and esports, and its usage has extended to film and television.
Sun Tzu is said to have lived in the 6th century BC, but the earliest parts of The Art of War probably date to at least years later. The conventional view was that Sun Wu was a military theorist from the end of the Spring and Autumn period β BC who fled his home state of Qi to the southeastern Kingdom of Wu , where he is said to have impressed the king with his ability to quickly train even court women in military discipline and to have made Wu's armies powerful enough to challenge their western rivals in the state of Chu.
This view is still widely held in China. The strategist, poet, and warlord Cao Cao in the early 3rd century AD authored the earliest known commentary to the Art of War. Beginning around the 12th century, Sun Tzu's historical existence began to be questioned by Chinese scholars, primarily on the grounds that he is not mentioned in the historical classic Zuo Zhuan , which mentions most of the notable figures from the Spring and Autumn period.
