A portrait of Sun Zi.

Pieces of the Past

Sun Zi: Author of The Art of War

By staff reporter HUO JIANYING

SUN Wu was a native of the State of Qi during the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 B.C.). The family name of his ancestors, who were Qi nobles, was Tian. Sun Wu's grandfather, Tian Shu, was a high-ranking official and excelled in military affairs. He was awarded a fief by the King of Qi for his meritorious service during an expedition to the State of Ju (present-day Juxian County), and was awarded the family name Sun. Sun Ping, Sun Wu's father, was one of the king's top officials.

Sun Wu's privileged family background provided good conditions for his studies. He began reading the classics in his childhood and achieved a high standard of scholarship. Being descended from generations of generals, Sun Wu had unique and ideal conditions under which to study the art of war. He read all the established martial classics, and also experienced war first-hand.

A battle on water, a Han Dynasty brick relief.

When Sun Wu was in his teens, the State of Qi began to decline, and internal struggles for power within the court became increasingly fierce. Sun Wu was disgusted with these internal struggles, and decided to go to a place far from home in order to realize his ambitions. In 517 B.C. when he was 18, Sun Wu went to the State of Wu and became acquainted with Wu Zixu, a famous general.

In the State of Wu, Sun Wu lived a hermit's life deep in the mountains, and summarized the results of his research in his 13-chapter The Art of War.

Later, on the recommendation of Wu Zixu, Sun Wu was appointed general by the State of Wu. He was strict with his troops and exercised able leadership in war maneuvers. In 512 B.C. he won victory after victory in battles against the two small states of Zhongwu and Shu.

In 506 B.C. the State of Chu attacked the State of Cai -- a vassal state of Wu. The king of Wu, together with Wu Zixu, and Sun Wu, led 30,000 troops against the Chu. At the command of Sun Wu, the Wu troops changed their route, abandoned their warships, and went deep into the Chu hinterland. There they took Chu troops by surprise, forcing them to retreat in defeat. On the Chu capital being captured, the king fled in confusion. Sun Wu had led his 30,000 troops to defeat 200,000 enemies, making an example of how the few may defeat the many.

In this battle, Sun Wu's principles of using both direct and indirect maneuvers and of "speed being everything in the conduct of war" were fully applied. In 484 B.C., with the help of Sun Wu and Wu Zixu, the State of Wu became the strongest state of that time.

A Han Dynasty brick relief depicting Sun Zi (right) training female soldiers. To demonstrate his art of warfare to the King of Wu, Sun Wu once trained his palace ladies.

When the State of Wu came to the fore during the Warring States Period, however, Fu Chai, the king of Wu, became arrogant. He rejected worthy men and welcomed those of low quality, disregarding the criticism of the loyal and killing those who had rendered outstanding service. Wu Zixu was forced to commit suicide, which boded ill for the future.

After years of experience on the battlefield and in officialdom, Sun Wu was wise to all worldly vanities, and retired from his post in order to write scholarly works. He revised The Art of War based on his experiences in military training and operations.

No one knows his last whereabouts. However, he left a timeless piece of work -- The Art of War by Sun Zi. More than a century later, another great strategist, Sun Bin, appeared in Chinese history. Some people say he was a descendant of Sun Wu, and certain historical works endorse this. Sun Bin also bequeathed humankind an eternal martial classic, Sun Bin's Art of War.