The Art of War

The Art of War

Author	Sun Tzu (traditional)
Language	Classical Chinese
Subject	Military art
Genre	Military strategy
Publication date	5th century BC
Publication place	China
Dewey Decimal	355.02
LC Class	U101 .S95
Original text	The Art of War at Chinese Wikisource
Translation	The Art of War at Wikisource
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese	孫子兵法
Simplified Chinese	孙子兵法
Literal meaning	"Master Sun's Military Methods"
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Sūnzǐ bīngfǎ Bopomofo ㄙㄨㄣ ㄗˇ ㄅㄧㄥ ㄈㄚˇ Wade–Giles Sun1-tzu3 ping1-fa3 IPA [swə́ntsɹ̩̀ píŋfà] Yue: Cantonese Yale Romanization Syūnjí bīngfaat Jyutping Syun1 zi2 bing1 faat3 IPA [syn˥tsi˧˥ pɪŋ˥fat̚˧] Southern Min Tâi-lô Sun-tzú ping-huat Old Chinese Baxter–Sagart (2014) *sˤun tsəʔ praŋ p.kap

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The Art of War is an ancient Chinese military treatise dating from the late Spring and Autumn period (roughly 5th century BC). 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 1,500 years, it was the lead text in an anthology that was formalized as the Seven Military Classics by Emperor Shenzong of Song in 1080. The Art of War remains the most influential strategy text in East Asian warfare^[1] and has influenced both East Asian and Western military theory and thinking.

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 1772 by the French priest Jesuit Jean Joseph Marie Amiot; it was re-published in 1782. A partial translation into English was attempted by British officer Everard Ferguson Calthrop in 1905 under the title The Book of War. The first annotated English translation was completed and published by Lionel Giles in 1910.^[2] Military and political leaders such as the Chinese communist revolutionary Mao Zedong, Japanese daimyō Takeda Shingen, and Vietnamese general Võ Nguyên Giáp are cited along with American military generals Douglas MacArthur and Norman Schwarzkopf Jr. as having drawn inspiration from the book.^[3]