Sun Tzu/Bio & Battles

Sun Tzu or Sunzi, born Sun Wu, courtesy name Changqing, was an ancient Chinese military general, strategist and philosopher who is traditionally believed to be the author of The Art Of War, an influential and ancient Chinese book on military strategy. The book has been used by military leaders throughout history such as Napoleon Bonaparte and Kublai Khan.

Sun Tzu started working for King Helu of Win in approximately 510 BC. After writing The Art Of War he was given an audience with the king who challenged him to train the court concubines, offering him the command of the army. Sun Tzu explained the command for marching but when the drums sounded the women burst out laughing. This helped Sun Tzu to explain that if orders are not clear then the general is at fault and repeated his explanation only to have similar results. This helped him explain that if the orders are given but not followed then it is the fault of the officers. So he had the women's commanders, the kings favourite concubines, beheaded. After the two were executed and replaced the women obeyed the orders precisely. The king was reportedly too sickened by the deaths to watch the demonstrations but true to his word he gave Sun Tzu command of the army.