손자
Chinese general, traditional author of The Art of War
565 records in all
3 free questions a day, no sign-up.
Photo: Unknown author Public domain Original cropped
15 basic records of 101
Episodes are real events from public sources, summarised by us.
In 1972, construction workers in Shandong discovered ancient bamboo slips containing parts of The Art of War and Sun Bin's Military Methods. This find clarified that Sun Wu and his descendant Sun Bin were two different people, resolving centuries of historical confusion.
LessonHistorical records and intellectual traditions often evolve over time, and new evidence can fundamentally change our understanding of a legacy.
The Art of War was introduced to Japan in 760 and quickly gained popularity among military leaders. It later played a significant role in the unification of Japan during the Sengoku period under leaders like Oda Nobunaga.
LessonHigh-quality strategic knowledge can cross borders and influence the development of entire nations or industries.
After a partial attempt in 1905, Lionel Giles published the first complete and annotated English translation of the text in 1910. This made the ancient Chinese wisdom accessible to the English-speaking world for professional study.
LessonProperly translating and annotating complex ideas is essential for their successful adoption in new markets.
Sun Tzu observed that maintaining an army far from home impoverished the people through high taxes and rising prices. He noted that transporting one load of food to the front often consumed twenty loads in the process.
LessonOperational inefficiency and long-distance logistics can drain your capital faster than the competition itself.
Prince Fu Chien ignored warnings about his enemy's capable leaders and boasted about his massive army's size. He believed his numbers alone guaranteed victory, but his forces were disastrously routed at the Fei River.
LessonOverconfidence in resources without understanding the competitor's strength leads to total failure.
Chao She was sent to relieve a besieged city but stopped shortly after starting to build fortifications for 28 days. This led the enemy to believe he was too cautious to attack, but he then performed a lightning-fast two-day march to seize the high ground.
LessonSimulating slowness or weakness can lower an opponent's guard, creating an opening for a decisive, rapid move.
Tien Tan feigned extreme fear and sent silver to the enemy general to request safety for his people. This caused the Yen army to become slack and careless, believing a surrender was imminent.
LessonLowering a competitor's guard through feigned weakness can create the perfect opening for a counter-attack.
General P'ei Hsing-chien ordered his army to move to a nearby hill at night despite his officers' protests about fatigue. That same night, a massive storm flooded their original camp under twelve feet of water.
LessonA leader's foresight and insistence on high ground can save an organization from unforeseen disasters.
Liang Hsi ignored advice to occupy narrow passes against the returning general Lü Kuang. By failing to seize the 'contentious ground' that could cut off water supplies, he was easily overwhelmed.
LessonFailing to secure a strategic bottleneck allows a stronger competitor to sweep you away.
To subdue a rebellious population, Kao Keng recommended making periodical raids to burn their stores of grain. This long-term strategy of targeting supplies eventually led to total success.
LessonWinning a long-term competition can be achieved by systematically depleting the opponent's essential resources.
After strengthening the army and waiting for the right time, Sun Tzu led the Wu forces against the state of Chu. His strategies led to consecutive victories and the capture of the Chu capital, Ying.
LessonStrategic patience combined with rigorous preparation leads to decisive market victories.
Sun Wu was mentioned as a general acting as a confidential adviser to King Ho Lu of Wu. This marked his entry into high-level military leadership during the attacks on the state of Ch'u.
LessonA specialist's value is proven when their theoretical mastery is applied to solve a state's urgent competitive problems.
The Chinese government printed a version of Sun Tzu's text in a massive encyclopedia. This version was derived from a 12th-century edition by Chi T'ien-pao, which was the only one widely available at the time.
LessonEven official standards can be based on imperfect data if better sources are lost or ignored.
Sun Hsing-yen discovered a lost copy of an older edition in a temple library. He used this along with fragments from other ancient texts to correct errors and create a standard version for military students.
LessonRigorous research and comparing different versions can restore the original value of a corrupted product.
Chuan Chu was hired to assassinate a king by hiding a dagger inside a fish. Despite being surrounded by the king's guards, he completed his mission knowing he would be killed immediately.
LessonTotal commitment to a goal can overcome even the most impossible odds.
You are seeing 85 basic records. Membership answers from all 565 of this master's records.
See membershipStrategy and mental models
These records are our compilation of public statements and sources. We are not affiliated with or endorsed by Sun Tzu or any related company. If something should come down, tell us. Takedown request form
