Sun Tzu

Sun Tzu
Qing-era representation of Sun Tzu
Native name	孫子
Born	Sun Wu 544 BC (Traditional) Qi or Wu
Died	496 BC (traditional; aged 47–48) Gusu, Wu State
Pen name	Sun Tzu
Occupation	Military general, strategist, philosopher, writer
Language	Chinese
Period	Spring and Autumn
Subject	Military strategy
Notable works	The Art of War
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese	孫子
Simplified Chinese	孙子
Wade–Giles	Sun1 Tzu3
Hanyu Pinyin	Sūnzǐ
Literal meaning	"Master Sun"
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Sūnzǐ Bopomofo ㄙㄨㄣ   ㄗˇ Gwoyeu Romatzyh Suentzyy Wade–Giles Sun1 Tzu3 Tongyong Pinyin Sun-zǐh Yale Romanization Swūndž MPS2 Suēntž IPA [swə́n.tsɹ̩̀] Wu Suzhounese Sen-tsỳ Yue: Cantonese Yale Romanization Syūnjí Jyutping syun1 zi2 IPA [syn˥ tsi˧˥] Southern Min Hokkien POJ Sun-chú Tâi-lô Sun-tsú Middle Chinese Middle Chinese suən t͡sɨX Old Chinese Baxter–Sagart (2014) *[s]ˤu[n] tsəʔ
Sun Wu
Traditional Chinese	孫武
Simplified Chinese	孙武
Wade–Giles	Sun1 Wu3
Hanyu Pinyin	Sūn Wǔ
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Sūn Wǔ Bopomofo ㄙㄨㄣ   ㄨˇ Gwoyeu Romatzyh Suen Wuu Wade–Giles Sun1 Wu3 Tongyong Pinyin Sun Wǔ Yale Romanization Swūn Wǔ MPS2 Suēn Wǔ IPA [swə́n ù] Middle Chinese Middle Chinese suən mɨoX Old Chinese Baxter–Sagart (2014) *[s]ˤu[n] m(r)aʔ
Changqing
Traditional Chinese	長卿
Simplified Chinese	长卿
Wade–Giles	Ch'ang2-chʻing1
Hanyu Pinyin	Chángqīng
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Chángqīng Bopomofo ㄔㄤˊ   ㄑㄧㄥ Gwoyeu Romatzyh Charngching Wade–Giles Ch'ang2-chʻing1 Tongyong Pinyin Cháng-cing Yale Romanization Chángchīng MPS2 Chángchīng IPA [ʈʂʰǎŋ.tɕʰíŋ] Middle Chinese Middle Chinese ɖɨɐŋ kʰˠiæŋ Old Chinese Baxter–Sagart (2014) *Cə-[N]-traŋ C.qʰraŋ
Vietnamese name
Vietnamese	Tôn Vũ Tôn Tử
Hán-Nôm	孫武 孫子
Korean name
Hangul	손무 손자
Hanja	孫武 孫子
Transcriptions Revised Romanization Sonmu Sonja
Japanese name
Kanji	孫武 孫子
Hiragana	そんぶ そんし
Katakana	ソンブ ソンシ
Transcriptions Revised Hepburn Sonbu Sonshi Kunrei-shiki Sonbu Sonsi

Sun Tzu (/suːn ˈdzuː, suːn ˈsuː/;traditional Chinese: 孫子; simplified Chinese: 孙子; pinyin: Sūnzǐ) may have been a Chinese military general, strategist, philosopher, and writer who lived during the Eastern Zhou period (771–256 BC). Sun Tzu is traditionally credited as the author of The Art of War, a Classical Chinese text on military strategy from the Warring States period, though the earliest parts of the work probably date to at least a century after his purported death.^[1]

Sun Tzu is revered in Chinese and East Asian culture as a legendary historical and military figure; however, his historical existence is uncertain. The Han dynasty historian Sima Qian and other traditional Chinese historians placed him as a minister to King Helü of Wu and dated his lifetime to 544–496 BC. The name Sun Tzu—by which he is more popularly known—is an honorific which means "Master Sun". His birth name was said to be Sun Wu (traditional Chinese: 孫武; simplified Chinese: 孙武) and he is posthumously known by his courtesy name Changqing (Chinese: 長卿).^[2] Traditional accounts state that the general's descendant Sun Bin wrote a treatise on military tactics, also titled The Art of War. Since both Sun Wu and Sun Bin were referred to as "Sun Tzu" in classical Chinese texts, some historians believed them identical, prior to the rediscovery of Sun Bin's treatise in 1972.