Which ancient Chinese philosopher wrote 'The Art of War'?

The ancient Chinese strategist traditionally credited with writing The Art of War was Sun Tzu. His name, also written Sunzi, means “Master Sun,” while traditional historical accounts identify him as Sun Wu, a military figure associated with the state of Wu.

The Art of War is a concise treatise of 13 chapters that discusses strategy, battlefield conditions, logistics, leadership, intelligence, discipline, and the costs of prolonged conflict. It is usually dated to the late Spring and Autumn or early Warring States period, when rival Chinese states competed through near-continuous warfare. The work emphasizes preparation, deception, adaptability, and defeating an opponent efficiently rather than relying only on brute force.

The attribution deserves a little nuance. Sun Tzu is the accepted traditional author, but historians debate how much of the surviving text was written by one historical person and when it reached its final form. Archaeological discoveries of Han-era bamboo manuscripts also show related military traditions associated with Sun Bin, a different strategist. Even so, “Sun Tzu” is the canonical quiz answer.