Sun Tzu wrote the Art of War (Ping-fa in Chinese). The book is known as the first manual of military strategy. Sun Tzu probably lived around 500 B.C. Most historians believe that he was a Chinese general, but little is known of the author’s life.
The Art of War consists of 13 chapters discussing various military situations. The book includes instructions on how to plan for war, how to fight battles, how to use the terrain effectively, and how to make use of spies. The book states such principles as all war is based on deception, the best victories are those won without actually fighting, and countries do not benefit from prolonged warfare. Today, many people apply the principles of the Art of War in such fields as business, diplomacy, politics, and sports.
