Sun Tzu

Sun Tzu was born in 544 BC and was a Chinese general, strategist and philosopher. Best known for his work The Art of War, which is composed of 13 chapters of military strategies. Sun Tzu, can also be spelled as Sunzi. Tzu is a title that means "Master." Traditionally, Sun Tzu has lived in China's Spring and Autumn Period (722 BC - 481 BC) as a general of King Hu Lu. One of Shiji's best-known stories about Sun Tzu describes his temperament as follows: before hiring Sun Tzu, the king of Wu tested his abilities by ordering him to train a harem of 180 concubines to become soldiers. Sun Tzu divided them into two companies, choosing to command them the king's two favorite concubines. When Sun Tzu ordered them to face each other on the floor, they laughed. As a reaction, Sun Tzu said that the general, himself, was responsible for ensuring that the soldiers understood his orders. Again, Sun Tzu gives them the same order, and again they laughed. Then Sun Tzu ordered them to execute the king's two favorite concubines against his protests. Sun Tzu explained to the king that if the soldiers understood the orders but did not follow them, then it was the officers' fault. Sun Tzu added that when a general is appointed, he must fulfill his mission, even if the king protests. After the execution of the two concubines, new officers were chosen to replace them. After this episode, both companies began to execute their orders without any failure.