The Life of Sun Wu, the Sage of War

The Sage of War: The Biography of Sun Wu vividly recounts the legendary life of Sun Wu, the military strategist of the late Spring and Autumn period. The book begins with Sun Wu’s birth into a military family in the State of Qi, then details how he fled south to the State of Wu to escape the turmoil of war. Recommended by Wu Zixu, he made his name by executing the king’s concubines during a military drill in the Wu palace, thereby intimidating the King of Wu, and was ultimately appointed a general. The book focuses on the military miracle of his helping Wu defeat the powerful State of Chu in the west and capture its capital Ying after five battles, as well as the development and practice of his profound strategic principles, such as “subduing the enemy without fighting” and “know yourself and know your enemy.” Going beyond his life story, the book offers an in-depth analysis of how his immortal work, The Art of War, came to be and of its core ideas. It also traces how his military philosophy transcended its era, making its way from ancient battlefields into the modern world and profoundly influencing politics, business, diplomacy, and many other fields, revealing its enduring value as a crystallization of human wisdom. This is a monumental biography that brings together history, military affairs, philosophy, and life.