strategist of the Warring States period

strategist of the Warring States period

Sun Wu (about 545-470 BC), also known as Changqing, was born in Le'an (now the northern part of Shandong Province) at the end of the spring and Autumn period. The famous strategist and statesman in the spring and Autumn period of China was honored as the soldier sage or Sun Tzu (Sun Wuzi), also known as "the most sage of the strategists", known as "the master of a hundred generations of strategists" and "the originator of Oriental military science".

From the end of the sixth century B.C. to the beginning of the fifth century B.C., Sun Wu moved from Qi to Wu. He was recommended by Wu Zixu, an important Minister of the state of Wu, and presented to Helu, the king of Wu, 13 articles on the art of war, which was highly valued as a general. In the battle of Baiju, he led the army of Wu state to defeat the army of Chu state, occupied Ying City, the capital of Chu state, and nearly destroyed Chu state.

His great work, the art of war, has 13 chapters, which is highly praised by later generations of military strategists. It is known as the "holy book of military science" and ranks first in the seven books of the book of martial arts. Sun Tzu's art of war, written by him, occupies a very important position in the military history, military academic history and philosophy history of China and even the world, and is widely used in politics, economy, military, culture, philosophy and other fields. Translated into Japanese, French, German and English, the book has become the most famous model of Military Science in the world.

Life of the characters

The aristocracy of Qi

The exact lineage of sun Wuzu began with Yu Kai's father, a descendant of Shun. When King Wu of Zhou conquered Zhou, Yu Kai's father was the official of Zhou's Tao Zheng, who was in charge of the production of pottery and the management of pottery making. Because of his good management and complete use of utensils, King Wu of Zhou married his eldest daughter, Daji, to man, the son of his father, and granted him the name of GUI to establish the state of Chen in Huaiyang County, Henan Province. Manchu, known as Duke Hu, became the first monarch of the state of Chen.

From the beginning of Hu gongman to the time of Huan Gong, civil strife occurred in the state of Chen. Wan, the son of Duke li of Chen, ran to Qi because of civil strife. He was Sun Wu's direct ancestor. Chen Wan was active in the state of Qi, and his fourth grandson Tian Huanzi (Tian Wuyu) became an official "Shangfu". Tian Huanzi (Tian Wuyu) had five sons: Tian Wuzi (Tian Kai), Tian Yuzi (Tian Qi), Chen Zhaozi (Tian Zhao), Tian Shu and Zi Yu. In the 19th year of Zhaogong (521 B.C.), Tian Shu was granted the title of Le'an by Duke Jing of Qi and was given the surname of sun. Sun Shu (Tian Shu) was Sun Wu's grandfather. Sun Shusheng was born to Sun Wu.

Military career

In 512 BC (the third year of the Helu reign of the king of Wu), he negotiated with Wu Zixu and prepared to march westward. At this time, Wu Zixu's "seven recommendation of Sun Tzu" made Helu agree to meet Sun Wu. When he lived in seclusion, Sun Wu had already written the art of war. He came to see the king of Wu with his art of war, and he Lu secretly praised him. The king of Wu appointed Sun Wu as general of Wu, and often discussed various military and political issues with Sun Wu, and got satisfactory answers.

In 508 BC (the seventh year of King Helu of Wu), the state of Wu adopted Sun Tzu's strategy of "cutting diplomatic relations" to instigate Tongguo to rebel against Chu. Then he made Shu Jiu deceive the Chu people and said, "if Chu came to Wu as his teacher, Wu would be afraid of Chu, so he could cut tung trees instead of Chu." In October, the Wu army took advantage of the Chu people to defeat the Chu division in Yuzhang, and then conquered the nest and captured the Chu doctor gongzifan alive.

In 506 B.C. (the ninth year of the reign of King Helu of Wu), the Wu army adopted the strategy of "giving food to the enemy" and ate the food of Chu people and continued to catch up. Finally, under the direct command of Sun Wu and Wu Zixu, after five world wars, it took only ten days to invade the capital of Chu.

After he Lu died, he was succeeded by Fu Chai. He was determined to take revenge. Sun Wu, Wu Zixu and other ministers continued to assist Fu Chai, trying to accumulate money and grain, enrich the Treasury, manufacture weapons, and expand the army. After three years, Wu's national strength was restored.

In 494 BC (the third year of Goujian), King Gou Jian of Yue attacked Wu. Wu's army was planned by Wu Zixu and Sun Wu. At night, they deployed many "deceptive soldiers", which were divided into two wings. They lit torches and attacked the Vietnamese army. The Vietnamese army was soon defeated. After several successive defeats, Gou Jian had to ask Wu for peace.

Floating high hidden

When Sun Wu was in his fifties, his best friend Wu Zixu was killed. Sun Wu no longer contributed to Wu's foreign war planning, but lived in seclusion in the countryside to revise his military works. Soon after Wu Zixu's death, Sun Wu may have died because he was worried about the country and the people and was depressed. His death should be around 480 B.C. (Weizhuang B.C.). From his retirement to his death, Sun Wu never left the state of Wu. After his death, he was buried in the outskirts of the capital of Wu.

Main achievements

Military achievements

After the civil strife in the state of Qi in 532 B.C. (the 13th year of King zhoujing), Sun Wu resolutely went to the southern state of Wu and devoted himself to studying the art of war. In 512 B.C. (the 23rd year of weilinggong), recommended by Wu Zixu, the counsellor of the state of Wu, Sun Wu brought his thirteen articles on the art of war to the king of Wu. When answering the King Wu's question, Sun Wu's comments were shocking and profound, which aroused the deep resonance of the King Wu who was determined to be a tyrant. He repeatedly praised Sun Wu's views, and asked Sun Wu to practice the array with 180 palace maids to test Sun Wu's military ability face to face, so he appointed Sun Wu as a general as Keqing. In 506 BC (the fourteenth year of King Jing of Zhou Dynasty), the war between Wu and Chu began. In the battle of Baiju, Sun Wu commanded the army of Wu state to attack the great power from a distance of 30000 Li, and made five battles and five victories, directly smashing the capital of Chu. He created a miracle in the history of Chinese military in which less won more and made outstanding contributions to Wu state.

Political achievements

Sun Wu stressed that the victory or defeat of a war does not depend on ghosts and gods, but is related to political purity, economic development, diplomatic efforts, military strength, natural conditions and other factors. To predict the victory or defeat of a war is mainly to analyze these conditions. Sun Wu not only believes that the world exists objectively, but also thinks that things in the world are constantly moving and changing. He emphasizes that in war, we should actively create conditions, give full play to people's subjective initiative, and promote the transformation of opposites in the direction beneficial to ourselves.

It is precisely because Sun Wu summarized and summed up the extremely rich and multifaceted philosophical principles in the specific science of military science, established his juxtaposition with Confucius and Lao Tzu in the ideological circles of the late spring and Autumn period, and was known as the three bright stars over the ideological circles of the late spring and Autumn Period. Sun Wu's military theory is not without shortcomings and mistakes, but it is far beyond the contemporary works on the art of war. It also has a profound influence on later generations with its outstanding insight and is widely respected by Chinese and foreign militarists at all times.

Relative members

Character evaluation

General comments

Sun Wu was later known as Sun Tzu, sun Wuzi, soldier sage (the most sage of military strategists), etc. In 1123 (the fifth year of Xuanhe), the imperial court of the Northern Song Dynasty pursued Sun Wu as "Hu Du Hou". According to the practice of the Tang Dynasty, the Song Dynasty set up temples for the famous generals in ancient times, including Sun Wu.

Sun Wu and his military thoughts are well-known both in ancient and modern times and at home and abroad. They have a far-reaching influence on later generations and have a very high position in the world military history. Sun Tzu's art of war is regarded internationally as "the first ancient book of war in the world". In modern times, it has been concerned and applied not only in the military field, but also in economy and sports.

Historical evaluation

Weiliaozi: who is the one who mentions one hundred thousand people but is not worthy in the world? It's called Duke Huan. Who is the one who mentions 70000 people but is not worthy of the world? It's called Wuqi. Who is the one who mentions 30000 people but is not worthy of the world? It's called Wuzi.

Shi Ji: so he Lu knew that Sun Tzu could use soldiers, but he thought he would. In the west, he broke through strong Chu and entered Ying. In the north, he was famous in Qi and Jin Dynasties. As the saying goes in the secular world, all the divisions and brigades are the way of Sun Tzu's thirteen chapters. Wu Qi's art of war is very popular in the world. Therefore, it's a matter of Fu's theory and the person who set it up.

"Taishigong's Preface:" if you don't believe in honesty, benevolence and bravery, you can't pass on troops and discuss swords. It's in line with the Tao. You can govern your body inside and deal with changes outside. A gentleman is more virtuous than a gentleman. "

Criminal law annals of the Han Dynasty: Sun Wu and he Lu are good at using military. Those who know or learn the skills will win the battle; those who don't know the skills of Shi Bo and the skills of attacking and stabbing will force their troops to defeat their divisions.

Notes to the ten schools of Sun Tzu: the sage's use of military force is based on time, and has to be used as a last resort. In my opinion, there are many strategies for war. Sun Wu's works are profound.

Li Weigong, Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty, asked the right questions: when I read all the military books, there was no Sun Wu; when Sun Wu wrote 13 chapters, there was no reality. If a man knows the potential of the virtual and the real, he will be invincible. " "I call it the one who subdues others without fighting. It's up to you. He who wins a hundred battles will win. He who defends himself in the deep ditch and high base will be defeated. Therefore, Sun Wu's book writing is of great significance. "

Fan Chuan's collected works: thirteen of his grandson's works. Since Wu's death, those who have won or lost a thousand years old have matched Wu's works one by one.

Sun Wu's theory on the three Su's strategies: in ancient times, there was no Sun Tzu who said that a soldier was born. There are hundreds of ways to fight, defend, attack and encircle. Although we want to add them, we don't know why.

Ming Shi Lu: from my point of view, the book of martial arts is mixed with the book of ancient power, which is not pure ear. It is true to say that "it is the most inhumane" and "it is not the master of victory". There must be some teaching in the book of covering martial arts, but the skill of martial arts can't be as good as the book.

Qi Jiguang: after reading sun Wushu, he sighed: "the art of war is its arsenal! How can we use the weapons of the storehouse! The art of war is full of medicine! It's the best way to use troops Over the past few years, I had no experience in eastern Zhejiang, but I knew Sun Wu's method, and his program was very delicate. The second is to start detailed programs, none of which is as good as Zen.

Wei Liaozi: who is the Duke of Huan. There are those who mention 70000 people, but the world is not worthy of them. If you mention thirty thousand people and the world is not worthy of it, who is called Wuzi.

Han Fei: in the territory, soldiers are spoken, and those who have collected the books of Sun Wu have them. The weaker the soldiers are, the more they speak about war, and the less they wear armor.

Bai Gui: "when I was in charge of production, Yiyin and LV Shangzhi were still in charge of it. Sun Wu was in charge of it, and Shang Yang was in charge of it

Chinese PinYin : Sun Wu