This ancient Chinese work on military strategy by Master Sun is dating back a period in Chinese
history where the central feudal state governed by the Zhou rulers was in decline with the
result that regional rulers waged war among themselves to gain supremacy over each other. Sun
living at some time during the Spring and Autumn period (770-476 B.C.) was a military leader
who wrote a remarkable piece of work dealing with the thirteen strategical principles
(strategems) to be applied in warfare. His text is considered the oldest book on military
strategy and what he wrote was studied and considered useful and applied many centuries later
inside and outside military. This book is in its essence a psychology and philosophy of war
dealing with opponents in military struggle and civil life alike. The principles elaborated on
are appreciated by leaders of military business corporations and in sports today.
