The Art Of War By Sun Tzu Analysis

The Art of War by Sun Tzu, A book so famous that it remains taught in colleges around the world. Written by a man so well versed in warfare that generals throughout the ages consulted his work. Despite all of the guidance Sun Tzu’s work has provided, the irony still exists that no one knows for sure if he was a real person. It is widely believed that the text itself was written by a single individual, though who that individual was is not known. For Sun Tzu, deception is the key to warfare, and his skill in that particular art was such that he deceived history from truly knowing if he existed. The individual who would later come to be known as Sun Tzu is said to have existed sometime during China’s Warring States period; a time that, despite …show more content…
This fact; however, does not mean that the book is as old as it is claimed to be. In fact, it is because of the many battles the text assisted in winning that the age of the text is unclear. When the text was found it was written upon bamboo shoots tied together with tassels. These tassels were degraded to the point of decay, and so many of the guidelines of warfare seem to be out of place. The setup of the book is, for the most part, extremely linear. However, multiple times throughout the text one will find points made that would be better suited for a different chapter of the text. This factor not only creates confusion among the students of the text, it also creates a certain amount of debate as to the age of the text itself. Even into the modern era, many individuals attempt to reformat the text into what some believe would make more sense. This factor can be seen among the great warlords that have studied the …show more content…
To Sun Tzu, winning the battle before one even has to fight it is the greatest of accomplishments, and should be the ultimate goal of every war. As a philosopher, Sun Tzu operated on a different level than many of the individuals of his time. Sun Tzu valued the common man and skill over nobility. A basic knowledge of warfare is described by Sun Tzu as being the minimum requirement for officers. This provided an opportunity for the common man to be recognized in battle or by the strategy they provide. Such an opportunity was rarely heard of before the Art of War surfaced, and in doing so caused birthright to be a much less valuable factor in war. Sun Tzu’s life, work, and legacy continues to be viewed under the studious eyes of those who look to him in warfare. Did Sun Tzu ever truly exist, or was he in fact just a scapegoat for another truly great mind. Does it even matter? Sun Tzu’s work on warfare applies to almost every aspect of life, granting those who read it a greater understanding of the path in which they need to