Sun Tzu Timeline

(c. 544 BC – c. 496 BC)

Sun Tzu was an ancient Chinese military general, strategist, and philosopher traditionally credited with authoring 'The Art of War,' one of the most influential works on military strategy ever written. His teachings on warfare, leadership, and deception continue to influence military thought, business strategy, and philosophy worldwide. More Less

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Life and Legend

Sun Tzu traditionally credited as author of The Art of War

544 BC - 496 BC

Sun Tzu, also known as Sun Wu, is traditionally credited as the author of The Art of War, a Classical Chinese text on military strategy. However, the earliest parts of the work probably date to at least a century after his lifetime.

Image source: Sun Tzu

Sun Tzu traditionally credited as author of The Art of War

The Art of War composed during the Warring States period

475 BC - 221 BC

The earliest parts of The Art of War probably date to at least a century after Sun Tzu's lifetime, during the Warring States period, causing much confusion as to when the text was actually written.

Image source: The Art of War

Sun Wu and Sun Bin both referred to as "Sun Tzu"

400 BC

Since both Sun Wu and Sun Bin were referred to as "Sun Tzu" in classical Chinese texts, some historians believed they were identical figures prior to the rediscovery of Sun Bin's treatise in 1972.

Image source: Sun Bin

Historicity Debates

Zuo Zhuan written without mention of Sun Tzu

300 BC

The Zuo Zhuan, written centuries earlier than Sima Qian's Records of the Grand Historian, provides a much more detailed account of the Battle of Boju yet does not mention Sun Tzu at all, despite mentioning most other notable figures of the Spring and Autumn period.

Image source: Zuo Zhuan

Sima Qian claims Sun Tzu proved his theories at the Battle of Boju

91 BC

In the Records of the Grand Historian, Sima Qian claimed that Sun Tzu had proved on the battlefield that his theories were effective at the Battle of Boju, an account later challenged by scholars who noted the Zuo Zhuan's silence on him.

Image source: Records of the Grand Historian

Sima Qian claims Sun Tzu proved his theories at the Battle of Boju

Chinese scholars begin to doubt Sun Tzu's historical existence

1100

Beginning in the 12th century during the Song dynasty, several Chinese scholars began to doubt the historical existence of Sun Tzu, questioning the traditional accounts of his life.

Scholars assign The Art of War to start of Warring States period

1150 - 1900

Since the 12th century, most scholars from the Song and Qing dynasties along with modern Chinese, Japanese and Western scholars have followed Ye Shi in assigning The Art of War to the beginning of the Warring States period.

Ye Shi notices Zuo Zhuan omits Sun Tzu entirely

1150 - 1223

During the Song dynasty, Ye Shi (1150–1223) noticed that the Zuo Zhuan does not mention Sun Tzu at all, despite Sima Qian's claim that Sun Tzu had proved his theories at the Battle of Boju, fueling skepticism about his existence.

Image source: Ye Shi

Liang Qichao theorizes Sun Bin wrote the Art of War

1900

In the early 20th century, the Chinese writer and reformer Liang Qichao theorized that the text of The Art of War was actually written in the 4th century BC by Sun Bin, a purported descendant of Sun Tzu.

Image source: Liang Qichao

Yinque Shan bamboo slips unearthed in Shandong

1972

Construction workers accidentally unearthed bamboo slips containing The Art of War at Yinque Shan in Shandong in 1972; the slips had been sealed between 134 and 118 BC, bolstering the later dating of the text.

Image source: Yinqueshan Han Slips

Rediscovery of Sun Bin's treatise resolves identity question

1972

Prior to the rediscovery of Sun Bin's treatise in 1972, some historians thought Sun Wu and Sun Bin were identical because both were referred to as "Sun Tzu" in classical Chinese texts; the discovery settled the debate.

Commentaries and Translations

Cao Cao authors earliest known commentary to The Art of War

200

In the early 3rd century of the Common Era, the strategist and warlord Cao Cao authored the earliest known commentary to The Art of War, which would become one of the most frequently cited interpretations of the text.

Meng Shi writes commentary on The Art of War

502 - 557

Meng Shi (502–557) produced one of the later commentaries on The Art of War that was frequently cited alongside Cao Cao's in Ji Tianbao's 12th-century compilation.

Du You authors commentary on The Art of War

735 - 812

Du You (735–812), the Tang dynasty scholar best known for the Tongdian, also produced a commentary on The Art of War that became part of the standard corpus of annotations.

Image source: Du You

Li Quan writes commentary on The Art of War

750

Li Quan (c. 750) wrote a commentary on The Art of War that became frequently cited after its inclusion in Ji Tianbao's 12th-century collection of commentaries.

Jia Lin writes commentary on The Art of War

770

Jia Lin (c. late 8th century) contributed a commentary to The Art of War that was preserved in Ji Tianbao's collection of commentaries compiled in the 12th century.

Du Mu authors commentary on The Art of War

803 - 852

Du Mu (803–852), the celebrated Tang dynasty poet, wrote a commentary on The Art of War that was later included in Ji Tianbao's 12th-century compilation of frequently cited commentaries.

Image source: Du Mu

Mei Yaochen authors commentary on The Art of War

1002 - 1060

Mei Yaochen (1002–1060), the Song dynasty poet, produced a commentary on The Art of War that was included among the frequently cited annotations in Ji Tianbao's compilation.

Image source: Mei Yaochen

Emperor Shenzong formalizes Seven Military Classics with Art of War as lead text

1080

In 1080, Emperor Shenzong of Song formalized the Seven Military Classics anthology, with The Art of War serving as its lead text — a position it held for almost 1,500 years.

Image source: Seven Military Classics

Emperor Shenzong formalizes Seven Military Classics with Art of War as lead text

He Yanxi authors commentary on The Art of War

1080

He Yanxi (c. late 11th century) wrote a commentary on The Art of War that was preserved among the frequently cited commentaries in Ji Tianbao's 12th-century collection.

Wang Xi authors commentary on The Art of War

1082

Wang Xi (c. 1082) wrote a commentary on The Art of War that became part of the frequently cited commentaries included in Ji Tianbao's 12th-century collection.

Ji Tianbao compiles collected commentaries on The Art of War

1100 - 1199

In the 12th century, Ji Tianbao compiled a collection of commentaries on The Art of War including Cao Cao's commentary along with those of Meng Shi, Li Quan, Jia Lin, Du You, Du Mu, Chen Hao, Mei Yaochen, Wang Xi, He Yanxi, and Zhang Yu.

Zhang Yu authors commentary on The Art of War

1127 - 1279

Zhang Yu (c. Southern Song dynasty) wrote a commentary on The Art of War that was included in Ji Tianbao's 12th-century collection of frequently cited commentaries.

Amiot publishes first French translation of The Art of War

1772

The French Jesuit priest Jean Joseph Marie Amiot translated The Art of War into French and published it in 1772; it was re-published in 1782, introducing the text to European readers.

Image source: Jean Joseph Marie Amiot

Calthrop publishes partial English translation as The Book of War

1905

British officer Everard Ferguson Calthrop attempted a partial translation of The Art of War into English in 1905 under the title The Book of War.

Image source: Sun Tzu

Key Facts

Sun Tzu is traditionally credited as the author of 'The Art of War' (Sunzi Bingfa), a classic Chinese military treatise comprising 13 chapters.
He served as a general under King Helü of Wu during the Spring and Autumn period of Chinese history.
His philosophy emphasized winning without fighting, stressing the importance of strategy, intelligence, deception, and knowing both oneself and one's enemy.
The historicity of Sun Tzu is debated among scholars; some believe he may be a legendary or composite figure rather than a single historical individual.
'The Art of War' has been widely translated and continues to be applied in modern contexts including business management, sports, law, and political strategy.

Source

This Sun Tzu timeline was generated with the help of AI, using information found on the internet.

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