AI generated watercolor illustration of Sun Tzu.

Updated 4 November, 2024 - 12:30 Aleksa Vučković

The Art of War in Sun Tzu’s Era: Military philosophy and its application

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The great Ancient Chinese thinkers were truly ahead of their time. Observing the world through a truly complex lens, they managed to leave such a lofty legacy that their works are admired even today, millennia later. Sun Tzu is arguably the most renowned Chinese thinker, with his most famous work being the Art of War. Written in the late 6th century BC, it continues to inspire and teach readers to this very day. But there are still some questions that are left unanswered. For one, why was military philosophy so important to the Ancient Chinese? And how did they apply the Art of War into their pre-existing strategies?

The Art of War in a War-Torn Land

Sun Tzu was one of the most renowned philosophers of his era. He lived during the Spring and Autumn period of Ancient China, which lasted roughly from 770 to 481 BC. This was an era marked by tumult and political fragmentation in the region, which, of course, was accompanied by near-constant warfare. During this time, the ruling Zhou Dynasty slowly dissipated, and began losing its central authority as regional lords quickly rose in power and independence. Immediately after came the period known as the Warring States, lasting from 475 to 221 BC. During this era numerous competing Chinese states, which were born from the rise of regional lords, now competed for domination and the ultimate rule over China. All of this made the era in which Sun Tzu wrote and lived instrumental for the shaping of his military philosophy.

An illustration of Sun Tzu dated to the Qing Dynasty. (Public Domain)

By the time Sun Tzu lived, the Zhou Dynasty King was merely a figurehead, and held no real power in China. Instead, the competing noble families grew increasingly independent, and began vying for power. These were warlords and petty kings of many states, such Wu, Jin, Qi, and Chu, who warred almost constantly. Their conflicts were also projected to be a political and ideological struggle for legitimacy and survival as well. However, their military clashes called for the development of new strategies and tactics, since the ones they already used were largely shared, and made military innovations challenging.