·Wu
Born in the Age of Warring States
By tradition born into a time of ceaseless war among the Chinese states, he rose as a general in the service of Wu.
Whether one man or a tradition, Sun Tzu left behind the Art of War, thirteen terse chapters that read less like a manual than a philosophy of effective action. Know yourself and know your enemy. Win first, then go to battle. The best victory costs nothing because it is won before a sword is drawn, by position, timing, and the shaping of the opponent's mind. Its insistence on deception, adaptation, and the careful reading of circumstance has outlived every battlefield it described, migrating into politics, business, and the daily art of getting things done.
By tradition born into a time of ceaseless war among the Chinese states, he rose as a general in the service of Wu.