Character guide

Sun Tzǔ

major

Also known as Sun Wu, Sun Tzǔ Wu, Wu, Sun

Sun Tzǔ composed his thirteen chapters for Ho Lu, King of Wu, and the text's internal address to a ruler still shapes how every maxim lands. He insists that armed force is a last resort, yet his brevity and clarity have made generals and poets alike study him for two thousand years. His commentators quarrel over his obscurities, which is precisely why the reader must decide what he means.

Tu Mu

supporting

Also known as 杜牧 Tu Mu

Tu Mu was a bright star of Tang poetry who read widely in the military history of the Ch'un Ch'iu and Chan Kuo eras, though he never commanded troops himself. His notes are copious and packed with historical parallels, and he summarized Sun Tzǔ's gist as practicing benevolence and justice while making full use of artifice. Later commentators found him long-winded and sometimes at odds with Ts'ao Kung, but his enthusiasm for the subject makes his marginal voice one of the most engaging in the text.

Capt. E. F. Calthrop

minor

Also known as Capt. Calthrop, Calthrop, Capt

An early English translator of The Art of War.

Chang Yü

supporting

Also known as Chang

Chang Yü belongs to the long chain of commentators whose glosses accumulated around Sun Tzǔ's text across the centuries. The tradition he represents is what turned thirteen terse chapters into a living school of interpretation, quoted and disputed by generals and scholars alike. His presence in the apparatus reminds the reader that The Art of War was never read alone.

Tsʽao Kung

supporting

Also known as Tsʽao, Kung

Ts'ao Kung was the first to write a commentary on The Art of War, and his opinion on Sun Tzǔ carries the weight of a man who actually commanded armies. He disputes with Han Hsin the highest place in Chinese military annals, and later commentators measure themselves against him, quoting him first even when they disagree. His glosses are the spine of the commentarial tradition, which is why every subsequent reader of Sun Tzǔ is also, in some sense, reading Ts'ao Kung.

Mei Yao-chʽên

minor

Also known as Mei Yao, Mei Yao - Chʽên

A Sung dynasty poet and commentator on Sun Tzǔ.

Wang Hsi

minor

Also known as Wang, Hsi, Wang - tzǔ

A commentator on The Art of War from the Sung period.

Han Hsin

minor

Also known as 漢 Han

A brilliant Han dynasty general cited in the text.

Chʽên Hao

minor

Also known as 陳皡 Chʽên Hao

A commentator on Sun Tzǔ's military treatise.

Li Chʽüan

minor

A Tang dynasty writer who annotated Sun Tzǔ.

Ho Lu

supporting

Also known as 闔盧 Ho Lu, King Ho Lu

Ho Lu, King of Wu, is the ruler addressed in the opening chapter's 'The general that hearkens to my counsel,' and the internal evidence of the text confirms that some sovereign is being spoken to. He tested Sun Tzǔ's principles on women, then made him a general, and the campaigns that followed crushed the Ch'u state and kept Ch'i and Chin in awe. His willingness to test a theory before trusting it is the hinge on which Sun Tzǔ's career turns.

Ho Shih

minor

Also known as 何氏 Ho Shih, Shih

A commentator on The Art of War.

Confucius

minor

The great Chinese philosopher, quoted in the commentaries.

Sun Hsing-yen

minor

Also known as Sun

A scholar who edited and commented on Sun Tzǔ's text.

Chao Kua

minor

Also known as Kua

A Zhao general whose defeat is cited as a cautionary tale.

Prince Chuang of Chʽu

minor

Also known as Chʽu

A ruler of Chʽu known for his military campaigns.

Wu Chʽi

minor

Also known as 吳起 Wu Chʽi, Chʽi

A Chinese military leader and legalist philosopher.

Lü Mêng

minor

Also known as Mêng Shih, 呂蒙 Lü Mêng

A Wu general from the Three Kingdoms period.

Ssǔ-ma Chʽien

minor

The Han dynasty historian, source of many anecdotes.

Tsʽao Tsʽao

minor

A Han dynasty warlord and commentator on Sun Tzǔ.

King of Wu

minor

Also known as Ho Lü, Wu

The ruler who employed Sun Tzǔ as a general.

King of Yüeh

minor

Also known as Yüeh

The ruler of Yüeh, often in conflict with Wu.

Père Amiot

minor

A French Jesuit who translated Sun Tzǔ into French.

Chu Hsi

minor

A Neo-Confucian scholar referenced in the text.

Huang Ti

minor

Also known as Shih Huang Ti

The Yellow Emperor, legendary founder of Chinese civilization.

Ou-yang Hsiu

minor

Also known as 歐陽修 Ou - yang Hsiu

A Song dynasty scholar and official cited in the text.

Yeh Shui-hsin

minor

A Song dynasty scholar cited in the bibliography.

Tu Yu

minor

Also known as 杜佑 Tu Yu, Yu

A Tang dynasty scholar and commentator on military classics.

Pan Chʽao

minor

A Han dynasty general mentioned in the commentaries.

Chia Lin

minor

Also known as Lin

A Tang dynasty commentator on The Art of War.

Tʽien Chi

minor

Also known as 田忌 Tʽien Chi, Chʽi

A general of Chʽi state mentioned in historical examples.

Sun Pin

minor

Also known as 孫臏 Sun Pin, Pin

A descendant of Sun Tzǔ and military strategist.

Tung Cho

minor

Also known as 董卓 Tung Cho, Cho

A warlord from the Three Kingdoms period, cited in examples.

Napoleon Bonaparte

minor

Also known as Bonaparte

The French emperor, referenced as a modern military example.

Mêng Ta

minor

Also known as 孟達 Mêng Ta

A Shu Han general mentioned in the commentaries.

Pʽang Chüan

minor

A Wei general defeated by Sun Pin in a famous battle.

Li Ching

minor

Also known as 李靖 Li Ching

A Tang dynasty general and military writer.

Hannibal

minor

The Carthaginian general, cited as a military exemplar.

Wellington

minor

The Duke of Wellington, referenced in modern comparisons.

Marshal Turenne

minor

Also known as Turenne

A French marshal mentioned in the preface.

Tsʽao Kuei

minor

Also known as 曹劌 Tsʽao Kuei

A strategist from the Spring and Autumn period.

Wei Liao Tzǔ

minor

Also known as 魏 Wei, Wei Liao

A Chinese military text author cited in the work.

Lü Pu

minor

Also known as Tʽien Pu

A warlord from the Three Kingdoms era, mentioned briefly.

Stonewall Jackson

minor

Also known as Jackson

A Confederate general referenced in the preface.

Tʽai Kung

minor

A legendary Chinese strategist and advisor to King Wen.

Chao Shê

minor

A Zhao general known for his military skill.

Wang Chien

minor

A Qin general who conquered the Zhao state.

Ssǔ-ma I

minor

Also known as 司馬懿 Ssǔ - ma I

A Wei general and strategist from the Three Kingdoms.

Ssǔ-ma Jang-chü

minor

Also known as Jang - chu

A Spring and Autumn period military commander.

Kou Chien

minor

Also known as 勾踐 Kou Chien

The King of Yüeh who defeated Wu.

Chʽao Kung-wu

minor

Also known as 鼂公武 Chʽao Kung - wu

A Song dynasty bibliographer cited in the text.

Chu-ko Liang

minor

The Shu Han chancellor and military strategist.

Col. Henderson

minor

Also known as Henderson

A British military writer referenced in the preface.

Chou Hsin

minor

Also known as Chou

The last Shang king, overthrown by King Wu.

Yao Hsiang

minor

Also known as 姚襄 Yao Hsiang

A Jin dynasty rebel general mentioned in examples.

Lung Chü

minor

Also known as 龍且 Lung Chü

A Qi general defeated by Han Hsin.

M. Chavannes

minor

Also known as Chavannes

A French sinologist cited in the preface.

Mencius

minor

The Confucian philosopher, quoted in the work.

General Grant

minor

Ulysses S. Grant, mentioned in the preface.

Frederick the Great

minor

Also known as Frederick

The Prussian king, cited as a military leader.

Lien Pʽo

minor

Also known as 廉頗 Lien Pʽo

A Zhao general from the Warring States period.

Duke Chuang of Lu

minor

Also known as Lu

A Lu ruler involved in the battle of Chʽang-shao.

Wu Yüan

minor

Also known as 伍員 Wu Yüan, Yüan

A Wu statesman and general, also known as Wu Zixu.

Duke Ching of Chʽi

minor

Also known as Chʽi

A Qi ruler mentioned in the commentaries.

Legge

minor

James Legge, a Scottish sinologist referenced in the work.

Kao Tsu

minor

The founder of the Han dynasty, mentioned in examples.

Hsün Ying

minor

Also known as 荀罃 Hsün Ying

A Jin general from the Spring and Autumn period.

Kung-tzǔ Kuang

minor

Also known as 公子光 Kung - tzǔ Kuang, Kuang

A prince of Wu who later became King Ho Lu.

Chêng Yu-hsien

minor

A Qing dynasty editor of Sun Tzǔ's text.

Tʽai Tsung

minor

Also known as Tʽang Emperor Tʽai Tsung

The Tang emperor who wrote on military strategy.

Fu Yen-chʽing

minor

Also known as Fu

A Tang dynasty general mentioned in the text.

Pʽei Hsing-chien

minor

Also known as 裴行儉 Pʽei Hsing - chien

A Tang dynasty general and diplomat.

Ching Kʽo

minor

Also known as 荆軻 Ching Kʽo

An assassin who attempted to kill the Qin king.

Êrh-chu Chao

minor

Also known as Chao

A Northern Wei general mentioned in the commentaries.