# The Art of War — Character guide

> Key figures in The Art of War by Sun Tzu.

- [Sun Tzǔ](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_art_of_war_se/characters/sun_tzu.md): 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 
- [Tu Mu](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_art_of_war_se/characters/tu_mu.md): 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, a
- [Capt. E. F. Calthrop](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_art_of_war_se/characters/capt_calthrop.md): An early English translator of The Art of War.
- [Chang Yü](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_art_of_war_se/characters/chang_yu.md): 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 interpre
- [Tsʽao Kung](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_art_of_war_se/characters/tsao_kung.md): 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 anna
- [Mei Yao-chʽên](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_art_of_war_se/characters/mei_yao_chen.md): A Sung dynasty poet and commentator on Sun Tzǔ.
- [Wang Hsi](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_art_of_war_se/characters/wang_hsi.md): A commentator on The Art of War from the Sung period.
- [Han Hsin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_art_of_war_se/characters/han_hsin.md): A brilliant Han dynasty general cited in the text.
- [Chʽên Hao](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_art_of_war_se/characters/chen_hao.md): A commentator on Sun Tzǔ's military treatise.
- [Li Chʽüan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_art_of_war_se/characters/li_chuan.md): A Tang dynasty writer who annotated Sun Tzǔ.
- [Ho Lu](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_art_of_war_se/characters/ho_lu.md): 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 pri
- [Ho Shih](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_art_of_war_se/characters/ho_shih.md): A commentator on The Art of War.
- [Confucius](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_art_of_war_se/characters/confucius.md): The great Chinese philosopher, quoted in the commentaries.
- [Sun Hsing-yen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_art_of_war_se/characters/sun_hsing_yen.md): A scholar who edited and commented on Sun Tzǔ's text.
- [Chao Kua](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_art_of_war_se/characters/chao_kua.md): A Zhao general whose defeat is cited as a cautionary tale.
- [Prince Chuang of Chʽu](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_art_of_war_se/characters/prince_chuang_of_chu.md): A ruler of Chʽu known for his military campaigns.
- [Wu Chʽi](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_art_of_war_se/characters/wu_chi.md): A Chinese military leader and legalist philosopher.
- [Lü Mêng](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_art_of_war_se/characters/lu_meng.md): A Wu general from the Three Kingdoms period.
- [Ssǔ-ma Chʽien](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_art_of_war_se/characters/ssu_ma_chien.md): The Han dynasty historian, source of many anecdotes.
- [Tsʽao Tsʽao](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_art_of_war_se/characters/tsao_tsao.md): A Han dynasty warlord and commentator on Sun Tzǔ.
- [King of Wu](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_art_of_war_se/characters/king_of_wu.md): The ruler who employed Sun Tzǔ as a general.
- [King of Yüeh](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_art_of_war_se/characters/king_of_yueh.md): The ruler of Yüeh, often in conflict with Wu.
- [Père Amiot](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_art_of_war_se/characters/pere_amiot.md): A French Jesuit who translated Sun Tzǔ into French.
- [Chu Hsi](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_art_of_war_se/characters/chu_hsi.md): A Neo-Confucian scholar referenced in the text.
- [Huang Ti](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_art_of_war_se/characters/huang_ti.md): The Yellow Emperor, legendary founder of Chinese civilization.
- [Ou-yang Hsiu](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_art_of_war_se/characters/ou_yang_hsiu.md): A Song dynasty scholar and official cited in the text.
- [Yeh Shui-hsin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_art_of_war_se/characters/yeh_shui_hsin.md): A Song dynasty scholar cited in the bibliography.

HTML index: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_art_of_war_se/characters