Ofthe4,000-oddbooksonmilitarystrategyproducedoverthecourseofChinesehistory,TheArtofWarisalmostunanimouslyacknowledgedasthemostoustanding.ItwaswrittenbySumWu(SunTzu),awell-knowngeneralduringthelateSpringandAtutmnPeriod,som2,500yerasage.Thefactthatamanandthebookhewrotedstillexertaprofoundinflueceouer2,500yerssincehisdeathsurelymakesonewanttofindoutexactlywhatakindofmanSunTzuwasandwhatexactlyheworoteabout.