The present book The Art of War is an ancient Chinese war treatise. It is estimated to be written in 15th century BC. It is attributed to ancient China’s war and military strategist Sun Tzu. This book is written in over thirteen chapters, each comprising of one strategy or trick of the warfare in explicit detail. Hence, this book has been rendered as one of the greatest works on the art of war and its strategy. It was placed at the head of China's Seven Military Classics upon the collection's creation in 1080 by Emperor Shenzong of Song, and has long been the most influential strategy text in East Asia. It has had an influence on Eastern and Western military thinking, business tactics, legal strategy and beyond. 

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CONTENTS

 Preface—5

 Introduction—11

1. Laying Plans—47

2. Waging War—53

3. Attack by Stratagem—58

4. Tactical Dispositions—65

5. Energy—70

6. Weak Points and Strong—78

7. Maneuvering—87

8. Variation in Tactics—98

9. The Army on the March—106

10. Terrain—119

11. The Nine Situations—128

12. The Attack by Fire—157

13. The use of Spies—165

Sun Tzu was an influential Chinese army chief and war strategist during 544-496 BC. It is believed that he was the writer of one of the renowned war epics The Art of War, a widely influential work of military strategy that has affected both Western and Eastern philosophy.Sun Tzu is revered in Chinese and the Culture of Asia as a legendary historical figure. His birth name was Sun Wu. The name Sun Tzu by which he is best known in the West is an honorific which means "Master Sun".Sun Tzu's historicity is uncertain. SimaQian and other traditional historians placed him as a minister to King Helü of Wu and dated his lifetime to 544–496 BC. Modern scholars accepting his historicity nonetheless place the existing text of The Art of War in the later Warring States period based upon its style of composition and its descriptions of warfare.