Sunzi

(flourished 5th century BC) Chinese military strategist. A general who served the state of Wu late in the Spring and Autumn period (770–476 BC), he is traditionally regarded as the author of the earliest known treatise on war and military science, The Art of War, though it was more likely written early in the Warring States period (475–221 BC). A systematic guide to strategy and tactics, it discusses various maneuvers and the effect of terrain, stresses the importance of accurate information about the enemy's forces, and emphasizes the unpredictability of battle and the need for flexible responses. Its insistence on the close relationship between political considerations and military policy influenced modern strategists, notably Mao Zedong.