The Enduring Art
Sun Wu’s seminal battlefield strategies continue to inspire leaders in various fields.
New ways mostly reign supreme in the sphere of modern sports coaching.
Advances in sports science have changed the way elite athletes eat, train, and think. Despite this progress some of the finest team achievements in recent history have drawn inspiration from the past, through “The Art of War”, an ancient Chinese text dating back to the pre-Christian era.
Revered coaches including Luis Felipe Scolari, Phil Jackson, and Bill Belichick — respectively a soccer World Cup winner, an NBA legend, and a man reckoned to be the all-time greatest American Football trainer — operate in different fields of sporting battle.
What they have in common is their reverence for Sun Wu’s seminal military treatise, each citing “The Art of War” as a key source for their winning strategies.
Few ancient texts have stood the test of time as successfully as “The Art of War”.
An Influential Classic
A fascinating mixture of poetry and pragmatism, it has shaped Eastern and Western military thinking for generations. Much of the text is about how to outsmart an opponent without having to engage in physical battle. As such, it has also left an indelible mark on the fields of sport, politics, and business, with figures ranging from the likes of Belichick and co. to successful CEOs and political titans finding inspiration in its teachings.
In the corporate sphere, reading “The Art of War” is a rite of passage, for years entrepreneurs and executives have turned to the text for advice on how to succeed in competitive business situations. Despite being written several millennia ago, it continues to resonate today, online networking community CEO.com includes it on its list of Leadership Books to Read Before You Die.
The Art of Diplomacy
The mists of time have obscured the exact origins of “The Art of War”. Most scholars believe it dates from between 475 and 221 BCE. The details of Sun Wu’s life are equally blurred. But it is widely held that he was a general in the Kingdom of Wu and that his words addressed a would-be commander. What is beyond doubt is the prescience of the author’s knowledge about warfare and tactical training.
The premise of “The Art of War” is that diplomacy should take precedence over war. If a battle is unavoidable, foes should be countered by a combination of peaceful resolutions and aggressive warfare. This philosophy mirrors the Taoist principles of yin and yang (or opposing but complementary forces).
Sun Wu delivers his strategies throughout 13 short chapters, each focusing on a different aspect of war. Its succinct teachings are easy to understand. It is reasonable to assess that its brevity and accessible language are major factors in its enduring appeal.
Through the passage of time, its advice has become legendary. Key teachings such as “keep your friends close, and keep your enemies closer”, “a leader leads by example, not force”, and “if the mind is willing, the flesh could go on and on without many things” have become commonplace across the globe.
The First Steps to Wisdom
In China, Sun Wu’s wisdom has been passed down through generations. The influence of his teachings has spread throughout the whole of East Asia over the centuries. The text reached a wider global audience after being translated into French, Russian, and English.
Audiences can learn more about Sun Wu and his accomplishments on “China in the Classics” which tells the stories of some of history’s most fascinating cultural achievements. From the “Analects of Confucius” to the “Compendium of Materia Medica”, the series brings history alive through narrative storytelling.
Sun Wu’s episode explores his life as a general and strategist in the Wu Kingdom, culminating in the completion of “The Art of War”, a masterpiece of matchless wisdom revered to this day.
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