Sun Tzu (; also rendered as
Sun Zi) was a Chinese general, military strategist, and philosopher who lived in the
Spring and Autumn period of ancient China. Sun Tzu is traditionally credited as the author of
The Art of War, a widely influential work of
military strategy that has affected both Western and
Eastern philosophy. Aside from his legacy as the author of
The Art of War, Sun Tzu is revered in
Chinese and
Asian culture as a legendary historical figure. His birth name was
Sun Wu, and he was known outside of his family by his
courtesy name Changqing. The name
Sun Tzu by which he is best known in the West is an
honorific which means "Master
Sun".