On the one hand, people admire Sun Tzu's Art of War, on the other hand, there are questions: Is the author of Sun Tzu's Art of War really Sun Wu?
The Biography of Sun Tzu's Wu Qi in Historical Records describes in detail Sun Wu's visit to the king of Wu with thirteen articles on the art of war, which left a very deep impression on him. Sun Wu was worshipped as a general, purged the army, and comprehensively and rapidly improved Wu Jun's combat effectiveness. As a result, Wu conquered Chu in the west, Jin in the north and Yue in the south, and dominated the Central Plains. For thousands of years, most people have always recognized this historical fact.
However, Chen in the Song Dynasty, Ye Shi and Yao Jiheng in the Qing Dynasty characterized Sun Tzu's Art of War as a fake book, and denied the era and author of Sun Tzu's Art of War for the following reasons:
First, Zuo Zhuan was written in the Spring and Autumn Period, earlier than Historical Records of Hanshu. However, in Zuo Zhuan's account of the war with Lu, Sun Wu's name was not mentioned. It can be seen that there may not be Sun Wu in the Spring and Autumn Period.
Second, Historical Records not only records the situation of Sun Wu's use of troops, but also records the situation of Sun Bin's use of troops. Clearly talk about Sun Tzu's art of war and vaguely describe Sun Bin's theory of art of war. Have you confused the two military books? Perhaps the real author of Sun Tzu's Art of War is Sun Bin.
Third, Sun Tzu's Art of War used words that were not applicable or did not exist at the end of the Spring and Autumn Period. So this art of war may have been forged by later generations under the guise of Sun Wu. For example, in the Spring and Autumn Period, only doctors were called the mainstay, while the art of war repeatedly called you the mainstay; During the Spring and Autumn Period, all countries fought on a small scale, and there were hundreds of chariots in a big battle. Sun Tzu's Art of War mentioned 1000 chariots and 100,000 sergeants, which should describe the scale of the war during the Warring States Period. During the Spring and Autumn Period, monarchs often went out in person and led troops to fight against generals. There is no case in Sun Tzu's Art of War that "your life will not be affected without you". Moreover, Sun Tzu's Art of War once mentioned the "arrow crossbow". The crossbow was invented in the Warring States Period, but not in the Spring and Autumn Period. "Bai, Men, and Sheren" were all official names in the Warring States period, but they did not exist in the Spring and Autumn Period. But art books are using them. So people suspect that the Art of War was written by the Warring States.
Some scholars insist that the Art of War was written by Sun Wu, and the Records of Literature and Art clearly divided the authors of the Art of War into Qi Sunzi (Sun Bin) and Wu Sunzi (Sun Wu). Sima Qian is famous for his rigorous scholarship. How can Sun Wu and Sun Bin be confused? It is also possible that Sun Wuzhi was occasionally omitted from Zuo Zhuan. As for Sun Tzu's Art of War, there are some words that are only available in later generations, probably added to the catalogue of later generations. But this can't hide the ideological brilliance of the original work at all, and it can't change the fact that the original author is Sun Wu.
Some scholars believe that Sun Tzu's Art of War should be written by Sun Wu and his disciples. After Sun Wu helped Wu strengthen his military strength and became the overlord of the Central Plains, he retired to teach and educate people in the countryside. While teaching his own military thoughts, Sun Wu summarized and improved Sun Tzu's Art of War. While studying military theory, techniques and tactics, all the disciples helped Sun Wu sort out and copy military books. Through the joint efforts of several generations of disciples, the content of Sun Tzu's Art of War is more substantial and the system is more scientific and complete. However, with the passage of time and historical changes, the Art of War inevitably added or deleted some words that were inconsistent with the background at that time, and Bai Bi added defects. But this does not affect the spiritual essence of the original work. Sun Wu's profound military thought has not changed. It is true that the Art of War was written by Sun Wu.
1972 In February, archaeologists excavated a batch of bamboo slips in the No.1 Han Tomb in Yinxingshan, Shandong Province, and found the earliest Art of War by Sun Tzu and Sun Bin. It proves that the military works of two famous military strategists, Sun Wu and Sun Bin, do exist. Although the age of the tomb has been verified as the early Western Han Dynasty, it is impossible to determine the date when the Art of War was written, and it is impossible to prove that Sun Tzu is Sun Wu.
Is Sun Wu the author of Sun Tzu's Art of War? With new scientific discoveries and in-depth study by historians, we will solve this mystery sooner or later.