~ 5th century BC ~
"The Art of War" is an ancient Chinese military treatise written by Sun Tzu, a military strategist. Dating back to the Late Spring and Autumn Period, the book is divided into 13 chapters covering various skills and arts related to warfare tactics and strategies. It has become the most influential strategy text in East Asian warfare, and has been found to be applicable in various non-military competitive fields such as espionage, culture, politics, business, and sports. The book teaches about the fundamental factors and elements that determine the outcomes of military engagements, the need for flexibility, and the importance of developing good information sources and intelligence. Many military and political leaders have cited the book as an inspiration, including Mao Zedong, Takeda Shingen, Võ Nguyên Giáp, Douglas MacArthur, and Norman Schwarzkopf Jr.