Why did Sun Tzu write the Art of War?

Answer 1

Sun Tzu (孙子, deferential address), whose name is Sun Wu (孙武), was born in a wealthy family, which provided him a good learning environment. When he was young, he had read a lot of military classics and felt deeply attracted. And the age of chaos gave him chances to witness numerous victories and defeats on the battlefields. After a lot of studies made, he summed up valuable experience which he was confident in. Everyone wants his thoughts proved in practice, so did Sun Tzu. He was eager to use the tactics to serve Qi (齐国, his homeland) but despaired by the corruption of Qi's ruling class. He decided to leave and went south to Wu (吴国, a newly rising kingdom) where he heard of the king was preparing to wage a war against another large kingdom Chu (楚国) and was hiring intellectuals. In order to meet the king, something was needed to introduce himself so he presented his work, the Art of War (maybe one or two volumes of it). Soon the king grant an interview to him and was very glad to talk with him. After some further tests, he was appointed the chief military adviser and general. Under the leadership of Sun Tzu, Chu's army was suffered great losses when encountered with Wu's. Thus, Wu's hegemony among other kingdoms was established. Briefly, the Art of War was his proposition, the means to fulfill his aspiration.