Start your warrior journey here
"Therefore, the winning army first wins, and later seeks to do battle. The defeated army first battles, and later seeks to win."
- Sun Tzu, The Art of War
What's this site about?
The Sun Tzu Way (TSTW for short) is dedicated to sharing with readers personal reflections on applying the principles, tools, and wisdom of Sun Tzu's classic military text The Art of War to daily life. Far from being abstract or cliché, Sun Tzu's philosophy can help you overcome the different challenges you face in life - from relationship troubles to career or business issues to mental health or self-development struggles. This site helps bridge the gap between the military principles of Ancient China and the day-to-day grind of everyday life.
Who is this site for?
Although the content shared on this site can be useful for anyone, the site is designed for three kinds of people in particular:
Who was Sun Tzu?
Sun Tzu was a military strategist and general who lived in Ancient China during what is called the Eastern Zhou period (770 - 256 BC). If you know anything about this time period, then you know it was a very tumultuous and chaotic time in China. At the time Sun Tzu lived, China was broken up into smaller states. These states would constantly be at war with each other, allying together, splitting up, organizing and reorganizing. It was during this crazy, chaotic, and dangerous period that The Art of War was written.
Not much is known about Sun Tzu's life, except that he came from a long line of military officers. Known for his knowledge and wisdom, he was summoned to the court of King Helu, ruler of the state of Wu, who was facing a huge threat - the bigger and more powerful state of Ch'u. After being interviewed and demonstrating his skill, Sun Tzu was appointed general of Wu's armies. Facing an enemy ten times the size of his armies, Sun Tzu successfully utilized his principles to defeat the enemy states of Ch'u, Chin, and Ch'i, gaining prosperity for the state of Wu.
Afterwards, the legend goes, Sun Tzu withdrew from military life. No one knows how or when he died. What we do know is that his text The Art of War (Sun Tzu bing fa) has survived over 2,500 years to be used by generals, military academies, and businesses all around the globe - a testament to its timeless and universal philosophy.
What is The Art of War?
The Art of War, written approximately 2,500 years ago, describes how an army can achieve what Sun Tzu calls quan sheng - or "total victory." For Sun Tzu, it is the ultimate aim of the art of war - achieving a bloodless victory that leaves the nation stronger and more secure than it was before the war.
Comprised of 13 short chapters, originally written on bamboo strips, the text guides rulers and generals in the art of winning without battle in one of the most disruptive and turbulent periods in Ancient Chinese history.
Though the text is short and often is translated in an aphoristic style, The Art of War actually details a complex system of military principles, supported by a deep philosophical foundation. As such, the text requires many readings and re-readings to truly understand its complexity and insight into how to overcome conflict.
(For a good online translation of The Art of War to read, I suggest trying Sonshi.com's translation.)
What is the Sun Tzu Way?
The Sun Tzu Way is a practical, timeless, and battle-tested philosophy for dealing with the challenges and obstacles we face in everyday life. It is based on the principles and wisdom of Sun Tzu's The Art of War.
In Sun Tzu's time, as today, war was very costly for a nation. Not just in terms of money, but weapons, lives, and the overall spirit of a nation. As a result, a single war, even if won, could greatly weaken a nation, making it vulnerable to being attacked and taken over by other scheming neighboring rulers.
That's why, for Sun Tzu, when it comes to war, the most important thing a general needs to focus on is not defeating one's enemy, but on making sure that one can profit from victory. Not simply winning battles and gaining fame, but making sure the nation is stronger and more secure after the war than it was before. Sun Tzu calls this aim an - which translates to peace, calm, security.
In other words, the ultimate goal is not winning, but making winning pay. This is what Sun Tzu refers to as total victory (quan sheng). It forms the basis of his military philosophy.
This same philosophy can be applied to everyday life. Life is a constant struggle. We struggle with our coworkers, our spouses, our children, our bosses, our competitors, and even ourselves. We struggle with organizing our lives, staying productive, getting healthy and fit, overcoming anxiety and self-doubt, controlling our finances, starting and finishing projects, staying focused, finding time for ourselves, and so on. All of these struggles can suck up our time, our energy, our money, our resources, and, most importantly, our spirit.
The goal in life is not winning each of these individual struggles. It's not mastering hacks or tips or techniques. It's not building daily "habits" or "micro-habits" or having a morning routine.
The goal is figuring out which struggles are worth your time, which to avoid, and how to make sure, with every struggle you must face, you end up in a better place than you were before. That you are more confident, less anxious, more secure than you were before. That every obstacle you overcome brings progress and a sense of peace (an).
Achieving this requires patience, discipline, and a timeless set of principles. That is the core of the Sun Tzu Way.
(For a deeper exploration of the philosophy behind TSTW, read my post "The Three Propositions: A Philosophical Introduction to the Sun Tzu Way.")
You claim the Sun Tzu Way is a practical philosophy of life. How does one go about practicing it?
TSTW is not designed to be an intellectual exercise. Its focus isn't on trying to answer the "big" questions of the universe. Rather, its goal is to guide you in effectively dealing with and overcoming the daily challenges, struggles, and battles you face in life. But most importantly, its ultimate aim is to help you achieve an overall sense of calm, peace, and security (an) in your life.
As such, there are three critical requisites for practicing the Sun Tzu Way:
What benefits can I get from practicing TSTW?
There are three benefits (what Sun Tzu calls li) to practicing the Sun Tzu Way over time. I call it the three Cs: clarity, calm, and confidence.
Clarity refers to your ability to see your purpose and situation as clearly as possible so that you can chart a path forward. It involves having a deep understanding of yourself, your environment, and the people that affect your life. It also involves connecting to what you want to accomplish in the world and how you can leave it better off than it was before.
Calm refers to your ability to manage your mental and emotional state so that you are not a slave to worry, anxiety, anger, or other negative emotions and mindsets. It involves being prepared mentally so that you can handle difficult situations effectively, adapt to change with grace, and make difficult decisions.
Lastly, confidence refers to how secure you are in your ability to manage and influence, to a degree, the relationships, events, and circumstances of your life. It involves feeling secure in your ability to overcome obstacles you face and direct your life's path.
If living a life with clarity, calm, and confidence appeals to you, then Sun Tzu's philosophy may work for you.
Where should I get started with this site?
There are a few places to start your journey here:
If you are interested in delving deep into the philosophy behind the Sun Tzu Way, check out my key articles page, which breaks down key principles, concepts, and strategies from The Art of War.
The Sun Tzu Way (TSTW for short) is dedicated to sharing with readers personal reflections on applying the principles, tools, and wisdom of Sun Tzu's classic military text The Art of War to daily life. Far from being abstract or cliché, Sun Tzu's philosophy can help you overcome the different challenges you face in life - from relationship troubles to career or business issues to mental health or self-development struggles. This site helps bridge the gap between the military principles of Ancient China and the day-to-day grind of everyday life.
Who is this site for?
Although the content shared on this site can be useful for anyone, the site is designed for three kinds of people in particular:
- Fellow Sun Tzu enthusiasts. This site goes deep into the philosophical aspects of Sun Tzu's The Art of War, so it would appeal to those who love Sun Tzu and want to delve in deeper into the text.
- People interested in practical philosophy. TSTW is designed to be a practical philosophy for everyday life. Its principles, concepts, and practices are designed to provoke people to view life differently and to ask themselves questions about the various situations they find themselves in. It provides an ancient, battle-tested framework for overcoming challenges and living a life of peace and confidence.
- Those who are struggling. The ideas shared here are designed to be practical and help people with real obstacles or struggles they face in life - whether internal (anxiety, anger, frustration) or external (relationships, job, business, etc.). Whatever issue you're facing, the Sun Tzu Way provides tools to help you rethink your problems and move from a place of trouble and frustration to a place of clarity and peace.
Who was Sun Tzu?
Sun Tzu was a military strategist and general who lived in Ancient China during what is called the Eastern Zhou period (770 - 256 BC). If you know anything about this time period, then you know it was a very tumultuous and chaotic time in China. At the time Sun Tzu lived, China was broken up into smaller states. These states would constantly be at war with each other, allying together, splitting up, organizing and reorganizing. It was during this crazy, chaotic, and dangerous period that The Art of War was written.
Not much is known about Sun Tzu's life, except that he came from a long line of military officers. Known for his knowledge and wisdom, he was summoned to the court of King Helu, ruler of the state of Wu, who was facing a huge threat - the bigger and more powerful state of Ch'u. After being interviewed and demonstrating his skill, Sun Tzu was appointed general of Wu's armies. Facing an enemy ten times the size of his armies, Sun Tzu successfully utilized his principles to defeat the enemy states of Ch'u, Chin, and Ch'i, gaining prosperity for the state of Wu.
Afterwards, the legend goes, Sun Tzu withdrew from military life. No one knows how or when he died. What we do know is that his text The Art of War (Sun Tzu bing fa) has survived over 2,500 years to be used by generals, military academies, and businesses all around the globe - a testament to its timeless and universal philosophy.
What is The Art of War?
The Art of War, written approximately 2,500 years ago, describes how an army can achieve what Sun Tzu calls quan sheng - or "total victory." For Sun Tzu, it is the ultimate aim of the art of war - achieving a bloodless victory that leaves the nation stronger and more secure than it was before the war.
Comprised of 13 short chapters, originally written on bamboo strips, the text guides rulers and generals in the art of winning without battle in one of the most disruptive and turbulent periods in Ancient Chinese history.
Though the text is short and often is translated in an aphoristic style, The Art of War actually details a complex system of military principles, supported by a deep philosophical foundation. As such, the text requires many readings and re-readings to truly understand its complexity and insight into how to overcome conflict.
(For a good online translation of The Art of War to read, I suggest trying Sonshi.com's translation.)
What is the Sun Tzu Way?
The Sun Tzu Way is a practical, timeless, and battle-tested philosophy for dealing with the challenges and obstacles we face in everyday life. It is based on the principles and wisdom of Sun Tzu's The Art of War.
In Sun Tzu's time, as today, war was very costly for a nation. Not just in terms of money, but weapons, lives, and the overall spirit of a nation. As a result, a single war, even if won, could greatly weaken a nation, making it vulnerable to being attacked and taken over by other scheming neighboring rulers.
That's why, for Sun Tzu, when it comes to war, the most important thing a general needs to focus on is not defeating one's enemy, but on making sure that one can profit from victory. Not simply winning battles and gaining fame, but making sure the nation is stronger and more secure after the war than it was before. Sun Tzu calls this aim an - which translates to peace, calm, security.
In other words, the ultimate goal is not winning, but making winning pay. This is what Sun Tzu refers to as total victory (quan sheng). It forms the basis of his military philosophy.
This same philosophy can be applied to everyday life. Life is a constant struggle. We struggle with our coworkers, our spouses, our children, our bosses, our competitors, and even ourselves. We struggle with organizing our lives, staying productive, getting healthy and fit, overcoming anxiety and self-doubt, controlling our finances, starting and finishing projects, staying focused, finding time for ourselves, and so on. All of these struggles can suck up our time, our energy, our money, our resources, and, most importantly, our spirit.
The goal in life is not winning each of these individual struggles. It's not mastering hacks or tips or techniques. It's not building daily "habits" or "micro-habits" or having a morning routine.
The goal is figuring out which struggles are worth your time, which to avoid, and how to make sure, with every struggle you must face, you end up in a better place than you were before. That you are more confident, less anxious, more secure than you were before. That every obstacle you overcome brings progress and a sense of peace (an).
Achieving this requires patience, discipline, and a timeless set of principles. That is the core of the Sun Tzu Way.
(For a deeper exploration of the philosophy behind TSTW, read my post "The Three Propositions: A Philosophical Introduction to the Sun Tzu Way.")
You claim the Sun Tzu Way is a practical philosophy of life. How does one go about practicing it?
TSTW is not designed to be an intellectual exercise. Its focus isn't on trying to answer the "big" questions of the universe. Rather, its goal is to guide you in effectively dealing with and overcoming the daily challenges, struggles, and battles you face in life. But most importantly, its ultimate aim is to help you achieve an overall sense of calm, peace, and security (an) in your life.
As such, there are three critical requisites for practicing the Sun Tzu Way:
- You must see yourself as the general of your life. For Sun Tzu, the general is responsible for keeping the nation safe. His goal is not to advance his own interests, to receive wealth or fame, but to ensure the nation's security. Likewise, to be a practitioner of TSTW, you must take responsibility for your own sense of security - of an. No one or thing can provide you with this - it is something only you can provide yourself. Taking this responsibility seriously is the first requisite to practicing TSTW. It involves cultivating the key traits of a general - wisdom, credibility, compassion, courage, and discipline.
- You must learn to be open and responsive to your circumstances. For Sun Tzu, the most important trait of a winning army is its ability to adapt to its circumstances - to the enemy, to the ground, to the weather. The winning army is like water, fluid and responsive to changes in its environment. Likewise, to practice TSTW, you too must be responsive to your situation. You must stop seeing things as you think they should be, and learn to accept and embrace change and conflict as natural facets of life. But even more, you must learn to be attuned to your environment and attentive to its changes.
- Lastly, you must follow the path of the skilled warrior. The skilled warrior (shàn zhàn zhě) is Sun Tzu's term for those generals in the past who were adept achieving total victory (quan sheng) on the battlefield with minimal bloodshed. It is his model for the ideal warrior. Emulating these skilled warriors and achieving a deep sense of an in your own life requires following in their footsteps. This means, above all, cultivating a clear sense of purpose in your life, always being prepared for the challenges you may face, and maintaining an unrelenting focus on improvement. Follow this path with every struggle or challenge you face and you'll gradually cultivate a deep sense of happiness and security in your life.
What benefits can I get from practicing TSTW?
There are three benefits (what Sun Tzu calls li) to practicing the Sun Tzu Way over time. I call it the three Cs: clarity, calm, and confidence.
Clarity refers to your ability to see your purpose and situation as clearly as possible so that you can chart a path forward. It involves having a deep understanding of yourself, your environment, and the people that affect your life. It also involves connecting to what you want to accomplish in the world and how you can leave it better off than it was before.
Calm refers to your ability to manage your mental and emotional state so that you are not a slave to worry, anxiety, anger, or other negative emotions and mindsets. It involves being prepared mentally so that you can handle difficult situations effectively, adapt to change with grace, and make difficult decisions.
Lastly, confidence refers to how secure you are in your ability to manage and influence, to a degree, the relationships, events, and circumstances of your life. It involves feeling secure in your ability to overcome obstacles you face and direct your life's path.
If living a life with clarity, calm, and confidence appeals to you, then Sun Tzu's philosophy may work for you.
Where should I get started with this site?
There are a few places to start your journey here:
- Walking the Path to Victory: The Three Phases of the Sun Tzu Way
- Ten Rules I've Learned From Sun Tzu on Achieving Personal Success
- Three warrior mantras I use from The Art of War
- Practicing the Sun Tzu Way: 5 Exercises To Get You Started
If you are interested in delving deep into the philosophy behind the Sun Tzu Way, check out my key articles page, which breaks down key principles, concepts, and strategies from The Art of War.
