Sun Wu. known to history as Sun Zi (Philosopher Sun) was a great military strategist of the 5th century BC. A native of the State of Qi. he was once summoned by King He Lu of the State of Wu in the lower Changjiang (Yangtze) valley. `` I`ve read all of your thirteen articles on military strategy and tactics`` said the king. ``and I want you to command my army. at least on a trial basis``. Sun Wu willingly accepted.
Sun Wu had claimed that discipline was the key to any army`s effectiveness. The King wanted to test his abilities and asked ``Would your training methods work even with women?`` With Sun Wu`s agreement. the King assembled 180 of his concubines to be trained. Sun Wu divided them into two companies and appointed two company commanders.
The women were asked whether they knew their right hands from their left. and back from front. Then Sun Wu told them how to carry out military orders: `` When the drum signals a left turn. you must turn to your left; when it signals. turn completely around``. So the general raised his battleaxe . the drum signaled a right turn- and the women stood there and laughed .
``Perhaps the rules are not clear and you are not familiar with orders. That`s my fault``. said Sun Wu. Sun Wu patiently reiterated the rules and the drum sounded again. And again the women laughed and made no move. `` The first time was my fault.`` said the general. ``But now I have repeated the instructions and you still do not follow. so the blame is on you.`` He ordered both company commanders executed.
The King was stunned : ``I cannot live without these two women ! I hope you`ll spare them`` he said. But Sun Wu replied `` You have appointed me your commanding general. and I must exercise a general`s authority``. The executions were carried out. and the next-ranking women appointed commander. The orders were given again. and this time the terrified women followed instructions exactly.
Sun Wu turned to the king: ``The women`s companies are now at your service``. The unhappy king said : ``Please return to your home. I don`t want to see you any more``. The general then asked gravely whether the monarch`s professed admiration for good military strategy was only talk. or was he willing to put it into practice? King He Lu took the point and confirmed Sun Wu`s authority. The women`s troop. which started as a joke. later became an effective fighting force.
With Sun Wu at their head. the Wu troops defeated the powerful State of Chu in the west and occupied its capital. thereafter threatening the states of Qi (in what is now Shandong province) and Jin to the northwest and becoming a dominant power in the area.
The story of Sun Wu and women warriors appears in the Historical Records written by Sima Qian in the first century BC. The exact dates of Sun Wu`s birth and death are not recorded. His father was a high official of the state of Qi who fled that country after a disagreement with the authorities and lived as a hermit with his young son in the Luofu Mountains.
King He Lu is said to have respected talented people. He invited Sun Wu to his court on the advice of his senior counselor Wu Zixu. After 30.000 Wu troops under Sun`s command had defeated a huge Chu army of 200.000. the king offered his general an important position and great wealth. But Sun refused. and when the fighting was over he took with him only several cartloads of brocade which he distributed to people along his way back to the Luofu Mountains.
The history books record no other details of Sun`s life. but his book. Sun Zi`s Art of War. has become a classic down through the centuries. The principles he expounded are considered so relevant that they are studied today not only in China but in military academies around the world.
