 Sun Tzu 's Art of War has influenced many notable figures . Sima Qian recounted that China 's first historical emperor , Qin 's Shi Huangdi , considered the book invaluable in ending the time of the Warring States . In the 20th century , the Chinese Communist leader Mao Zedong partially credited his 1949 victory over Chiang Kai @-@ shek and the Kuomintang to The Art of War . The work strongly influenced Mao 's writings about guerrilla warfare , which further influenced communist insurgencies around the world . 
