 Sun Tzu ( pinyin : Sun <unk> ; c . 544 BC — <unk> BC ) was a native of the Qi state ( now <unk> county in Shandong ) during the Spring and Autumn Period of Chinese history , that was characterised by <unk> factions and a fragmented state . He came to the attention of King He Lu of Wu , who was impressed by his 13 @-@ chapter military treatise , The Art of War . In 512 BC , He Lu made Sun Tzu his Commander @-@ in @-@ Chief of the Wu army . For almost 20 years , the armies of Wu were victorious over their hereditary enemies , the kingdoms of Chu and Yue . In <unk> BC , after He Lu died from his wounds in battle , his son , Fu Chai succeeded him . After numerous victories in battles , Fu Chai became arrogant and began to indulge in <unk> . In time , the king started to disregard Sun Tzu 's counsel and began to distance himself from Sun Tzu . <unk> this , Sun Tzu <unk> gave up his position and left Wu for Qi in retirement . Fu Chai and his generals did not follow Sun Tzu 's precepts and his kingdom was subsequently conquered by Chu in 473 BC . Out of shame , Fu Chai committed suicide after he had fled with the remnants of his defeated army . 
