Sun Tzu
Sun Tzu, also known as Sun Tze or Sun Wu in other translations, was a historical figure whose authenticity is questioned by historians. Traditional accounts place him in the Spring and Autumn Period of China (722–481 BC) as a military general serving under King Helü of Wu, who lived c. 544–496 BC. Modern scholars accepting his historicity（史实性） place the completion of The Art of War in the Warring States Period (476–221 BC), based on the descriptions of warfare（战争） in the text, and on the similarity of text's prose （散文）to other works completed in the early Warring States period.
Traditional accounts state that his descendant, Sun Bin, also wrote a treatise on military tactics, titled Sun Bin's Art of War. Both Sun Wu and Sun Bin were referred to as Sun Tzu in classical Chinese writings, and some historians believed that Sun Wu was in fact Sun Bin until Sun Bin's own treatise was discovered in 1972. During the 19th and 20th centuries, Sun Tzu's The Art of War grew in popularity and saw practical use in Western society, and his work continues to influence both Asian and Western culture and politics.
One of the more well-known stories about Sun Tzu, taken from Shiji, illustrates Sun Tzu's temperament as follows: Before hiring Sun Tzu, the King of Wu tested Sun Tzu's skills by commanding him to train a harem （妻妾群）of 180 concubines into soldiers. Sun Tzu divided them into two companies, appointing the two concubines most favored by the king as the company commanders. When Sun Tzu first ordered the concubines to face right, they giggled. In response, Sun Tzu said that the general, in this case himself, was responsible for ensuring that soldiers understood the commands given to them. Then, he reiterated the command, and again the concubines giggled. Sun Tzu then ordered the execution of the king's two favored concubines, to the king's protests. He explained that if the general's soldiers understood their commands but did not obey, it was the fault of the officers. Sun Tzu also said that, once a general was appointed, it was his duty to carry out his mission, even if the king protested. After both concubines were killed, new officers were chosen to replace them. Afterwards, both companies performed their maneuvers flawlessly.
孙子
孙子，在其他的翻译作品中也叫做孙武，作为一个历史人物，其真实性一直遭到历史学家的质疑。传统的观点一直把他看做是春秋时期，吴王阖闾手下的一位将军，大约生活在公元前544-496年。现代学者普遍认为是孙武在战国时期创作了《孙子兵法》这部书，根据是书中有很多关于战争的描述，与战国初期很多其他的作品有很多相似之处。
传统的观点认为他的后代孙膑也写了一本有关军事战略的书，叫做《孙膑兵法》。在中国的古典书籍中，孙武和孙膑都叫做孙子。所以在1972年发现《孙膑兵法》之前，一些历史学家认为孙武其实就是孙膑。在十九和二十世纪，《孙膑兵法》在西方一直很受欢迎而且还很实用，并且其影响还扩展到了亚洲及西方的政治和文化领域。
一个有关孙子的经典故事主要记载于史记之中，其中对孙子的性情作了如下描述：吴王在重用孙子之前，想要测试下他的本领。所以就命他把自己的180名侍妾训练成士兵。于是，孙子就把他们分成两队，并任命了吴王最为宠爱的两名侍妾做将军带队。当孙子命令这些侍妾向右转时，她们一直站在那里笑而不动。因此，孙子就说，在这种情况下，将军的职责就是要让下面的士兵听从命令。然后，他再一次重申了自己的命令，可是这些侍妾依然站在那里笑。孙子随即下令杀了吴王最为宠爱的两名侍妾，尽管吴王很不悦。孙子解释说，如果将军手下的士兵，听懂了他们的命令而不执行，那是将军的失职。孙子还接着说，一旦将军被任命，他的天职就是执行命令，即使国王反对也不行。在两名侍妾被杀之后，又任命了新的指挥官。后来两队士兵在军演中都表现的很好。
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