Sun Tzu, a Chinese military strategist, is believed to have lived during the Eastern Zhou period (771-256 BCE). His real name was Sun Wu, and he was born in the state of Wu. The Art of War, his magnum opus, is a collection of 13 chapters, each addressing a specific aspect of warfare, such as planning, tactics, and leadership. The book is written in a concise and enigmatic style, making it open to multiple interpretations.