Sun Tzu is the most famous military strategist in history. His legendary work The Art of War, supposedly written around the 5th century BC, has perhaps only one equal when it comes to effective leadership: Machiavelli’s The Prince.
Sun Tzu is rightly remembered for the timeless nature of his advice, which resonates to this day. In a nutshell, his approach can be perhaps best summarized by a famous quote from Confederate General Nathan Forrest: “I try to get there first with more men.”
But what of Sun Tzu himself? Who was this great general of the Eastern Zhou period of Chinese history? And, specifically, why did he raise an army of prostitutes?
Making a Point
The story of Sun Tzu and the prostitutes falls into the familiar genre of moral teachings, or lessons. His intent with this act was to demonstrate his bona fides as a military general and to educate a potential employer, the King of Wu.
To test his skills as a general, the King of Wu commanded that Sun Tzu train his harem of 180 concubines into a functional fighting force. Sun Tzu accepted the challenge and used it as a way to demonstrate his theories on leadership to the King.
Sun Tzu started by dividing the concubines into two companies. The King’s favorite two concubines were both elevated to the position of officers in charge, and each was given a company to command under the overall leadership of Sun Tzu himself.
The companies were then assembled in front of the King of Wu, and Sun Tzu commanded them to face to the right. However the concubines, amused by the idea of being pressed into service, did not obey, and instead giggled amongst themselves.
Sun Tzu then turned to the King and explained that this was not the fault of the concubines, but of Sun Tzu himself. The general, he said, was responsible for ensuring his orders were understood, and in this he had failed.
Sun Tzu then gave the same order in clear terms, and the result was again inaction and laughter. This time however the outcome was very different, and Sun Tzu ordered that the two favored concubines in charge of each company be executed.
The King of Wu protested loudly at the idea that his favorites be killed, but Sun Tzu also had an explanation ready for this. If the soldiers understood the orders, as they now did, and still did not obey, this was the fault of the officers. In addition, it was the duty of the general to complete his mission, even if his master protested his methods.
The concubines were duly executed, and new officers were chosen from the harem to replace them. Sun Tzu repeated his order a third time, and it was obeyed without hesitation and without question.
He had indeed made an army of the harem. The wisdom of Sun Tzu was that the power in an army lies not in physical strength, or equipment. For him it came from understanding and obeying orders, something which has been true in every army since.
Top Image: Sun Tzu’s army of prostitutes was a test from the King of Wu, but it was Sun Tzu who taught the King a lesson. (Please note this art is from the much later Qing period, and is included for illustrative purposes only) Source: Chen Mei / Public Domain.
By Joseph Green
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