The story of Sun Tzu and the 180 women
Around the 6th or 5th century BCE, Sun Tzu was summoned before King Helü of Wu, who had heard of his extraordinary knowledge of military strategy.
The king wanted to test whether Sun Tzu’s theories worked in practice.
He asked Sun Tzu:
“Can you train an army of women?”
Sun Tzu replied that he could.
The king assembled 180 women from his palace, including his favorite concubines, and placed them under Sun Tzu’s command.
Sun Tzu divided the women into two companies, appointing the king’s two favorite concubines as their commanders.
He then explained the commands for turning right, turning left, and facing forward.
When he ordered the women to turn right, they burst into laughter.
Sun Tzu did not become angry.
Instead, he said, in essence:
“When orders are unclear, the fault lies with the general.”
He patiently explained the commands again.
Then he gave the order.
Once again, the women laughed and refused to obey.
This time Sun Tzu declared:
“When orders are clear and understood, but the soldiers do not obey, the fault lies with their officers.”
He ordered the two women commanding the companies to be executed.
The king was horrified. These were his two favorite concubines.
He immediately sent word ordering Sun Tzu to spare their lives.
But Sun Tzu refused, explaining that once a general had been appointed to command an army, there were certain orders from the sovereign that he could not accept while carrying out his military responsibilities.
The two women were beheaded.
Sun Tzu appointed two new commanders.
When he gave his next orders, every woman performed the movements precisely, without laughter, hesitation, or disobedience.
Sun Tzu then informed the king that his army was trained and ready to obey any command.
The king, deeply distressed by the loss of his favorites, no longer wished to watch.
Sun Tzu’s response was another pointed criticism: the king appreciated the words of military strategy but lacked the willingness to put them into practice.
c 2026 Chu The Cud
