Ancient Chinese history is filled with numerous strategists who have left a lasting impression on future generations. Many of these individuals were exceptional talents, renowned for their deeds and wisdom, passed down through the ages. Although it is difficult to determine who among them was the greatest, the following ten names stand out as the most prominent strategists of ancient China.
Famous Strategists of Ancient China
1. Jiang Ziya (1156 – 1017 BCE)
Outstanding strategist Jiang Ziya
Jiang Ziya, originally named Jiang Wang and also known as Ziya, belonged to the Jiang clan. After moving to the land of the Lu people (now southwest of Yangzhou, Henan), he adopted the surname Lu. As the Grand Mentor during the Zhou Dynasty, he was honored with the title Shangfu (the revered father of the army), leading later generations to call him Lu Shang. He assisted King Wu of Zhou in overthrowing the Shang Dynasty and played a crucial role in establishing the state of Qi, where he was granted land and became the founding ancestor of Qi during the Zhou period. As a vassal lord, Lu Shang implemented wise and shrewd policies to win the hearts of the people, such as respecting local customs, simplifying complicated rituals, promoting commerce, and exploiting resources from fishing and salt production. Qi later became a powerful state during the Western and Eastern Zhou periods, thanks to the enlightened contributions of Lu Shang.
In Chinese history, Jiang Ziya is renowned as one of the most famous politicians, military strategists, and tacticians. Jiang Ziya lived to the age of 139. Chinese folklore also conveys the saying, “Jiang Shang first, Sun Bin second, five hundred years before Zhuge Liang, five hundred years after Liu Bo Wen.”
Numerous legends surround his life before he assisted the Zhou Dynasty, most of which mention that “Lu Wang was a descendant of a noble lineage that declined in the late Shang Dynasty. In his youth, he received education reserved for nobility, which endowed him with profound knowledge. After facing many hardships in life and not being valued by King Zhou, he wandered across the country and eventually sat by the Wei River to fish while waiting for the right moment.” This anecdote inspired the painting of an old man fishing by the Wei River. When King Wen of Zhou visited, he encountered and conversed with him, discovering his exceptional talent and inviting him to serve as Grand Mentor—the highest military and political position at the beginning of the Zhou Dynasty.
2. Sun Bin
Outstanding strategist Sun Bin
Sun Bin was a renowned strategist during the Warring States period and a descendant of Sun Tzu. In his youth, he studied military strategies under Gui Guzi alongside Bao Qian. After Bao Qian became a general in the State of Wei, he grew envious of Sun Bin’s talent and deceived him into coming to Wei, where he falsely accused him, resulting in Sun Bin having his kneecaps cut off (a punishment known as ‘bin punishment’). The name ‘Bin’ in his title originated from this punishment. Later, he was brought back to the State of Qi by an envoy. The Qi general Tian Ji appreciated Sun Bin’s talents, so he recommended him to King Wei of Qi, who was in conflict with Wei and sought to recruit talented individuals. Sun Bin’s military treatise, Sun Bin’s Art of War, carried forward the military principles of Sun Tzu.
3. Zhang Liang (250 – 186 BCE)
Zhang Han Yu as Zhang Liang in the film “Hong Men Yan”
Zhang Liang, courtesy name Zifang, was a strategist for Emperor Gao of Han, Liu Bang, and an outstanding military and political leader during the late Qin and early Han periods. He played a significant role in the establishment of the Han Dynasty. Zhang Liang is recognized as one of the three most talented individuals at the beginning of the Han Dynasty (alongside Han Xin and Xiao He).
Due to his contributions during the Han-Song War, Zhang Liang was held in high esteem by Liu Bang (Emperor Gao of Han), who remarked: “When it comes to strategizing behind the scenes, deciding victories from thousands of miles away, I cannot compare to Zhang Liang.” He was granted a region with 30,000 households in Qi, but Zhang Liang declined, asking to be granted a much smaller area in Liu’s territory—the place where he first met Liu Bang. Emperor Gao of Han then made him the Marquis of Liu.
Zhang Liang’s talent in assisting Liu Bang to establish the Han Dynasty demonstrated his remarkable political foresight, keen psychological insights, sharp strategic vision, and clever ability to win people’s hearts.
In his later years, Zhang Liang lived as a hermit. When writing the Records of the Grand Historian, the renowned historian Sima Qian categorized his stories in the Shi Jia section, reserved for vassal states and high-ranking nobles, alongside notable figures such as Chen She (also known as Chen Sheng) and Confucius, while placing the story of Han Xin in the lesser Lie Zhuan section.
4. Zhuge Liang (181 – 234)
The sage Zhuge Liang
According to the open encyclopedia, Zhuge Liang (181 – 234), courtesy name Kong Ming, also known as Master Sleeping Dragon, was an outstanding strategist for Liu Bei of Shu during the late Han period. Zhuge Liang was born in Yangdu (now part of Yinan County, Shandong Province). He was a military leader, politician, essayist, and inventor in Chinese history, known for famous military tactics such as Eight Diagram Formation, Repeating Crossbows, and Wooden Oxen and Gliding Horses.
Zhuge Liang was invited by Liu Bei to serve in various battlefields, helped establish Shu Han, and became Chancellor. In 223, following Liu Bei’s death, Liu Shan ascended the throne of Shu Han, and Zhuge Liang was conferred the title of Marquis of Wu, becoming a vital military and political leader of Shu Han. After his death, he was posthumously honored as Marquis Zhongwu, leading later generations to refer to him as Zhuge Wu Hou or Wu Hou.
5. Wang Mang (325 – 375)
Famous military leader Wang Mang
Wang Mang, courtesy name Jing Lue, hailed from Beihai during the Eastern Jin period. He was a notable politician and military leader during the Sixteen Kingdoms period, serving as Prime Minister of Qian Qin and a general who assisted Fu Jian in unifying the north. In his youth, Wang Mang lived in poverty but had a passion for learning and reading military texts. He was cautious, possessed extraordinary demeanor, and was not particular about trivial matters, often finding it hard to blend in with others, which led to disdain from scholars of his time. However, Wang Mang did not let this discourage him.
6. Zhao Pu (922 – 992)
Statue of Zhao Pu
Zhao Pu, courtesy name Zai Ping, was an outstanding politician during the early Northern Song Dynasty and a renowned strategist in Chinese history. Zhao Pu served as a general three times, gained fame in one reign, and engaged in politics for 50 years, living to the age of 71. Although Zhao Pu read little, he was resourceful and clever. He possessed only the work “Half of the Analects Governs the World.”
7. Liu Ji (1311 – 1375)
Talented strategist Liu Ji
Liu Ji, courtesy name Bo Wen, was born in 1311 in Yangwo Village, Qingdian County. He was an outstanding military strategist during the late Yuan and early Ming Dynasties. He was a politician, writer, and thinker, well-versed in history and astronomy, and an expert in military strategies. He was Han Chinese and a founding hero of the Ming Dynasty.
Liu Bao’en is a national hero of the Ming Dynasty in Chinese history. He was born into a Confucian family with a tradition of courageous resistance against the Mongol invaders. Through hard work and a passion for reading, he became well-versed in the classics, literature, military strategy, and astronomy at an early age. In the first year of the Yuan Dynasty’s Yuan Shun Emperor (1333), he passed the imperial examination and was appointed as an official. However, due to oppression and criticism, he retired to a life of seclusion in 1360.
After becoming a brilliant strategist for Zhu Yuanzhang, he assisted Zhu in defeating various warlord factions such as Chen Youliang and Zhang Shicheng, repeatedly turning peril into safety. His significant victories at places like Taiping, Anqing, and Jiangzhou against Chen Youliang, as well as his successes against Zhang Shicheng in Jiande and the surrender of Fang Guozhen and many other local forces, were all orchestrated by Liu Bao’en. Notably, at Poyang Lake, he and Zhu Yuanzhang directly commanded the battle, saving Zhu from enemy artillery fire on one occasion.
8. Yao Guangxiao (1335 – 1418)
Originally named Tianxi, he later became famous as Guangxiao, with the Buddhist name Daoyan and the literary name Doku Am Laoren. He hailed from the region of Xingzhong, Shuxiang, during the late Yuan and early Ming Dynasties (now part of Suzhou, Jiangsu Province). He was a poet, politician, and monk, and served as one of the key advisors to the Ming Chengzu.
During the late Hongwu years to the Yongle era, the political arena in China was tumultuous. Yao Guangxiao was a strategist who sat in the tent while commanding thousands of troops outside, determining victories and defeats from afar. He was one of the founding heroes of the Ming Chengzu, contributing immensely to the establishment of the dynasty.
9. Xia Qingzhi Nang – Fan Wenqing (1597 – 1666)
Fan Wenqing, also known as Xian Dou, with the literary name Hui Yue, was from Liaodong, Chen Yang. He was a book lover, perceptive, thoughtful, and resolute. In 1615, he passed the imperial examination at the age of 18 and later joined Nurhaci (the Tianming Khan), remaining loyal to the Qing Dynasty, leaving behind numerous significant contributions.
In the third year of the Tian Tong era (1629), Wenqing participated in the attack on the Ming Dynasty, entering Jiemen and capturing Zhunhua. He led 1,000 troops to attack locations like Fanjiakou, Malan Yu, Sandun Camp, Malan Pass, and Da An Kou, conquering all five cities. Afterward, when Ming forces besieged Da An Kou, Wenqing used artillery to break the siege. Huang Taiji personally led an attack on Yingping, leaving Wenqing to defend Zhunhua. When Ming troops suddenly appeared, he led the charge, resulting in the enemy’s retreat, earning him the title of “Guerilla General.”
After achieving success in his career, Fan Wenqing retired, distancing himself from the political arena to live a peaceful life in his old age. He passed away in the fifth year of the Kangxi era (1666) at the age of 70, and Kangxi honored him with the title “Original Father of Gao Feng.”
10. Li Bi
Also known as Changyuan, he was a chancellor during the Tang Dynasty, hailing from Jingbei and a descendant of the Liaodong people. Li Bi was the sixth-generation descendant of the Western Wei Ba Zhu Kingdom’s Li Bei, and his father was Li Chengxiu, the county magistrate of Wu Fang. His wife was of the Zhu family, and their study contained over 20,000 books, which he forbade his descendants from selling.
In his youth, Li Bi lived in Chang’an. By the age of 7, he could read literature, and by 9, he demonstrated such talent that Emperor Xuanzong summoned him to the palace to serve in the Eastern Palace, where he wrote poetry praising national ideals, including a line: “The verdant willows at the eastern gate, as the years pass, they wither away,” retiring to Tuan Yang.
During the reign of Emperor Suzong, he participated in the Grand Council and was appointed as the Yin Qing Guanglu Grand Minister, retreating to Mount Heng (now in Hunan) until his death in the fourth year of the Zhenyuan era (788), leaving behind a collection of 12 volumes of literature.
