Sun Tzu (Chinese: 孫子; born 551 BC – died 496 BC) was a Chinese general, military strategist, and philosopher. He is best known for his military genius and for writing a collection of strategic military treatises, The Art of War. Sun Tzu lived during the late Spring and Autumn Period, which saw Chinese society transform from a slave-owning society to a feudal one. Wars abounded among more than 130 small kingdoms, eventually leading to the emergence of five powerful kingdoms that competed for power and rule. These long wars were not unrelated to Sun Tzu, as they increased his military experience, sharpened his talents, and deepened his wisdom.