China's Top 10 Greatest Military Strategists
This list expresses our opinion on who we think is China's greatest strategist ever. While you are voting and posting new names, keep in mind that we are not talking about:1. Only commanders like Guan Yu, Bai Qi, Yue Fei, Wang Jian, Sun Ce, etc.
2. Warriors like Lu Bu, Zhao Yun, Zhang Fei, Xian Ji, Wang Dayang, Ma Chao, etc.
3. Rulers and emperors like Liu Bang, Liu Bei, Sima Zhao, Liu Yuan, Murong Jun, Tuoba Gui, Qin Shihuang, etc.
4. Religious figures like Confucius.
We are focusing on military strategists and, if possible, those who were also commanders. If not, then only military strategists.
Zhuge Liang's ability to outmaneuver his opponents, including the greatest minds and most formidable generals of his time, along with his cunning mind, lethal strategies, uncanny foresight, and accurate predictions, are all proof that he should be considered the best or one of the best strategists ever. Perhaps only Sun Tzu surpassed him.
He foresaw the Three Kingdoms era before it happened. He understood the importance of Jing, the Riverlands, and the alliance with Wu in order to stop Cao Cao's attempt to usurp the Han. He kept Shu functioning after Liu Bei and his main generals died and continued to wage war on Wei with the goal of restoring the Han.
Sun Tzu was born June 16, 545 BC and died on January 6, 454 BC was a Chinese general, military strategist, writer, and philosopher who lived in the Eastern Zhou period of ancient China. Sun Tzu is traditionally credited as the author of The Art of War, an influential work of military strategy that has... read more One of the greatest commanders in military history. He was the first to write a book on the conduct of war, not just a recording.
Cao Cao was the best in everything, period. Sima Yi single-handedly faced Zhuge Liang, Pang Tong, Fa Zheng, and many more Shu strategists. He also faced Wu's best strategists, such as Zhou Yu, Lu Su, and the two Zhangs. Sima Yi ended up outsmarting everybody in Wei after Cao Cao and Cao Pi died, thus claiming the throne and establishing the Jin dynasty. Under his dynasty, China was unified by his lineage. If Sima Yi had been younger, he would have been even more brilliant. He was a very brilliant defensive strategist and won every single Northern campaign that Zhuge Liang proposed against him. This truly is no contest. Sima Yi > Zhuge Liang.
Zhang Liang was crucial to Liu Bang's victory over Xiang Yu, and he was the major strategist for Liu Bang along with Chen Ping. Without Zhang Liang, Liu Bang would have died at the Feast at Hongmen Gate.
Han Xin was the greatest general and strategist in the early Western Han Dynasty and one of the greatest strategists in China's history. He won major battles such as the Ambush on Ten Sides and the Chu Song from Four Sides and took over major states such as Qi, Zhao, and Yan. He suggested to Liu Bang to use the stratagem Appearing to Repair the Gallery Roads While Making Secret Advances through Chencang to escape out of Hanzhong. He was made one of the Three Heroes of the Early Han Dynasty and was promoted to become the King of Chu.
Sun Bin was one of the great strategists in the history of China. He served King Wei of Qi to defeat King Hui of Wei twice and also his arch-enemy Pang Juan.
Sun Bin was originally born in Qi and was crucial in the success of their campaigns against the State of Wei both times. He used the stratagem Besiege Wei to Rescue Zhao to rescue Zhao from Wei. At Guiling, Pang Juan was severely defeated by an ambush prepared by Sun Bin. The second time, he feigned retreats and reduced the number of cooking pots to create the impression that his troops were decreasing in size. Pang Juan was overjoyed and quickly went forth to attack Sun Bin. As a result, at Maling, he was ambushed by Sun Bin again. The Wei forces suffered a heavy defeat, and Pang Juan committed suicide.
Zhou Yu eclipses Zhuge Liang in reality. Luo Guangzhong (writer of Romance of the Three Kingdoms) only hyped him up and downplayed Zhou Yu in the story. Zhou Yu was the real genius behind Cao Cao's crushing defeat at Chibi and was able to beat Wei most of the time when he was in control of Wu's army.
Zhou Yu is historically superior to Zhuge Liang. He needs more respect, as they praise Zhuge Liang for achievements that were only seen in the novel. He accomplished less in actual history.
Guo Jia was how Cao Cao became big. Cao Cao lamented that he would have never lost the Battle of Red Cliffs if Guo Jia was still alive.
The Newcomers
This guy's tactics and ability to predict future outcomes and the importance of these outcomes made him shine more than any other strategist in his era.
