In point of literary style, Sun Tzǔ’s work belongs to the same school as Kuan Tzǔ , 56 Liu Tʽao , 57 and the Yüeh Yü , 58 and may have been the production of some private scholar living towards the end of the “Spring and Autumn” or the beginning of the “Warring States” period. 59 The story that his precepts were actually applied by the Wu State, is merely the outcome of big talk on the part of his followers. 60