The Art of War, a Chinese military strategy text from the Warring States Period, was written by Sun Tzu around 500 BCE. He was the general who inspired The School of the Military and other philosophical schools of the Hundred Schools of Thought of the Spring and Autumn Period (c. 772-476 BCE), which emphasized military preparedness to maintain peace and societal harmony. Whether or not an actual person named Sun-Tzu existed has been the subject of much contention, just as scholars and historians debate whether the Taoist philosopher Lao-Tzu (l. c. 500 BCE) existed. Even though The Art of War has had a significant impact since its initial release, it is clear that someone produced it, and Sun-Tzu is credited with writing it.