Discourses of the States

Name: Discourses of the States
ISBN: 9787101114577

陈桐生Zhonghua Book Company · ChinaDec 2021

4.1

Word count: 183K words
Chapters: 89
ISBN: 9787101114577

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Summary

The Guoyu is a country-by-country miscellany of the figures, deeds, and sayings of eight states — Zhou, Lu, Qi, Jin, Zheng, Chu, Wu, and Yue — during the Western Zhou and Spring and Autumn periods; it is also called the 'Outer Commentary on the Spring and Autumn Annals.' Legend attributes it to Zuo Qiuming of Lu at the end of the Spring and Autumn period. It begins in the twelfth year of King Mu of Zhou (990 BCE) with his western campaign against the Quanrong (around 947 BCE) and ends with the destruction of the Earl of Zhi (453 BCE). It includes speeches by the nobles of the various states on court visits, banquets, remonstrance, debate, and polite exchange, as well as some historical events and legends. Recording the economy, finance, military affairs, strategy, diplomacy, education, law, marriage, and other matters of the Spring and Autumn period, the Guoyu is extremely important for the study of pre-Qin history.

Editor's review

As an important classic of the pre-Qin period, the Guoyu records historical episodes and discourses from the eight states of Zhou, Lu, Qi, Jin, Zheng, Chu, Wu, and Yue. Its value lies not only in supplementing the Chunqiu but also in founding the genre of regional history; with its vivid record of speech, it offers a unique window into the social thought and political wisdom of the Spring and Autumn era. The edition translated and annotated by Chen Tongsheng, published by Zhonghua Book Company, is one of the more widely circulated and authoritative versions available today. Professor Chen Tongsheng has long devoted himself to the literature and documents of the pre-Qin and Han periods; building fully on earlier scholarship, his translation and annotation aim for accuracy and clarity, with precise notes and plain rendering, making the book especially suitable for modern readers approaching it for the first time. The arrangement is clear: each section opens with a headnote outlining background and main themes; the notes are appropriately detailed, explaining difficult words and illuminating institutions and regulations; the vernacular translation stays faithful to the original's meaning, facilitating comparison and understanding. For readers who wish to systematically understand Spring and Autumn history, trace the origins of pre-Qin thought, or explore ancient prose and strategic dialogue, this Guoyu is a reliable and friendly choice. It is no dry heap of historical material: passages such as "Shao Gong Remonstrates with King Li Against Suppressing Criticism" retain their intellectual depth and rhetorical power to this day.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers of history and culture with a strong interest in pre-Qin history and thought
Beginners seeking reliable annotated translations to expand their reading of ancient classics
Students and researchers of classical Chinese and historical prose in need of an authoritative reference text
Managers and professionals interested in drawing lessons in management and communication from historical narratives and dialogue

Not a good fit for

Readers seeking light entertainment stories or modern novel plots
Readers who want highly summarized, conclusive historical knowledge and are unwilling to engage deeply with primary texts

Reading tips

It is not necessary to read straight through; begin with chapters on better-known states such as the Zhou Yu and Lu Yu, or start with famous, more narrative pieces such as "Goujian Destroys Wu"
Read with original text, notes, and translation side by side, focusing on its characteristic "record of speech" and attending to the logic and rhetoric of the dialogues
Read comparatively alongside related histories such as the Zuo Zhuan to grasp the historical context of the Spring and Autumn period and the differing narrative styles of the histories in fuller dimension

About the publisher

Zhonghua Book Company China · Founded in 1912

Zhonghua Book Company is a publisher known for collating ancient texts and academic publishing, with its output centered on Eastern philosophy, culture, classic works, art, and historical reading. Its library contains 532 titles, including Chen Shou's Records of the Three Kingdoms, Guo Qingfan's Collected Commentaries on Zhuangzi, the four-volume Chinese Literature: Four Great Classical Novels, and the two-volume Table of Seal and Clerical Script Forms from Qin, Han, Wei, and Jin. These titles span historical classics, commentaries on the philosophers, classical novels, and philological reference works. Representative authors include Chen Shou, Guo Qingfan, Wu Cheng'en, Shi Nai'an, Cao Xueqin, Luo Guanzhong, Xu Wenwu, and the Hanyu Dazidian character-form group, reflecting a focus on primary sources and scholarly editors. Its publishing character lies in combining authoritative editions and annotated texts with both accessible classics and specialized research. Public information on its fuller catalog is limited; this note describes only the directions evident in the library's holdings.

版权信息
前言
周语上
祭公谏穆王征犬戎
邵公谏厉王弭谤
芮良夫论荣夷公专利
西周三川皆震伯阳父论周将亡
内史过论神
周语中
王孙满观秦师
单襄公论陈必亡
刘康公论鲁大夫俭与侈
周语下
单襄公论晋周将得晋国
单穆公谏景王铸大钱
鲁语上
曹刿问战
展禽论祭爰居非政之宜
里革论君之过
季文子论妾马
鲁语下
季冶致禄
叔孙穆子不以货私免
子服惠伯从季平子如晋
公父文伯之母论劳逸
孔丘论楛矢
齐语
管仲对桓公以霸术
桓公帅诸侯而朝天子
晋语一
史苏论献公伐骊戎胜而不吉
献公将黜太子申生而立奚齐
晋语二
骊姬谮杀太子申生
宫之奇知虞将亡
里克杀奚齐而秦立惠公
晋语三
惠公入而背外内之赂
秦荐晋饥晋不予秦籴
秦侵晋止惠公于秦
晋语四
重耳自狄适齐
骿胁
楚成王以周礼享重耳
秦伯纳重耳于晋
文公救宋败楚于城濮
晋语五
宁嬴氏论貌与言
灵公使鉏麑杀赵宣子
张侯御郤献子
郤献子等各推功于上
晋语六
赵文子冠
晋败楚师于鄢陵
范文子论外患与内忧
晋语七
栾武子立悼公
悼公即位
悼公始合诸侯
祁奚荐子午以自代
晋语八
辛俞从栾氏出奔
叔孙穆子论死而不朽
医和视平公疾
叔向论忧德不忧贫
晋语九
叔向论三奸同罪
董叔欲为系援
晋阳之围
郑语
史伯为桓公论兴废
楚语上
申叔时论傅太子之道
蔡声子论楚材晋用
伍举论台美而楚殆
楚语下
观射父论绝地天通
郧公辛与弟怀或礼于君或礼于父
王孙圉论国之宝
吴语
越王句践命诸稽郢行成于吴
吴欲与晋战得为盟主
句践灭吴夫差自杀
越语上
句践灭吴
越语下
范蠡进谏句践持盈定倾节事
范蠡谏句践勿许吴成卒灭吴
范蠡乘轻舟以浮于五湖

FAQ

What is the difference between the Guoyu and the Zuo Zhuan?

Both record Spring and Autumn events, but their structure and emphasis differ. The Zuo Zhuan is an annalistic history centered on events, with continuous and complete narration; the Guoyu is a regional history centered on speech, compiling discourses by state and focusing more on political speeches and remonstrances. It can be regarded as an important supplement to the Zuo Zhuan.

What are the features of Chen Tongsheng's annotated translation?

Published by Zhonghua Book Company, this translation is highly authoritative. Chen Tongsheng is an expert in classical literature; his notes are concise and accurate, focusing on resolving textual difficulties, and his vernacular translation is fluent and faithful, conveying the original style as far as possible. The headnote before each section helps readers quickly grasp the background and core ideas, balancing scholarship and accessibility.

For general readers, what is the main value of reading the Guoyu?

Its main value lies in direct contact with pre-Qin thought and historical scenes. Through the remarkable speeches of rulers, ministers, and strategists of the various states, readers can not only learn about historical events but also deeply appreciate the political wisdom, ethical concepts, debating skills, and linguistic artistry of the ancients. Much of its guidance on governance and conduct remains instructive today.

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About the author

陈桐生 Author

Chen Tongsheng is a scholar-author devoted to the collation and study of classical Chinese texts. His public biographical information is limited, yet the seven works held in the library clearly reveal his scholarly interests and writing direction. His work centers on the annotation, translation, and study of early Chinese classics, with representative achievements including annotated and fully translated editions in the Chinese Classics Complete Annotation and Translation series, such as Fengsu Tongyi, Guoyu, and Yantie Lun, as well as works on pre-Qin Confucian texts such as Zengzi, Zisi, and Kong Congzi and Confucius's Poetics. He is also the author of A Study of the Prose of the Seventy Disciples' Later Scholars, showing his academic concern with early Confucian transmission and prose writing. His works generally combine popularization of ancient texts with scholarly research, balancing textual collation and annotation with complete modern translations, making them accessible to both general readers and researchers. Chen Tongsheng's writing is rigorous and unadorned, emphasizing textual evidence and the tracing of sources and developments. His works appear under categories such as culture, Eastern philosophy, classic works, ancient poetry, and literary appreciation, contributing positively to the reading of classics and the study of pre-Qin literature.