Zuo Zhuan (3)

Zuo QiumingAug 2024

4.7

Word count: 53K words
Chapters: 2

Summary

The Zuo Tradition (Zuoshi Chunqiu, or Zuo Zhuan for short) generally uses historical facts to explain the Spring and Autumn Annals. It begins in the first year of Duke Yin of Lu (722 BCE) and ends in the twenty-seventh year of Duke Ai of Lu (470 BCE). It is chiefly a record of events, with speeches also included; its narrative is detailed and clear, its language vivid and concise, and it comprehensively reflects the social and historical conditions of the time. It is both an important Confucian classic and China's first complete annalistic history, and it also achieves a high level in literature.

Editor's review

As one of the three commentaries on the Spring and Autumn Annals, the Zuo Tradition is an annalistic record running from the first year of Duke Yin of Lu to the twenty-seventh year of Duke Ai of Lu. It includes speeches as well as events; its narrative is detailed and clear and its language concise, making it a foundational text for understanding the politics, ritual institutions, diplomacy, and social conditions of the Spring and Autumn period. Its value lies not only in historical material but also in its way of narrating history to explain the classic, and in the literary achievement shown in the speeches of envoys and the accounts of warfare. This edition is the third volume printed in 2024, suitable for readers with some grounding in classical Chinese who wish to read the original systematically. It is best read alongside the main chronology of Spring and Autumn events and the genealogies of the various clans, sorting out causes and consequences section by section. One can then see both the reality of the contending states as ritual order broke down and the character and spirit revealed in concise narrative. For general readers it is not an easy introduction but a classic that requires patience and the aid of reference works, suitable as a desk book for long-term study and consultation.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers with some grounding in classical Chinese who wish to read the Zuo Tradition systematically
University students studying pre-Qin history and Spring and Autumn political institutions who need source material
Writers interested in ancient narrative literature and the speeches of envoys who want to study prose style
Secondary-school Chinese teachers and enthusiasts of traditional culture, for lesson preparation and further reading

Not a good fit for

Beginners with weak classical Chinese reading ability who want an easy introduction
Readers who want only vernacular stories and are unwilling to consult annotations and reference works
Those seeking a modern-novel-like continuous plot and a fast reading experience

Reading tips

Read a chronology of major Spring and Autumn events and the genealogy of Lu first to establish a time frame before entering the text
Read year by year and section by section, summarizing the event and character relationships in one sentence per section to form notes
Look up personal names, place names, and ritual terms in annotations or reference works as you go; do not rush to finish at once
After reading chapters on warfare and diplomacy, return to related earlier and later records of the same figures to appreciate the narrative's cross-references

版权信息
襄公31年（公元前572年——前542年）

FAQ

Can I read the Zuo Tradition directly without any grounding in classical Chinese?

It is not very advisable to read the original directly. You can first choose a popular edition with translation and annotation, or first read an overview of Spring and Autumn history to become familiar with the characters and the main events; then return to the original and read section by section in comparison, which will reduce the difficulty considerably.

Is this book suitable for reading straight through from beginning to end?

It can be read straight through, but it is better advanced in sections. In an annalistic format, events are scattered; it is advisable to read by year or by theme (such as warfare, diplomacy, or ritual) and use a chronology to link causes and consequences, so that you do not forget earlier material as you read on.

Do I need other books to read the Zuo Tradition?

It is advisable to use an introductory work on Spring and Autumn history, a dictionary of classical Chinese, and an annotated edition, checking official titles, ritual institutions, and place names as you encounter them. If you are interested in the relationship between the classic and its commentaries, you may also learn the basic differences between the Spring and Autumn Annals and its three commentaries.

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About the author

Zuo Qiuming Author · Chinese

Zuo Qiuming was a historiographer and historian of the State of Lu in the late Spring and Autumn period. He served as Grand Historiographer of Lu and is traditionally credited with authorship of the Zuo Commentary and the Guoyu. His birth and death years cannot be verified with certainty, and public sources are limited; old claims such as 556–451 BCE and 502–422 BCE remain disputed. He is regarded as a founding figure of traditional Chinese historiography, and Confucius is said to have called him a gentleman. Judging from the works attributed to him, he excelled at combining narrative records with recorded speech to portray the rise and fall of the states during the Spring and Autumn period. His writing is meticulous in structure, vivid in character and dialogue, and valuable both as history and as literature. His works are commonly classed under Eastern philosophy, literary appreciation, historical reading, and documentary literature, and have deeply influenced later historical and biographical writing.