What kind of book is "Zuo Zhuan"?

"Zuo Zhuan" is an ancient chronological historical work and one of the Confucian classics. In the early Western Han Dynasty, it was called "Zuo's Spring and Autumn Annals" or "Spring and Autumn Classics".

What Liu Xin saw at the end of the Western Han Dynasty was called "the ancient text Chun Qiu Zuo Shi Zhuan", and "Zuo Zhuan" is the abbreviation of "Chun Qiu Zuo Shi Zhuan".

"Chun Qiu" is the national history of the Lu state during the Spring and Autumn Period. It is said that it has been added, deleted and modified by Confucius, while "Zuo Zhuan" is a work that narrates "Chun Qiu".

The writing date of "Zuo Zhuan" has not yet been determined. Yang Bojun's "Chun Qiu Zuo Zhuan Notes and Preface" speculates that it was written after Wei Si became a marquis in 403 BC and before the thirteenth year of King Zhou An (389 BC).

The events recorded in "Zuo Zhuan" are basically in the order of the Twelve Dukes of Lu recorded in the "Spring and Autumn Annals", but they are beyond the scope of the "Spring and Autumn Annals" in terms of time.

"Spring and Autumn" records the activities of princes, officials and officials in a broad social background, and goes deep into various classes such as merchants, soothsayers, assassins, musicians, concubines, workers, and officials; through Qi Huan Gong, Jin Dynasty

The narratives of the rise and fall of hegemony such as Duke Wen of Qin, Duke Mu of Qin, King Zhuang of Chu, King Helu of Wu, and King Goujian of Yue reflect the intricate competition among the vassal states at that time; while for the Sun family of Lu Ji, Qi Tian Chengzi, Jin Han, Zhao,

The descriptions of the conflicts between Wei Zhuqing and his office, Zheng Zichan's reforms, etc. also profoundly reveal the changes and trends within society.

Zuo dared to be straightforward in his narrative, with a clear tendency.

He often uses "propriety" and "impropriety" as his judgments on characters. His concept is closer to Confucianism, emphasizing hierarchical order and patriarchal ethics, paying attention to the distinction between seniority and inferiority, and also showing "people-oriented" thinking.

Although there are still many places in the book that talk about heaven, ghosts and gods, their importance is lower than that of "people".

For example, the article in the sixth year of Duke Huan quoted Ji Liang's words: "The husband is also the lord of the people's gods. Therefore, the holy king first became the people and then devoted himself to the gods." The article in the thirty-second year of Duke Zhuang quoted Shi Xi's words: "When a country is about to prosper, listen to the people;

"When you are about to perish, listen to God." This kind of discussion is undoubtedly of historical and progressive significance.

The predecessors commented that "Zuo's family is beautiful and rich", which shows that the literary nature of "Zuo Zhuan" has been greatly enhanced compared to "Spring and Autumn".

From "Spring and Autumn" only recording memorabilia to "Zuo Zhuan" with dramatic storylines and lifelike characters, it is a great progress in historical prose.

Ruyin's AD Chronicle "Zheng Bo Duan Yu Yan", the author narrates the events in an organized and hierarchical manner according to the beginning, development, climax and ending, showing the cunning and viciousness of Zheng Bo, the ambition and martial arts of Uncle Duan of Zheng.

Jiang's partiality led to disaster, which summarizes the history of decades of struggle within the Zheng Guo ruling group.

From it we can see not only the process of history, but also the actions and expressions of the characters who appeared on the historical stage.

Combining the authenticity of history, the distinctiveness of tendencies, and the image of expression, and showing historical pictures through specific character activities, it established a fine tradition of Chinese historical writing and laid a good foundation for the development of historical biography literature in later generations.

Narrating wars is the specialty of "Zuo Zhuan". It contains more than 400 military actions. The most outstanding ones are the five famous battles of the Spring and Autumn Period (the Battle of Chengpu, the Battle of Wei, the Battle of Bi, and the Battle of Qu).

War, Battle of Yanling).

The author is good at placing each battle in the context of great powers competing for hegemony. He explains the remote and immediate causes of the war, the changes in the relationship between various countries, pre-war planning, the battle process, and the impact of the war in a concise and elegant writing style.

clear.

This narrative ability is of great significance to both later historical and literary works.

In addition, the description of characters who are good at diplomatic rhetoric is also a prominent strength of "Zuo Zhuan".

"Zuo Zhuan" has an important influence on later history and literature.

Sima Qian of the Han Dynasty developed the tradition of "Zuo Zhuan" and wrote the masterpiece "Historical Records", which is both historical and literary.

Sima Guang's "Zizhi Tongjian" of the Song Dynasty is not only consistent with it in content, but also follows it in style and technique.

In terms of literature, "Zuo Zhuan" is an inexhaustible treasure trove for later generations of literati.