What kind of book is Zuo Zhuan?

According to legend, Zuo Zhuan is a historical book annotated by Zuo Qiuming, a native of Lu, at the end of the Spring and Autumn Period. It is also called "Three Biographies of Spring and Autumn Period" together with Biography of Ram and Biography of Gu Liang. It is China's first detailed chronicle work and an outstanding masterpiece of historical prose.

This book, with a total of 35 volumes, is one of the Confucian classics and the longest of the thirteen classics, and is listed as a classic in Sikuquanshu. It covers the period from 722 BC (the year of Luyin) to 468 BC (the 27th year of Lu Aigong).

Extended data:

Based on the Spring and Autumn Annals, Zuo Zhuan uses the materials of Zhou Zhi, Jincheng, Zhengshu and Chu Lang to explain the outline of the Spring and Autumn Annals by describing the specific historical facts of the Spring and Autumn Period. In Zuo Zhuan, Yang Bojun summed up that there are four ways for Zuo Zhuan to spread Chunqiu: namely, "explain the calligraphy of Chunqiu, supplement Chunqiu with facts, correct the mistakes of Chunqiu, and increase the text without classics."

Another view is that Zuo Zhuan is an independent history book and has no direct connection with Chunqiu. The doctor of modern literature in the Western Han Dynasty called Zuo Shi Chunqiu.

Baidu encyclopedia-biography of Zuo Shi in Spring and Autumn Period