Lüshi Chunqiu

Author: Zhong Lei
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-05-01
Features: The Rites of Lu, also known as The Annals of Lu, was collectively compiled by Lu Buwei, the Chancellor of the State of Qin during the late Warring States period. It is generally believed to have been completed around the eighth year of Qin Shi Huang (239 BC) and is considered a representative work of the (heterodox school) of pre-Qin thought.
Lu Buwei (c. 292–235 BC) was a native of Puyang, Weiyang (modern-day Puyang County, Henan Province) in the late Warring States period. Originally a wealthy merchant from Yangyi (modern-day Yucheng County, Henan Province), he met Yiren, the grandson of King Zhao of Qin, who was serving as a hostage in Zhao. Believing Yiren to be a "valuable commodity," Lu engaged in political speculation, repeatedly traveling to Qin to persuade King An Guo of Qin to appoint Hua Yang Lady, the favorite concubine of the crown prince, as his mother. Hua Yang Lady, having no children, adopted Yiren and renamed him Yu Chu, later making him crown prince. In 250 BC, Yu Chu ascended the throne as King Zhuang Xiang of Qin, appointing Lu Buwei as his Chancellor and ennobling him as Duke Wenxin. Three years later, after King Zhuang Xiang's death, the young Qin King Zheng (later Qin Shi Huang) ascended the throne and honored Lu as his "Second Father," allowing him to continue as Chancellor. Lu possessed a fiefdom of twelve counties and one hundred thousand households, three thousand guests, and ten thousand household servants.
After Qin Shi Huang took power, Lu Buwei was dismissed due to his involvement in Lao Ai's rebellion and later exiled to Shu, where he committed suicide by drinking poison en route.
The compilation of The Rites of Lu is said to have been inspired by the Records of the Grand Historian's Biography of Lu Buwei. The text states, "At that time, Wei had Xingling Lord, Chu had Chunshen Lord, Zhao had Pingyuan Lord, and Qi had Mengchang Lord—all of whom were fond of entertaining scholars and guests to vie for influence. Lu Buwei, recognizing Qin's strength and feeling inferior, also gathered scholars and treated them generously, eventually having three thousand guests. At that time, many feudal lords had eloquent scholars like Xun Qing, who spread their writings far and wide. Lu Buwei then had his guests compile their knowledge and opinions into the Eight Views, Six Discourses, and Twelve Chronicles, totaling over two hundred thousand words. He believed it covered all aspects of heaven, earth, and human affairs, calling it The Rites of Lu."
However, the primary motivation for its compilation was the growing trend of unification, which encouraged Lu to synthesize the strengths of various schools of thought to provide a theoretical foundation for Qin's conquest of the six states and the establishment of a unified feudal empire.
After its completion, Lu Buwei reportedly displayed the book at the gates of Xianyang, offering a thousand gold pieces to anyone who could add or remove a single character. This reflects his confidence in the work.
The Rites of Lu is divided into twenty-six volumes, comprising the Eight Views (sixty-four chapters), Six Discourses (thirty-six chapters), and Twelve Chronicles (sixty chapters), totaling one hundred sixty chapters and over two hundred thousand words. Structurally, the chapters of the Chronicles, Views, and Discourses are arranged in a balanced and orderly manner. The current arrangement places the Twelve Chronicles first, followed by the Eight Views and then the Six Discourses. The book is named The Rites of Lu because the titles of the Twelve Chronicles begin with the "Monthly Ordinances," while it is also called The Annals of Lu due to the presence of the Eight Views.
The book's philosophy is primarily based on Confucian and Daoist thought, while also incorporating elements from the Mohist, Legalist, Names, Agriculturalist, Yin-Yang, Music, and Military schools. It preserves the diverse theories and ideas of various pre-Qin schools, including both their strengths and weaknesses. Its content covers politics, military strategy, agriculture, mathematics, astronomy, calendar systems, education, music, rituals, and health preservation, among other topics. It also preserves many ancient texts, anecdotes, and academic records, making it a valuable resource for studying pre-Qin thought and history.
The Rites of Lu has its own distinctive writing style. It often begins with a discussion, followed by factual evidence and analogies as supporting examples, before concluding with a definitive argument. The text is coherent, well-organized, concise, and persuasive, frequently using allegorical stories to illustrate its points vividly. However, since it was a collaborative work, the writing style is not entirely uniform.