《Mandarin》Wisdom Quotes and Stories

Author: Zhang Shuqie
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-05-01
Features: The Records of the States is a renowned historical work primarily focused on recorded speeches, organized by states. The book narrates historical facts by country, starting from the 12th year of King Mu of the Western Zhou Dynasty (491 BC) when he launched a campaign against the Dong, and ending in the 16th year of King Ding of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty (453 BC) when the Marquis Zhi of Jin was by the alliance of Han, Zhao, and Wei. It spans a total of 538 years, divided into eight linguistic regions (Zhōu, Lǔ, Qí, Jìn, Zhèng, Chǔ, Wú, and Yuè), comprising twenty-one chapters. The Records of the States is believed to have been compiled during the Warring States period. The authorship of The Records of the States is generally attributed to Zuo Qiuming. Sima Qian of the Western Han Dynasty stated in The Autobiography of the Grand Historian that "When Zuo Qiuming lost his sight, he composed The Records of the States." Wei Zhao of the Wu Kingdom during the Three Kingdoms period also believed that The Records of the States was written by Zuo Qiuming, and it is considered a sister work to The Zuo Zhuan. The Records of the States is China's first national history with insightful discussions and unique historical perspectives. It elucidates political, military, diplomatic, economic, and cultural aspects through dialogues, recording historical facts of China's Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods. In the process of narrating history, it leaves many lessons for later generations. This book strives for completeness, conciseness, and high intellectual value in its selection of quotes, interprets the essence of the quotes, and accompanies them with relevant stories for explanation. The stories primarily draw from examples, legends, and myths contained in the quotes.