Zhuangzi Quick Read - The Struggle for Alliance Among the Vassal States

Author: Sun Tiěgāng
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-01-01
Features: The book here is one you must read at least once in your lifetime, whether you are ten, thirty, or seventy years old! A minimalist reading list of Chinese culture. From the vast collection of ancient classics, sixty classics have been selected for the first time to present a comprehensive portrayal of Chinese culture over five thousand years in an easy and enjoyable reading format. Renowned scholars from Taiwan review the classics with a 21st-century perspective, traversing through time and space, guiding you into the "unfenced museum of Chinese culture."
I was unsuccessful in mastering the music of Han, so I led my three armies and my armored troops to confront them with force; they feared and conspired against me, making it difficult to infiltrate. The state of Su, being the largest among the eastern states of Han, would abandon the small states if Su were to advance. The small states would be isolated, which would be beneficial to Chu. The younger master was arrogant, so I requested to lead a weakened army to provoke them.
The Zuo Zhuan is one of the most important early historical books. The modern scholar Liang Qichao said that the Zuo Zhuan was a "revolution in the history of the Shang and Zhou dynasties," and also that it was "the most valuable historical material from two thousand years ago." The contemporary Chinese historian Qian Mu said, "I believe that if we want to study ancient Chinese history, we should take the Zuo Zhuan as a benchmark for our research." Qian also believed that if we wanted to read the Twenty-Four Histories, we should first read the Records of the Grand Historian and the Book of Han, then the Book of Later Han and the Records of the Three Kingdoms. Once we are familiar with these four histories, the rest will be manageable. However, Qian added, "The Zuo Zhuan is also the benchmark for reading the four histories." Thus, the value of the Zuo Zhuan is not hard to see. In fact, its value goes beyond this. By studying the Zuo Zhuan, we can gain historical wisdom that helps us understand the past and anticipate the future, aiding us in dealing with human affairs.
This book, Records of States Competing for Alliances, aims to serve as a bridge to the original Zuo Zhuan. It is hoped that readers who have read this small book will one day be able to complete reading the original Zuo Zhuan, witnessing the grandeur of the halls and the richness of the officials in the temple of Chinese history, while absorbing the wisdom of the sages and scholars of antiquity.