"Left Zuan", "Guo Yi" Research on Methods and Arts

Author: Liu Ying
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-06-01
Features: This book is initially revised based on the author's doctoral dissertation. At the time, the author chose this topic for their doctoral dissertation for a simple reason: while reading the Zuo Zhuan and the Guo Yi, they found too many records of astrological predictions, divination with tortoise shells, and other such practices. For the author, these were constant obstacles that were neither easy to tackle nor avoid. The author felt that although these practices were complex and profound, simply bypassing them was not the solution. Therefore, they decided to try to understand the difficulties. Referring to the Shu Shi Lüe and Fang Ji Lüe in the Han Shu and the classification of Shu Shi and Fang Ji in the Sui Shu·Zi Bu, the author categorized and adjusted the materials from the Zuo Zhuan and the Guo Yi, and redefined previously vague or unclear classifications. On this basis, they conducted analysis. For the divination categories in the Zuo Zhuan and the Guo Yi, such as tortoise shell divination, divination with yarrow stalks, and dream divination, the author provided detailed analysis. By arranging the materials chronologically, by state, and by type of divination, the author aimed to grasp the application of spring and autumn period mathematical techniques and technical arts from different perspectives, thereby deepening the understanding of the overall situation of these practices during the spring and autumn period. Based on the materials from the Zuo Zhuan and the Guo Yi, and corroborated with relevant records from the Rites of Zhou, the author examined the divination systems of the spring and autumn period, such as the history of the diviner system and the history of the divination system. Building on the of the materials, the author focused on discussing issues that were previously not well understood. Previous research achievements in the history of spring and autumn astronomy and the divination methods of the spring and autumn period were not the main focus. The main research object is the characteristics of mathematical divination in the spring and autumn period.