Spring and Autumn Annals of Zuo History Draft

Author: Shen Yucheng, Liu Ning
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 1992-06-01
Features: The "Series of Ancient Text Research" is one of the key research projects of the Committee for the Collection and Research of Ancient Books in Higher Education Institutions under the State Education Commission. This project aims to reflect the new achievements of some contemporary scholars in China in studying important ancient texts. The ancient texts of China are vast and numerous, and their collection and research have a long history, with contributions from every generation. Especially for some important ancient texts, due to repeated collection and research in different eras, they have accumulated very fruitful results. However, since these ancient texts hold a very important position in the composition of traditional Chinese culture, scholars from different eras, based on their own times, approach them with distinct academic perspectives, viewpoints, and methods, leading to a renewed understanding. Thus, although the research topics on these ancient texts are repeated, from the perspective of historical development, such repetition as a whole has the characteristics of innovation and deeper exploration, forming a vibrant process of creatively inheriting traditional culture and scholarship. Such a process will undoubtedly continue in the future. Recently, there has been intense ideological debate on how to treat national traditional culture, and through the debate, a clearer consensus has been reached. It is necessary to inherit and promote China's excellent traditional culture under the guidance of Marxism-Leninism and Mao Zedong Thought, and the more open China becomes, the more it should promote its excellent traditional culture. The positive influence of excellent traditional culture can deepen patriotic sentiments, enhance the cohesion of the Chinese nation, promote the formation of Chinese style and spirit, which undoubtedly has significant and far-reaching implications for building socialism with Chinese characteristics. In the systematic project of inheriting and promoting excellent traditional culture, the collection and research of important ancient texts is an extremely important link. Because these important ancient texts are in fact the crystallization of traditional culture, they not only have a long history but also have had a profound social impact throughout history. Therefore, standing in our great era, we should fully adhere to the principles of seeking truth from facts, discarding falsehood and preserving truth, and removing dross and preserving essence to further clarify the true nature of these ancient texts and scientifically evaluate their historical and practical significance. The authors of the "Series of Ancient Text Research" are mainly several generations of middle-aged and young scholars who grew up under the cultivation of the Party after the founding of New China. These scholars have received systematic education in dialectical materialism and historical materialism; they have a relatively deep and broad understanding of traditional Chinese culture and have improved their expertise in the study of ancient Chinese texts through their teaching and research practices. At the same time, in the era of reform and opening up, they have also become familiar with or absorbed various foreign theories and research methods. Therefore, they have the potential to reflect the characteristics of the times and carry forward the legacy. However, since this series is a research project of the Committee for the Collection and Research of Ancient Books in Higher Education Institutions, the content of each book still focuses mainly on the textual research of ancient texts while also including other discussions. The research forms of the books are not consistent, with most being monographs, but there are also thematic studies and collections of papers. However, there are unified requirements for academic quality, which is to adhere to the four basic principles in politics and implement the policy of freedom of thought in academic views on the basis of extensively mastering practical materials and the achievements of predecessors, providing research results with innovative significance. Since all the books focus on textual research, all authors, regardless of the new methods they adopt in their research, must inherit and promote the rigorous style of traditional "scholarship" with a focus on practical learning, ensuring that all conclusions are well-founded and logically reasoned; they must avoid speculative and arbitrary statements and never resort to obscurantism. The focus of this book is on the second part. The four chapters in the first part only introduce or propose their own views on some issues that must be explained in the study of the "Zuo Zhuan" of the "Spring and Autumn Annals," and can be regarded as a preparation for the second part. The original materials of this book are mainly used for the "Siku Quanshu" and the three "Jingjie" compiled by Qing Dynasty scholars, of course, mostly only for general reading. As for the research achievements of modern scholars, they are relatively scattered, and only what can be collected and read within reach can be done.