Lüshi Chunqiu
Encyclopedia
The Lüshi Chunqiu is an encyclopedic Chinese classic text compiled around 239 BCE under the patronage of the Qin Dynasty
Chancellor Lü Buwei
. In the evaluation of Michael Carson and Michael Loewe,
who befriended King Zhuangxiang of Qin
. His son Zheng (政, who the Shiji suggests was actually Lü's son) eventually became the first emperor Qin Shi Huang
in 221 BCE. When Zhuangxiang died in 247 BCE, Lü Buwei was made regent
for the 13-year-old Zheng. In order to establish Qin as the intellectual center of China, Lü "recruited scholars, treating them generously so that his retainers came to number three thousand" (tr. Knoblock and Riegel 2000:13). In 239 BCE, he, in the words of the Shiji
Lü exhibited the completed encyclopedic text at the market gate in Xianyang
, the capital of Qin, with a thousand measures of gold hung above it, supposedly offered to any traveling scholar who could "add or subtract even a single character."
The Hanshu Yiwenzhi
(漢書藝文志 "Bibliographical Treatise of the History of the Former Han Dynasty") lists the Lüshi Chunqiu as belonging to the Zajia (雜家/杂家 "Mixed School"), within the Philosophers domain (諸子略), or Hundred Schools of Thought
. Although this text is frequently characterized as "syncretic," "eclectic", or "miscellaneous", it was a cohesive summary of contemporary philosophical thought, including Legalism, Confucianism
, Mohism
, and Daoism.
", which chronicles the State of Lu history from 772–481 BCE.
The Lüshi Chunqiu text comprises 26 juan (巻 "scrolls; books") in 160 pian (篇 "sections"), and is divided into three major parts; the Ji (Chinese
: 紀, "The Almanacs"). Books 1-12 correspond to the months of the year, and list appropriate seasonal activities to ensure that the state runs smoothly. This part, which was copied as the Liji chapter Yueling, takes many passages from other texts, often without attribution, the Lan (Chinese
: 覧, "The Examinations"). Books 13–20 each have 8 sections corresponding to the 64 Hexagrams
in the Yijing. This is the longest and most eclectic part, giving quotations from many early texts, some no longer extant, and the Lun (Chinese
: 論, "The Discourses"). Books 21–26 mostly deal with rulership, excepting the final four sections about agriculture. This part resembles the Lan in composition.
(1873-1929): "This book, through the course of two thousand years, has had no deletions nor corruptions. Moreover, it has the excellent commentary of Gao You. Truly it is the most perfect and easily read work among the ancient books"
Liang's position, mildly criticized afterwards, was dictated by the lack of canonical status ascribed to the book.
The Lüshi chunqiu is an invaluable compendium of early Chinese thought and civilization.
Qin Dynasty
The Qin Dynasty was the first imperial dynasty of China, lasting from 221 to 207 BC. The Qin state derived its name from its heartland of Qin, in modern-day Shaanxi. The strength of the Qin state was greatly increased by the legalist reforms of Shang Yang in the 4th century BC, during the Warring...
Chancellor Lü Buwei
Lü Buwei
Lü Buwei , Lord Wenxin 文信侯 was a Warring States Period merchant who schemed his way into governing the State of Qin. He served as Chancellor of China for King Zhuangxiang of Qin, and as regent and Chancellor for the king's young son Zheng, who became Qin Shi Huang, the first Emperor of China...
. In the evaluation of Michael Carson and Michael Loewe,
The Lü shih ch'un ch'iu is unique among early works in that it is well organized and comprehensive, containing extensive passages on such subjects as music and agriculture, which are unknown elsewhere. It is also one of the longest of the early texts, extending to something over 100,000 characters. To the usual description of its language as 'homogeneous' there must be added the qualifications that there is considerable borrowing from other texts with differing grammatical characteristics, and the fact that in different parts of the book there are different patterns of word usage. (1993:324)
Background
The Shiji (chap. 85, p. 2510) biography of Lü Buwei has the earliest information about the Lüshi Chunqiu. Lü was a successful merchant from HandanHandan
Handan is a prefecture-level city located in the southwestern part of Hebei Province of China.- History :Handan was the capital of the State of Zhao during the Warring States period , after the capital moved from Zhongmu. The city was conquered by the State of Qin after the virtual annexation of...
who befriended King Zhuangxiang of Qin
King Zhuangxiang of Qin
King Zhuangxiang of Qin , personal name Yiren , later renamed to Zichu , was the ruler of the Qin state during the 3rd century BC in the Warring States Period of Chinese history.-Biography:...
. His son Zheng (政, who the Shiji suggests was actually Lü's son) eventually became the first emperor Qin Shi Huang
Qin Shi Huang
Qin Shi Huang , personal name Ying Zheng , was king of the Chinese State of Qin from 246 BC to 221 BC during the Warring States Period. He became the first emperor of a unified China in 221 BC...
in 221 BCE. When Zhuangxiang died in 247 BCE, Lü Buwei was made regent
Regent
A regent, from the Latin regens "one who reigns", is a person selected to act as head of state because the ruler is a minor, not present, or debilitated. Currently there are only two ruling Regencies in the world, sovereign Liechtenstein and the Malaysian constitutive state of Terengganu...
for the 13-year-old Zheng. In order to establish Qin as the intellectual center of China, Lü "recruited scholars, treating them generously so that his retainers came to number three thousand" (tr. Knoblock and Riegel 2000:13). In 239 BCE, he, in the words of the Shiji
Lü exhibited the completed encyclopedic text at the market gate in Xianyang
Xianyang
Xianyang is a former capital of China in Shaanxi province, on the Wei River, a few kilometers upstream from Xi'an. It has an area of...
, the capital of Qin, with a thousand measures of gold hung above it, supposedly offered to any traveling scholar who could "add or subtract even a single character."
The Hanshu Yiwenzhi
Hanshu Yiwenzhi
Hanshu Yiwenzhi , or Treatise on Literature, is the bibliographical section of the History of the Former Han dynasty by the famous Chinese historian Ban Gu , who completed the work begun by his father Ban Biao...
(漢書藝文志 "Bibliographical Treatise of the History of the Former Han Dynasty") lists the Lüshi Chunqiu as belonging to the Zajia (雜家/杂家 "Mixed School"), within the Philosophers domain (諸子略), or Hundred Schools of Thought
Hundred Schools of Thought
The Hundred Schools of Thought were philosophers and schools that flourished from 770 to 221 BC during the Spring and Autumn period and the Warring States period , an era of great cultural and intellectual expansion in China...
. Although this text is frequently characterized as "syncretic," "eclectic", or "miscellaneous", it was a cohesive summary of contemporary philosophical thought, including Legalism, Confucianism
Confucianism
Confucianism is a Chinese ethical and philosophical system developed from the teachings of the Chinese philosopher Confucius . Confucianism originated as an "ethical-sociopolitical teaching" during the Spring and Autumn Period, but later developed metaphysical and cosmological elements in the Han...
, Mohism
Mohism
Mohism or Moism was a Chinese philosophy developed by the followers of Mozi , 470 BC–c.391 BC...
, and Daoism.
Contents
The title uses chunqiu (春秋 lit. "spring and autumn") meaning "annals; chronicle" in a classical reference to the Confucianist Chunqiu "Spring and Autumn AnnalsSpring and Autumn Annals
The Spring and Autumn Annals is the official chronicle of the State of Lu covering the period from 722 BCE to 481 BCE. It is the earliest surviving Chinese historical text to be arranged on annalistic principles. The text is extremely concise and, if all the commentaries are excluded, about 16,000...
", which chronicles the State of Lu history from 772–481 BCE.
The Lüshi Chunqiu text comprises 26 juan (巻 "scrolls; books") in 160 pian (篇 "sections"), and is divided into three major parts; the Ji (Chinese
Chinese language
The Chinese language is a language or language family consisting of varieties which are mutually intelligible to varying degrees. Originally the indigenous languages spoken by the Han Chinese in China, it forms one of the branches of Sino-Tibetan family of languages...
: 紀, "The Almanacs"). Books 1-12 correspond to the months of the year, and list appropriate seasonal activities to ensure that the state runs smoothly. This part, which was copied as the Liji chapter Yueling, takes many passages from other texts, often without attribution, the Lan (Chinese
Chinese language
The Chinese language is a language or language family consisting of varieties which are mutually intelligible to varying degrees. Originally the indigenous languages spoken by the Han Chinese in China, it forms one of the branches of Sino-Tibetan family of languages...
: 覧, "The Examinations"). Books 13–20 each have 8 sections corresponding to the 64 Hexagrams
Hexagram (I Ching)
The I Ching book consists of 64 hexagrams.A hexagram is a figure composed of six stacked horizontal lines , where each line is either Yang , or Yin . The hexagram lines are traditionally counted from the bottom up, so the lowest line is considered line 1 while the top line is line 6...
in the Yijing. This is the longest and most eclectic part, giving quotations from many early texts, some no longer extant, and the Lun (Chinese
Chinese language
The Chinese language is a language or language family consisting of varieties which are mutually intelligible to varying degrees. Originally the indigenous languages spoken by the Han Chinese in China, it forms one of the branches of Sino-Tibetan family of languages...
: 論, "The Discourses"). Books 21–26 mostly deal with rulership, excepting the final four sections about agriculture. This part resembles the Lan in composition.
Reception
Liang QichaoLiang Qichao
Liang Qichao |Styled]] Zhuoru, ; Pseudonym: Rengong) was a Chinese scholar, journalist, philosopher and reformist during the Qing Dynasty , who inspired Chinese scholars with his writings and reform movements...
(1873-1929): "This book, through the course of two thousand years, has had no deletions nor corruptions. Moreover, it has the excellent commentary of Gao You. Truly it is the most perfect and easily read work among the ancient books"
Liang's position, mildly criticized afterwards, was dictated by the lack of canonical status ascribed to the book.
Major positions
Admitting the difficulties of summarizing the Lüshi Chunqiu, John Knoblock and Jeffrey Riegel list 18 major points.- Affirmation of self-cultivation and impartiality
- Rejection of hereditary ruler over the empire
- Stupidity as the cause of hereditary rule
- Need for government to honor the concerns of the people
- The central importance of learning and teachers
- Support and admiration for learning as the basis of rule
- Non-assertion on the part of the ruler
- Primary task for a ruler is to select his ministers
- Need for a ruler to trust the expertise of his advisors
- Need for a ruler to practice quiescence
- The attack on Qin practices
- Just warfare
- Respect for civil arts
- Emphasis on agriculture
- Facilitating trade and commerce
- Encouraging economy and conservation
- Lightening of taxes and duties
- Emphasis on filial piety and loyalty. (2000:46–54)
The Lüshi chunqiu is an invaluable compendium of early Chinese thought and civilization.
Chinese commentaries
- Gao You :zh:高誘 (Eastern Han, early 3 c.), 《呂氏春秋注》
- 畢沅 (1730－1797), 《呂氏春秋新校正》
- 許維遹, 《呂氏春秋集釋》
External links
- 呂氏春秋, complete text in Chinese
- Lüshi chunqiu 呂氏春秋, ChinaKnowledge entry