The Historic Outlook Based On Morality And Literature Research On 《Zuo Zhuan》

The book Zuo Zhuan(Tso-Chuan) has great values in commentaries on Confucian classics , history and literature. Among the three scholastic values of the book, embodying Confucian theory is the essence. The article attempts to study the relationship between the literature elements of book and Zuo Qiuming's subjective tendency, the article is divided into the following six parts.:The exordium introduces studying status in the essence and literature character of Zuo Zhuan, the main content and studying methods of the article.Chapter one is the first part of our discussion. Listing a number of proofs, this article will discuss the following four topics : the relationship between Confucius and Chun Qiu (ch'un ch'iu, or Confucius springs and Autumns annals) ; the author of the book Zuo Zhuan and the compiled time ; the material source of Zuo Zhuan; the nature of Zuo Zhuan. Based on discussing the above topics , the article refute the point of view that Zuo Zhuan is not explanation of Chun Qiu. Thus we can prove the nature of Zuo Zhuan is the explanation about Confucian theory.Chapter 2 discusses the social base of Zuo Qiuming's historic outlook existing from the logic order of the Chun Qiu society to Confucius to Zuo Qiuming. the relationship between the society of the Chun Qiu period , Confucius and Zuo Qiuming's moral historic outlook (which means the development of history is determined by rulers' morality) . In the middle period of Chun Qiu, our country's social productive force advanced rapidly. The moral historic outlook, the aristocracy in Zhou Dynasty went foreword corruption. Meanwhile great changes took place in people's thought during Chun Qiu period. As for as ethic thoughts is concerned the general tendency is from moral to rite to benevolence. That means developing from morality based on exterior forces to internal force. The philosophical thought in Chun Qiu period included two main parts : (1) Qing Dafu's philosophy , this is a philosophy that officials taking charge of civil affairs believed in , Qing Dafu philosophy is generally ethical philosophy . This philosophy held the view that the rise and fall of nations and families is determined not by the God's will, but by rulers' moral behaviors ; (2) Fang Shu philosophy , this is a philosophy that fortune-tellers and astrologers believed in , The philosophical thoughts advocated by historic officials, astrologers and fortune-tellers is often connected with religion and fortune-telling. This philosophy explained the God's will and events happening in human society with the relationship between the natural matters. There are two kind of historic outlooks: (1) the moral historic outlook , this historic outlook explained the historic developing rule with moral behavior of the governors ; (2 ) Fang Shu historic outlook, it explained the historic developing rule with the relationship between the natural matters . Confucian philosophy is a pure ethical philosophy, and his history outlook belongs to the moral outlook. He expressed the profound ideas of his work Chun Qiu by the revision and lecture. In this way, he wants to assert the aristocracy at that time. Zuo Qiuming inherited Confucius outlook in politics and history. He regarded conveying the great ideas in Chun Qiu as his important task , wrote the book Zuo Zhuan. According to the book, we can judge the main part of Zuo Qiuming's philosophical thoughts is ethical philosophy. But his philosophical outlook has certain characteristic of Fang Shu philosophy because of his own occupation. A number of oracles and fortune-telling activities were recorded in the book Zuo Zhuan. In this respect, there is certain difference between Zuo Qiu ming and Confucius. But Zuo Qiuming recorded the oracles andfortune-telling activities. In order to propagate the moral historic outlook, this proved Zuo Qiuming's ideas is the same as Confucian theory in essence.Chapter 3 deals with the relationship between Zuo Qiuming's moral outlook and the narration of Zuo Zhuan. Zuo Qiuming recorded history in order to advocate moral...