A Study Of Fealty Concept In "Annals Of Zuo"

Fealty is one of the most important concepts in Chinese traditional ethics. In the Spring and AutumnPeriod, the development of Fealty Concept was in a prosperous time. From then on and afterwards thisconcept had been viewed as a code of conduct as well as the evaluation standard of behavior. The “Annalsof Zuo”, acknowledged as a gigantic historical book and an epoch-making literary works, provides adevelopment routine for the study of Fealty Concept in the Spring and Autumn Period.In ancient time, Fealty Concept was derived from Center and meanwhile represented the authority andthe sacredness. People began to recognize self-discipline and show respect for others. In Patriarchalworship period, fealty was vaguely judged as communicational moral standard, and this period was theinitial development of moral.In ancient books and records before Qin Dynasty, the interpretation of Fealty Concept was mostlyabout courtesy, introspection, self cultivation, serving feudal emperors and the treatment subjects. Fealtyhad not been recognized as defining the relationship between feudal emperors and their subjects. Confucianthought of Fealty set the obligations between them, but not emphasized the absolutely loyalty to emperors.However, Fealty Concept had been viewed as one of the normal morals in the Spring and Autumn Period.The “Annals of Zuo” not only combined of Confucius thought of Fealty Concept, but also endowed muchwider significance of Fealty Concept. Fealty Concept in the Spring and Autumn Period included muchmore general social moral concepts, for instance, the national state, the allegiance of emperors, thedevotion to people, and equality, justice, frugal, virtue, selfless, faithful, all of which reflected the people’smoral consciousness in that time.Compared to Western Zhou Dynasty, the patriarchal clan system had changed due to unrest in the Spring and Autumn period. According to the records of “Annals of Zuo”, the subjects produced new moralconcepts in this complex social background. When the state, vassals, high officials had conflict of interest,they would possess the different Fealty Concept due to their knowledge, concepts, background. The vassalstates had also different Fealty concepts along different national conditions. The Chinese character "zhong"is found in “Annals of Zuo” for70times, which included21times related to Jin Vassal State. FealtyConcept in Jin Vassal State had been viewed as the spiritual tool to safeguard the state, shown by theeye-catching loyal groups in history.In the “Annals of Zuo”, there are close links between Fealty Concept and moral norms, including faith,filial piety, righteousness, virtue, benevolence and so on. They have unification as well as contradiction inreality society. Fealty Concept, with the excellent light of moral norms, has standed out in traditionalChinese culture and reflected the moral rational consciousness of Chinese people.In summary, the study of Fealty Concept in the “Annals of Zuo” could help master the developmentprocess and implications of Fealty Concept. Meanwhile, the research could also contribute to the promotionof China’s outstanding traditional culture, and promote the construction of socialist culture with Chinesecharacteristics.