The Rites In "Zuo Zhuan"

“Zuo Zhuan” as one of the most valuable classics in studying social system ofpre-Qin Period, has presented sufficient information about the ritual system of thatsociety. Referring to “Zuo Zhuan” as a basis, this paper is going to investigate the ritefrom three aspects in three chapters. The study also combines previous studies andother literatures in the same period.Chapter1has evaluated two types of rites. The first one is the rite of socialsystem. It contains the ritual against internal and external systems. The other one isthe rite of ceremony which can be divided into5categories, alliance, sacrifice, funeral,warfare and matrimony. The argument of the two forms is the central issue in thischapter.In Chapter2, there are analyses of the principles of rituals in“Zuo Zhuan”. Thefirst one is “JING”, which illustrates the relationships between superiors andsubordinates, old and young. Secondly,“SHUN”stress the order of status. Peoplewho are in low hierarchy have to obey the higher ones.“RANG”, as the last one, hastried to seek the balance under the hierarchical order. These characters reveal thenature of the rites: class distinctions. Whether it is based on blood relations or scopeof power, the essential of hierarchical inequality will not change.The last chapter aims to explore the changing of rites during Spring and AutumnPeriod. These changes could be reflected in two main aspects, the argument of ritesand the emergence of the statute law. Not only etiquette in ceremony should beconsidered as the rite, politicians in that time also believed that rite is an efficient toolthat could be applied by emperors in strengthening the rule of their countries. Thisstatement indicates that there is a difference between the rite of social system and therate of ceremony since Spring and Autumn Period, which does not mean that the latteris unimportant. People, especially for governors and ministers in that era, haveemphasized the role of the rite in ceremony. Meanwhile, the separation of the lawfrom the rite should be treated as another change. The law, which was a part of ritual originally, has become an independent and additional institution available fordominating. Both of the two changes have followed the future trend of socialdevelopment. It also showed the collapse of traditional order which is replaced by thenew one.