The Gongyang Commentary on The Spring and Autumn Annals : A Full Translation

This book is a full translation of the Gongyang Commentary on the Spring and Autumn Annals, a history of the Chinese state of Lu from 722 to 481 BCE, annotated so as to highlight the moral philosophy of its supposed writer, Confucius. The Spring and Autumn Annals was a cryptic and mysterious chronicle of the history of China's Zhou kingdom from the perspective of the feudal state of Lu from 722 to 481 BCE. When it was first written, scholars believed it was the work of the great sage Confucius (although no one really knows who wrote it), and they treated it like a religious scripture, analyzing and explaining even its smallest detail, determined to discover exactly what Confucius meant. Several schools of interpretation arose, and The Gongyang Commentary is the legacy of one of them. It takes the form of a catechism, a series of questions and answers on Confucius's narrative, designed to explain why he described people and events the way he did. Confucius thus emerges as the original editorialist: offering praise and scorn, embellishing the exemplary and suppressing the embarrassing - passing judgment with nearly every word. The history itself - filled with diplomacy, war, intrigue, assassination, honor, and knavery - gave Confucius plenty to pass judgment on. The Gongyang Commentary has never before been translated into English 1. Duke Yin, Part I Duke Yin's reign, year 1 (722 BCE) 2. Duke Yin, Part II Duke Yin's reign, years 2-4 (721-719 BCE) 3. Duke Yin, Part III Duke Yin's reign, years 5-11 (718-712 BCE) 4. Duke Huan, Part I Duke Huan's reign, years 1-6 (711-706 BCE) 5. Duke Huan, Part II Duke Huan's reign, years 7-18 (705-694 BCE) 6. Duke Zhuang, Part I Duke Zhuang's reign, years 1-7 (693-687 BCE) 7. Duke Zhuang, Part II Duke Zhuang's reign, years 8-17 (686-677 BCE) 8. Duke Zhuang, Part III Duke Zhuang's reign, years 18-27 (676-667 BCE) 9. Duke Zhuang, Part IV Duke Zhuang's reign, years 28-32; Duke Min's reign, years 1-2 (666-660- BCE) 10. Duke Xi, Part I Duke Xi's reign, years 1-7 (659-653 BCE) 11. Duke Xi, Part II Duke Xi's reign, years 8-21 (652-639 BCE) 12. Duke Xi, Part III Duke Xi's reign, years 22-33 (638-627 BCE) 13. Duke Wen, Part I Duke Wen's reign, years 1-9 (626-618 BCE) 14. Duke Wen, Part II Duke Wen's reign, years 10-18 (617-609 BCE) 15. Duke Xuan, Part I Duke Xuan's reign, years 1-9 (608-600 BCE) 16. Duke Xuan, Part II Duke Xuan's reign, years 10-18 (599-591 BCE) 17. Duke Cheng, Part I Duke Cheng's reign, years 1-10 (590-581 BCE) 18. Duke Cheng, Part II Duke Cheng's reign, years 11-18 (580-573 BCE) 19. Duke Xiang, Part I Duke Xiang's reign, years 1-11 (572-562 BCE) 20. Duke Xiang, Part II Duke Xiang's reign, years 12-24 (561-549 BCE) 21. Duke Xiang, Part III Duke Xiang's reign, years 25-31 (548-542 BCE) 22. Duke Zhao, Part I Duke Zhao's reign, years 1-12 (541-530 BCE) 23. Duke Zhao, Part II Duke Zhao's reign, years 13-22 (529-520 BCE) 24. Duke Zhao, Part III Duke Zhao's reign, years 23-32 (519-510 BCE) 25. Duke Ding, Part I Duke Ding's reign, years 1-5 (509-505 BCE) 26. Duke Ding, Part II Duke Ding's reign, years 6-15 (504-495 BCE) 27. Duke Ai, Part I Duke Ai's reign, years 1-10 (494-485 BCE) 28. Duke Ai, Part II Duke Ai's reign, years 11-14 (484-481 BCE) The Fourth Year of Duke Wen's Reign (623 BCE) -- The Fifth Year of Duke Wen's Reign (622 BCE) -- The Sixth Year of Duke Wen's Reign (621 BCE) -- The Seventh Year of Duke Wen's Reign (620 BCE) -- The Eighth Year of Duke Wen's Reign (619 BCE) -- The Ninth Year of Duke Wen's Reign (618 BCE) -- 14 Duke Wen, Part II -- The Tenth Year of Duke Wen's Reign (617 BCE) -- The Eleventh Year of Duke Wen's Reign (616 BCE) -- The Twelfth Year of Duke Wen's Reign (615 BCE) -- The Thirteenth Year of Duke Wen's Reign (614 BCE) -- The Fourteenth Year of Duke Wen's Reign (613 BCE) -- The Fifteenth Year of Duke Wen's Reign (612 BCE) -- The Sixteenth Year of Duke Wen's Reign (611 BCE) -- The Seventeenth Year of Duke Wen's Reign (610 BCE) -- The Eighteenth Year of Duke Wen's Reign (609 BCE) -- 15 Duke Xuan, Part I -- The First Year of Duke Xuan's Reign (608 BCE) -- The Second Year of Duke Xuan's Reign (607 BCE) -- The Third Year of Duke Xuan's Reign (606 BCE) -- The Fourth Year of Duke Xuan's Reign (605 BCE) -- The Fifth Year of Duke Xuan's Reign (604 BCE) -- The Sixth Year of Duke Xuan's Reign (603 BCE) -- The Seventh Year of Duke Xuan's Reign (602 BCE) -- The Eighth Year of Duke Xuan's Reign (601 BCE) -- The Ninth Year of Duke Xuan's Reign (600 BCE) -- 16 Duke Xuan, Part II -- The Tenth Year of Duke Xuan's Reign (599 BCE) -- The Eleventh Year of Duke Xuan's Reign (598 BCE) -- The Twelfth Year of Duke Xuan's Reign (597 BCE) -- The Thirteenth Year of Duke Xuan's Reign (596 BCE) -- The Fourteenth Year of Duke Xuan's Reign (595 BCE) -- The Fifteenth Year of Duke Xuan's Reign (594 BCE) -- The Sixteenth Year of Duke Xuan's Reign (593 BCE) -- The Seventeenth Year of Duke Xuan's Reign (592 BCE) -- The Eighteenth Year of Duke Xuan's Reign (591 BCE) -- 17 Duke Cheng, Part I -- The First Year of Duke Cheng's Reign (590 BCE) -- The Second Year of Duke Cheng's Reign (589 BCE) The Second Year of Duke Xi's Reign (658 BCE) -- The Third Year of Duke Xi's Reign (657 BCE) -- The Fourth Year of Duke Xi's Reign (656 BCE) -- The Fifth Year of Duke Xi's Reign (655 BCE) -- The Sixth Year of Duke Xi's Reign (654 BCE) -- The Seventh Year of Duke Xi's Reign (653 BCE) -- 11 Duke Xi, Part II -- The Eighth Year of Duke Xi's Reign (652 BCE) -- The Ninth Year of Duke Xi's Reign (651 BCE) -- The Tenth Year of Duke Xi's Reign (650 BCE) -- The Eleventh Year of Duke Xi's Reign (649 BCE) -- The Twelfth Year of Duke Xi's Reign (648 BCE) -- The Thirteenth Year of Duke Xi's Reign (647 BCE) -- The Fourteenth Year of Duke Xi's Reign (646 BCE) -- The Fifteenth Year of Duke Xi's Reign (645 BCE) -- The Sixteenth Year of Duke Xi's Reign (644 BCE) -- The Seventeenth Year of Duke Xi's Reign (643 BCE) -- The Eighteenth Year of Duke Xi's Reign (642 BCE) -- The Nineteenth Year of Duke Xi's Reign (641 BCE) -- The Twentieth Year of Duke Xi's Reign (640 BCE) -- The Twenty-First Year of Duke Xi's Reign (639 BCE) -- 12 Duke Xi, Part III -- The Twenty-Second Year of Duke Xi's Reign (638 BCE) -- The Twenty-Third Year of Duke Xi's Reign (637 BCE) -- The Twenty-Fourth Year of Duke Xi's Reign (636 BCE) -- The Twenty-Fifth Year of Duke Xi's Reign (635 BCE) -- The Twenty-Sixth Year of Duke Xi's Reign (634 BCE) -- The Twenty-Seventh Year of Duke Xi's Reign (633 BCE) -- The Twenty-Eighth Year of Duke Xi's Reign (632 BCE) -- The Twenty-Ninth Year of Duke Xi's Reign (631 BCE) -- The Thirtieth Year of Duke Xi's Reign (630 BCE) -- The Thirty-First Year of Duke Xi's Reign (629 BCE) -- The Thirty-Second Year of Duke Xi's Reign (628 BCE) -- The Thirty-Third Year of Duke Xi's Reign (627 BCE) -- 13 Duke Wen, Part I -- The First Year of Duke Wen's Reign (626 BCE) -- The Second Year of Duke Wen's Reign (625 BCE) -- The Third Year of Duke Wen's Reign (624 BCE) The Fourth Year of Duke Zhuang's Reign (690 BCE) -- The Fifth Year of Duke Zhuang's Reign (689 BCE) -- The Sixth Year of Duke Zhuang's Reign (688 BCE) -- The Seventh Year of Duke Zhuang's Reign (687 BCE) -- 7 Duke Zhuang, Part II -- The Eighth Year of Duke Zhuang's Reign (686 BCE) -- The Ninth Year of Duke Zhuang's Reign (685 BCE) -- The Tenth Year of Duke Zhuang's Reign (684 BCE) -- The Eleventh Year of Duke Zhuang's Reign (683 BCE) -- The Twelfth Year of Duke Zhuang's Reign (682 BCE) -- The Thirteenth Year of Duke Zhuang's Reign (681 BCE) -- The Fourteenth Year of Duke Zhuang's Reign (680 BCE) -- The Fifteenth Year of Duke Zhuang's Reign (679 BCE) -- The Sixteenth Year of Duke Zhuang's Reign (678 BCE) -- The Seventeenth Year of Duke Zhuang's Reign (677 BCE) -- 8 Duke Zhuang, Part III -- The Eighteenth Year of Duke Zhuang's Reign (676 BCE) -- The Nineteenth Year of Duke Zhuang's Reign (675 BCE) -- The Twentieth Year of Duke Zhuang's Reign (674 BCE) -- The Twenty-First Year of Duke Zhuang's Reign (673 BCE) -- The Twenty-Second Year of Duke Zhuang's Reign (672 BCE) -- The Twenty-Third Year of Duke Zhuang's Reign (671 BCE) -- The Twenty-Fourth Year of Duke Zhuang's Reign (670 BCE) -- The Twenty-Fifth Year of Duke Zhuang's Reign (669 BCE) -- The Twenty-Sixth Year of Duke Zhuang's Reign (668 BCE) -- The Twenty-Seventh Year of Duke Zhuang's Reign (667 BCE) -- 9 Duke Zhuang, Part IV -- The Twenty-Eighth Year of Duke Zhuang's Reign (666 BCE) -- The Twenty-Ninth Year of Duke Zhuang's Reign (665 BCE) -- The Thirtieth Year of Duke Zhuang's Reign (664 BCE) -- The Thirty-First Year of Duke Zhuang's Reign (663 BCE) -- The Thirty-Second Year of Duke Zhuang's Reign (662 BCE) -- The First Year of Duke Min's Reign (661 BCE) -- The Second Year of Duke Min's Reign (660 BCE) -- 10 Duke Xi, Part I -- The First Year of Duke Xi's Reign (659 BCE) The Third Year of Duke Cheng's Reign (588 BCE) -- The Fourth Year of Duke Cheng's Reign (587 BCE) -- The Fifth Year of Duke Cheng's Reign (586 BCE) -- The Sixth Year of Duke Cheng's Reign (585 BCE) -- The Seventh Year of Duke Cheng's Reign (584 BCE) -- The Eighth Year of Duke Cheng's Reign (583 BCE) -- The Ninth Year of Duke Cheng's Reign (582 BCE) -- The Tenth Year of Duke Cheng's Reign (581 BCE) -- 18 Duke Cheng, Part II -- The Eleventh Year of Duke Cheng's Reign (580 BCE) -- The Twelfth Year of Duke Cheng's Reign (579 BCE) -- The Thirteenth Year of Duke Cheng's Reign (578 BCE) -- The Fourteenth Year of Duke Cheng's Reign (577 BCE) -- The Fifteenth Year of Duke Cheng's Reign (576 BCE) -- The Sixteenth Year of Duke Cheng's Reign (575 BCE) -- The Seventeenth Year of Duke Cheng's Reign (574 BCE) -- The Eighteenth Year of Duke Cheng's Reign (573 BCE) -- 19 Duke Xiang, Part I -- The First Year of Duke Xiang's Reign (572 BCE) -- The Second Year of Duke Xiang's Reign (571 BCE) -- The Third Year of Duke Xiang's Reign (570 BCE) -- The Fourth Year of Duke Xiang's Reign (569 BCE) -- The Fifth Year of Duke Xiang's Reign (568 BCE) -- The Sixth Year of Duke Xiang's Reign (567 BCE) -- The Seventh Year of Duke Xiang's Reign (566 BCE) -- The Eighth Year of Duke Xiang's Reign (565 BCE) -- The Ninth Year of Duke Xiang's Reign (564 BCE) -- The Tenth Year of Duke Xiang's Reign (563 BCE) -- The Eleventh Year of Duke Xiang's Reign (562 BCE) -- 20 Duke Xiang, Part II -- The Twelfth Year of Duke Xiang's Reign (561 BCE) -- The Thirteenth Year of Duke Xiang's Reign (560 BCE) -- The Fourteenth Year of Duke Xiang's Reign (559 BCE) -- The Fifteenth Year of Duke Xiang's Reign (558 BCE) -- The Sixteenth Year of Duke Xiang's Reign (557 BCE) -- The Seventeenth Year of Duke Xiang's Reign (556 BCE) -- The Eighteenth Year of Duke Xiang's Reign (555 BCE) Cover -- Title -- Copyright -- Contents -- Acknowledgments -- Introduction -- 1 Duke Yin, Part I -- The First Year of Duke Yin's Reign (722 BCE) -- 2 Duke Yin, Part II -- The Second Year of Duke Yin's Reign (721 BCE) -- The Third Year of Duke Yin's Reign (720 BCE) -- The Fourth Year of Duke Yin's Reign (719 BCE) -- 3 Duke Yin, Part III -- The Fifth Year of Duke Yin's Reign (718 BCE) -- The Sixth Year of Duke Yin's Reign (717 BCE) -- The Seventh Year of Duke Yin's Reign (716 BCE) -- The Eighth Year of Duke Yin's Reign (715 BCE) -- The Ninth Year of Duke Yin's Reign (714 BCE) -- The Tenth Year of Duke Yin's Reign (713 BCE) -- The Eleventh Year of Duke Yin's Reign (712 BCE) -- 4 Duke Huan, Part I -- The First Year of Duke Huan's Reign (711 BCE) -- The Second Year of Duke Huan's Reign (710 BCE) -- The Third Year of Duke Huan's Reign (709 BCE) -- The Fourth Year of Duke Huan's Reign (708 BCE) -- The Fifth Year of Duke Huan's Reign (707 BCE) -- The Sixth Year of Duke Huan's Reign (706 BCE) -- 5 Duke Huan, Part II -- The Seventh Year of Duke Huan's Reign (705 BCE) -- The Eighth Year of Duke Huan's Reign (704 BCE) -- The Ninth Year of Duke Huan's Reign (703 BCE) -- The Tenth Year of Duke Huan's Reign (702 BCE) -- The Eleventh Year of Duke Huan's Reign (701 BCE) -- The Twelfth Year of Duke Huan's Reign (700 BCE) -- The Thirteenth Year of Duke Huan's Reign (699 BCE) -- The Fourteenth Year of Duke Huan's Reign (698 BCE) -- The Fifteenth Year of Duke Huan's Reign (697 BCE) -- The Sixteenth Year of Duke Huan's Reign (696 BCE) -- The Seventeenth Year of Duke Huan's Reign (695 BCE) -- The Eighteenth Year of Duke Huan's Reign (694 BCE) -- 6 Duke Zhuang, Part I -- The First Year of Duke Zhuang's Reign (693 BCE) -- The Second Year of Duke Zhuang's Reign (692 BCE) -- The Third Year of Duke Zhuang's Reign (691 BCE)