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The Lüshi Chunqiu呂氏春秋; pinyin: Lüshi chūnqiū; Wade-Giles: Lü-shih ch'un-ch'iu; literally "Mister Lü's Spring and Autumn [Annals]") 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, (Chinese:
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)
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 Annals", 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.
Major positions
Admitting the difficulties of summarizing the Lüshi Chunqiu, John Knoblock and Jeffrey Riegel list 18 major points.
1. Affirmation of self-cultivation and impartiality
2. Rejection of hereditary ruler over the empire
3. Stupidity as the cause of hereditary rule
4. Need for government to honor the concerns of the people
5. The central importance of learning and teachers
6. Support and admiration for learning as the basis of rule
7. Non-assertion on the part of the ruler
8. Primary task for a ruler is to select his ministers
9. Need for a ruler to trust the expertise of his advisors
10.Need for a ruler to practice quiescence
11.The attack on Qin practices
12.Just warfare
13.Respect for civil arts
14.Emphasis on agriculture
15.Facilitating trade and commerce
16.Encouraging economy and conservation
17.Lightening of taxes and duties
18.Emphasis on filial piety and loyalty. (2000:46-54)
The Lüshi chunqiu is an invaluable compendium of early Chinese thought and civilization.
NO.:A2010022604
