Guoyu (book)

Guoyu
Authorunknown
Original title國語
LanguageClassical Chinese
SubjectHistory of Spring and Autumn period states
Publication date
4th century BC
Publication placeChina
Guoyu
Traditional Chinese
Simplified Chinese国语

The Guoyu (Chinese: 國語), usually translated Discourses of the States, is an ancient Chinese text that consists of a collection of speeches attributed to rulers and other men from the Spring and Autumn period (771–476 BC). It comprises a total of 240 speeches, ranging from the reign of King Mu of Zhou (r. 956–918 BC) to the execution of the Jin minister Zhibo in 453 BC.[1] The Guoyu was probably compiled beginning in the 5th century BC and continuing to the late 4th century BC. The earliest chapter of the compilation is the Discourses of Zhou.[2]

The text's author is unknown, but it is sometimes attributed to Zuo Qiuming, a contemporary of Confucius;[3][4][5] although as early as Jin dynasty, Fu Xuan objected to that attribution of authorship.[6]

  1. ^ Shih & Knechtges (2010), p. 308.
  2. ^ Chang, Boltz & Loewe (1993), p. 264.
  3. ^ Zhou, Jixu (May, 2011) "Confucius and Lao Zi" Their Differing Social Foundations and Cultures", Sino-Platonic Papers 211. p. 2
  4. ^ Sima Qian, Shiji, "Grand Historian's Autobiographical Postface". quote: "左丘失明,厥有國語"
  5. ^ Sima Qian, "Letter to Ren An", in Book of Han "Vol. 62 - Account of Sima Qian" quote: "左丘失明,厥有國語"
  6. ^ Kong Yingda, True Meaning of Chunqiu Zuozhuan "vol. 60" p. 20 of 146, quote: "傅玄云:《國語》非丘明所作。凡有共說一事而二文不同,必《國語》虛而《左傳》實,其言相反,不可強合也。" translation: "Fu Xuan said: '′Discourses of the States′ was not authored by Qiu Ming. Wherever they both narrate one thing yet their wordings differ, certainly ′Zuo tradition′['s narrative] is authentic while ′Discourses of the States′['s narrative] is spurious. The contradictory wordings cannot be forcibly reconciled.' "

© MMXXIII Rich X Search. We shall prevail. All rights reserved. Rich X Search