4.11 The Spring and Autumn Annals

Abstract

An introduction to the Spring and Autumn Annals, one of the "Five Classics" of Confucianism. The origin of the text is outlined, along with various traditional strategies for drawing from it hidden meaning that is actually generated by the strategy, rather than by the text itself. The "New Text" interpretive approach of Dong Zhongzhu is described and illustrated by selected passages, accompanied by "New Text" Gongyang commentarial tradition of the late Han.