According to legend, the author of Guoyu is Zuo Qiuming, a native of Lu at the end of the Spring and Autumn Period. There are 21 articles in Guoyu, including three, two in Lu Yu, one in Chyi Yu, nine in Zheng Yu, two in Chu Yu, one in Wu Yu and one in each. It recorded the history of eight countries, from Zhou Muwang in the Western Zhou Dynasty to Lu Daogong in the early Warring States Period. It mainly records the speeches of nobles from the late Western Zhou Dynasty to the Spring and Autumn Period. * * * Because its content can be verified by Zuo Zhuan, it is called Chunqiu Zhuan.
A remarkable feature of Guoyu is that it focuses on memorizing words and reflects historical events through comments on characters. It focuses on recording facts, so the ideas it expresses will change with the people and words it remembers. For example, the Confucian language recorded in Lu Yu You Yue contains Confucianism; In Adventure, Guan Zhongyu talks about bullying; The reason is that Fan Li is still feminine, clinging to the disabled, retiring after success, with Taoist color. The author reflects and explains some social problems through some wonderful remarks about historical figures. Vivid narration and concise writing. Although the literary value is not as good as Zuo Zhuan, it is still better than historical prose such as Shangshu and Chunqiu.
A brief review of the times
Guoyu outlines the transition period from slave society to feudal society, and its national historical style is of great documentary value to our study of ancient society.
People of the times
Zuo Qiuming, surnamed Qiu Mingming. During the Spring and Autumn Period, people in the State of Lu. As a descendant of Emperor Yan, he read a lot of ancient books such as astronomy, geography, literature and history. As a left historian of Lu, he was conscientious and had both ability and political integrity, which was admired by people at that time. Zuo Qiu compiled national history day and night for more than 30 years.