Spring and Autumn Annals of Wu and Yue: An Annotated Translation of Wu Yue Chunqiu

Author:

Jianjun He

Publication date:

April 2021

Publisher:

Cornell University Press

Abstract:

Spring and Autumn Annals of Wu and Yue is the first complete English translation of Wu Yue Chunqiu, a chronicle of two neighboring states during China's Spring and Autumn period. This collection of political history, philosophy, and fictional accounts depicts the rise and fall of Wu and Yue and the rivalry between them, the inspiration for centuries of poetry, vernacular fiction, and drama.

Wu Yue Chunqiu makes use of rich sources from the past, carefully adapting and developing them into complex stories. Historical figures are transformed into distinctive characters; simple records of events are fleshed out and made tangible. The result is a nuanced record that is both a compelling narrative and a valuable historical text. As one of the earliest examples of a regional history, Wu Yue Chunqiu is also an important source for the history of what is now Zhejiang and Jiangsu.

In Spring and Autumn Annals of Wu and Yue, Jianjun He's engaging translation and extensive annotations make this significant historical and literary work accessible to an English-speaking audience for the first time.

Table of Contents:

Introduction

1. The Tradition of the Great Earl of Wu

2. The Tradition of King Shoumeng of Wu

3. The Tradition of King Liao Commanded Gongzi Guang

4. The Inner Tradition of Helu

5. The Inner Tradition of Fuchai

6. The Outer Tradition of King Wuyu of Yue

7. The Outer Tradition of Goujian as a Servant

8. The Outer Tradition of Goujian's Return to His State

9. The Outer Tradition of Goujian's Secret Plots

10. The Outer Tradition of Goujian Attacking Wu