Zuo Qiuming, Zuoqiu Ming or Qiu Ming (556 – 451 BCEZhou, Jixu (May 2011) "Confucius and Lao Zi" Their Differing Social Foundations and Cultures, Sino-Platonic Papers 211. p. 2 or 502 – 422 BCE) was a Chinese historian who was a contemporary of Confucius. He lived in the Lu state during the Spring and Autumn period. He was a historian, litterateur, thinker and essayist who worked as a Lu official.

The influential historical narrative Zuo Zhuan ("Commentary of Zuo") is traditionally attributed to him; as well as Guoyu ("Discourses of the States"). One tradition, according to the Records of the Grand Historian, holds that he was blind.Sima Qian, Shiji, "Grand Historian's Autobiographical Postface". quote: "左丘失明，厥有國語"

In the Analects, Confucius complimented Zuo Qiu Ming's moral stance and conduct;Analects "Gongye Chang" 25 quote: "子曰：「巧言、令色、足恭，左丘明恥之，丘亦恥之。匿怨而友其人，左丘明恥之，丘亦恥之。」". James Legge's translation: "The Master said, "Fine words, an insinuating appearance, and excessive respect – Zuo Qiu Ming was ashamed of them. I also am ashamed of them. To conceal resentment against a person, and appear friendly with him – Zuo Qiu Ming was ashamed of such conduct. I also am ashamed of it."" he also received praise for his academic contributions.

Ideology The basic philosophical outlook of Zuo Zhuan, attributed to Zuo Qiu Ming, is strongly Confucian in nature.Wang, John C. Y. (1986). "Tso-chuan 左傳". In Nienhauser, William H. (ed.). The Indiana Companion to Traditional Chinese Literature. Bloomington: Indiana University Press. pp. 804–6. The Zuo Zhuan overarching theme is that haughty, evil, and stupid people generally bring disaster upon themselves, while those who are good, wise, and humble are usually justly rewarded. The Confucian principle of "ritual propriety" or "ceremony" (lǐ ) is seen as governing all actions, including war, and to bring bad consequences if transgressed. However, the observance of li is never shown as guaranteeing victory, and the Zuo Zhuan includes many examples of the good and innocent suffering senseless violence. Much of the Zuo Zhuan′s status as a literary masterpiece stems from its "relentlessly realistic portrayal of a turbulent era marked by violence, political strife, intrigues, and moral laxity".

The narratives of the Zuo Zhuan are highly didactic in nature, and are presented in such a way that they teach and illustrate moral principles.Watson, Burton (1989). The Tso chuan: Selections from China's Oldest Narrative History. New York，NY: Columbia University Press. pp. xviii-xix Unlike the Histories of Herodotus or the History of the Peloponnesian War of Thucydides, with which it is roughly contemporary, the Zuo Zhuan′s narration always remains in the third person perspective, and presents as a dispassionate recorder of facts.Durrant, Stephen (2001). "The Literary Features of Historical Writing". In Mair, Victor H. (ed.). The Columbia History of Chinese Literature. New York: Columbia University Press. p. 497 of pp. 493–510. The German Sinologist Martin Kern observed: "Instead of offering authorial judgments or catechistic hermeneutics, the Zuo Zhuan lets its moral lessons unfold within the narrative itself, teaching at once history and historical judgment."Kern, Martin (2010). "Early Chinese literature, Beginnings through Western Han". In Owen, Stephen (ed.). The Cambridge History of Chinese Literature, Volume 1: To 1375. Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press. p. 49 of pp. 1–115.

For instance, here Zuo Zhuan instructed how a should behave.

Publications Zuo Zhuan and Guoyu were both attributed to Zuo Qiuming.

Zuo Zhuan Zuo Zhuan is the earliest detailed and vividly narrated chronological history of China. At the same time, it is also a historical narrative with the highest literary quality. ("我国古代最早而又详细完备，叙事生动的编年史，同时也是文学成就很高的历史散文著作。")

Guo Yu Sima Qian first proposed that Zuo Qiuming was the author of Guoyu.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" Tang scholar Yan Shigu, while annotating Book of Han, also attributed Guoyu'''s authorship to Zuo Qiu Ming.Ban Gu, Book of Han; annotated by Yan Shigu. "Vol. 30 - Treatises about Literature", main text: "國語二十一篇。", annotation: "左丘明著。" Later other scholars doubted it and had different opinions on who is the author of Guo Yu, one example is Fu Xuan, who first raised the counterview that Zuo Qiuming isn't the author of Zuo Zhuan.Kong Yingda, True Meaning of Chunqiu Zuozhuan "vol. 60: Duke Ai's 13th year - zhuan" 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.' "Guo Yu's compilation method is based on the classification of countries, in Chinese Guo; taking language, in Chinese Yu as the core, hence receives the name Guo Yu''. ("它的编纂方法是以国分类，以语为主，故名'国语'.") Guo Yu is the first Chinese history book in national style. ("国语是第一部国别体史书。")

Historical evaluations Yuezheng Zichun, a disiciple of Confucius's disciple Zengzi, praised Zuo Qiu Ming as a gentleman,Li Daoyuan, Commentary on the Water Classic, "vol. 24 Wen river"; quote: "樂正子春謂其弟子曰：子適齊過肥，肥有君子焉。" translation: "Yuezheng Zichun said to his disciples: 'The Master went to Qi and passed by Fei; there was a gentleman in Fei'." Sima Qian honored Zuo Qiu Ming as the gentleman of Lu.

Zuo Qiu Ming is regarded as "the ancestor of hundreds of characters, the ancestor of ancient literature". ("百家文字之宗、万世古文之祖")

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