Tracing the Origin: Formation of Zuo zhuan's composition

Abstract

This dissertation addresses the critical question of “how did the Zuo zhuan come to be composed in this unique way?” As one of the most well-known Pre-Qin texts, the Zuo zhuan has received a great amount of attention from scholars in various fields since the Han dynasty. While existing scholarship often emphasizes narrative features, my research shifts its focus toward understanding the specific conditions and rationales that led to Zuo zhuan’s final form. Utilizing an interdisciplinary approach, my study integrates elements of literary analysis, textual criticism, etymology, and Western narrative theory. I pay particular attention to a unique subset of commentaries, described as “commentaries without main text correspondences,” and offer a comprehensive analysis of how text, historical context, and scribal practices have converged to shape the Zuo zhuan. My research challenges conventional narrative approaches that overlook these intricate factors, thus aiming to redefine our understanding of this text and its role in early Chinese narrative traditions.