Guoyu (book)

The Guoyu (國語; literally "Discourses of the States") is an ancient Chinese historical text covering the period from the late Western Zhou dynasty (c. 1046–771 BCE) to the late Spring and Autumn period (771–476 BCE). It is traditionally attributed to Zuo Qiuming, the same figure credited with compiling the Zuo Zhuan, though modern scholarship often questions this authorship.

The Guoyu differs from the Zuo Zhuan in its scope and style. Unlike the Zuo Zhuan, which focuses primarily on the state of Lu and presents a chronological narrative, the Guoyu covers a broader range of states (including Zhou, Lu, Qi, Jin, Zheng, Chu, Wu, and Yue) and presents a collection of speeches, dialogues, and anecdotes rather than a unified historical account.

The text provides valuable insights into the political, diplomatic, and social life of the period. It offers diverse perspectives on historical events and explores various topics such as governance, morality, diplomacy, and warfare. The Guoyu is considered an important source for understanding the intellectual and cultural landscape of ancient China.

The text is organized by state, with each section containing narratives and pronouncements related to that particular state. This structure allows for a comparative analysis of the different states and their respective political systems.

The Guoyu is considered one of the important early examples of Chinese historical prose and continues to be studied by scholars for its historical content and literary style. Translations of the Guoyu exist in various languages, making it accessible to a wider audience.