Explanation: The Zuo Zhuan is primarily a historical narrative, not a philosophical treatise. Its focus is on the political, diplomatic, and military affairs of the Spring and Autumn period.

Explanation: The Vietnamese name for the Zuo Zhuan, Xuan Thu Ta thi truyen, indeed translates to 'Spring and Autumn Zuo Tradition Chronicle'.

Explanation: The Japanese name for the Zuo Zhuan is indeed romanized as Shunjū Sashiden.

Explanation: The Zuo Zhuan primarily chronicles the political, diplomatic, and military events of the Spring and Autumn period, offering detailed historical accounts.

Explanation: Chunchujwassijeon is identified as a Korean name for the Zuo Zhuan.

Explanation: The literal translation of the title 'Zuo Zhuan' is 'The Zuo Tradition'.

Explanation: While Tso Chuan, Zuo Zhuan, and tsá ẅen are mentioned as transcriptions or pronunciations, Chunqiu Zuozhuan is the full title, not a standalone transcription of 'Zuo Zhuan'.

Explanation: Traditional scholarship attributes the authorship of the Zuo Zhuan to Zuo Qiuming, who is often described as a disciple of Confucius and a contemporary.

Explanation: Modern scholarly consensus suggests that while Zuo Qiuming may be associated with the text, the Zuo Zhuan was likely composed in the 4th century BC, and the extent of Zuo Qiuming's personal authorship is debated.

Explanation: Scholarly evidence indicates that the Zuo Zhuan was largely completed by approximately 300 BC, not 300 AD.

Explanation: The scholar Du Yu is credited with arranging the Zuo Zhuan into its received format by intercalating it with the Spring and Autumn Annals during the 3rd century AD.

Explanation: Sima Qian's account suggests the Zuo Zhuan was created to provide a detailed commentary on the Spring and Autumn Annals, addressing differing interpretations, rather than the Analects.

Explanation: The Zuo Zhuan's detailed narratives cover events extending into the late Spring and Autumn period, raising questions about the possibility of Zuo Qiuming, if he lived earlier, having personally witnessed all of them.

Explanation: An 18th-century theory suggested Wu Qi, a military leader, as a potential author of the Zuo Zhuan, based on his association with a place named Zuoshi.

Explanation: The theory proposing Liu Xin as the forger of the Zuo Zhuan during the Han dynasty is now considered discredited by modern scholarship.

Explanation: The oldest known complete manuscript of the Zuo Zhuan is preserved at the Kanazawa Bunko Museum in Yokohama, Japan, not the National Library of China.

Explanation: The introduction of a 16th-century Ming print of the Zuo Zhuan indicates that the Annals and Zuo Zhuan were not originally arranged together, reflecting scholarly debate on their relationship.

Explanation: The Zuo Zhuan originated in ancient China and was written in traditional Chinese characters; simplified characters were developed much later.

Explanation: Traditional attribution assigns the authorship of the Zuo Zhuan to Zuo Qiuming, often described as a contemporary of Confucius.

Explanation: Modern scholars generally posit that the Zuo Zhuan was likely composed in the 4th century BC, and the precise role and identity of Zuo Qiuming remain subjects of scholarly debate.

Explanation: The composition of the Zuo Zhuan is generally believed to have been largely completed by approximately 300 BC.

Explanation: The scholar Du Yu, in the 3rd century AD, is credited with arranging the Zuo Zhuan into its received format by intercalating its narratives with the entries of the Spring and Autumn Annals.

Explanation: Evidence supporting the completion of the Zuo Zhuan around 300 BC includes excavated manuscripts from the late Warring States period, linguistic analysis, and chronological references within the text.

Explanation: The oldest surviving manuscript fragments of the Zuo Zhuan were discovered among the Dunhuang manuscripts.

Explanation: The introduction in a 16th-century Ming print of the Zuo Zhuan highlights scholarly debate by noting that the Annals and Zuo Zhuan were not originally presented as a unified work.

Explanation: The historical period covered by the Zuo Zhuan extends from 722 BC to 468 BC, corresponding to the Spring and Autumn period of Chinese history.

Explanation: The Spring and Autumn period, documented in the Zuo Zhuan, was indeed a time of increasing governmental complexity and political transformation in China.

Explanation: The Zuo Zhuan is a crucial source for understanding the society and context of the Spring and Autumn period, the era in which Confucius lived and taught.

Explanation: The Zuo Zhuan is traditionally understood as a detailed commentary that expands upon the terse entries found in the ancient Chinese chronicle known as the Spring and Autumn Annals.

Explanation: The Zuo Zhuan covers the historical events of the Spring and Autumn period, specifically from 722 BC to 468 BC.

Explanation: Sima Qian's Records of the Grand Historian suggests the Zuo Zhuan was created to offer a comprehensive commentary on the Spring and Autumn Annals, addressing various interpretations of its terse entries.

Explanation: The Zuo Zhuan is highly valued for the Spring and Autumn period because it offers extensive information about the society and historical context of Confucius's era, being one of the few surviving sources.

Explanation: The Zuo Zhuan primarily recounts events from the perspective of the State of Lu, not the State of Qi.

Explanation: The structure of the Zuo Zhuan typically begins each chapter with the terse entry from the Spring and Autumn Annals, followed by its own detailed narrative.

Explanation: The narratives within the Zuo Zhuan are generally characterized by a terse and succinct quality, rather than lengthy, descriptive prose.

Explanation: While the narratives are terse, the speeches and recorded discourses within the Zuo Zhuan are often ornate, lively, and verbally complex.

Explanation: Unlike contemporary Greek historians like Thucydides, the Zuo Zhuan consistently employs a third-person narration and presents itself as a dispassionate recorder of events.

Explanation: The Zuo Zhuan prominently features significant historical battles, including the Battle of Bi.

Explanation: The narrative of the Battle of Chengpu, characteristic of Zuo Zhuan battle accounts, suggests that ritual propriety and strategic preparation were considered more crucial than individual bravery.

Explanation: Succession crises are frequently detailed in the Zuo Zhuan, offering insights into the political struggles within the aristocratic elite of the Spring and Autumn period.

Explanation: While the Zuo Zhuan discusses ethical principles and actions, it is not primarily known for detailed descriptions of distinct philosophical schools; its focus is historical narrative.

Explanation: The Zuo Zhuan is structured into 30 chapters, each aligned with a ruler of the State of Lu, covering the period from Duke Yin (722 BC) to Duke Ai (468 BC).

Explanation: The entry for 663 BC in the Zuo Zhuan exemplifies its method by expanding on a brief Annals record with a detailed narrative concerning a military engagement and its impropriety.

Explanation: The narrative of the Zuo Zhuan primarily recounts events from the perspective of the State of Lu.

Explanation: The Zuo Zhuan typically structures its content by beginning each chapter with the terse entry from the Spring and Autumn Annals for a given year, followed by its own extensive narrative.

Explanation: The narratives of the Zuo Zhuan are characterized by terseness and succinctness, not lengthy, descriptive prose detailing emotions. Speeches, however, can be ornate.

Explanation: The Battle of Chengpu is one of the significant historical battles prominently featured and detailed within the Zuo Zhuan.

Explanation: The Zuo Zhuan's account of the Battle of Chengpu emphasizes that ritual propriety and strategic preparation were considered more decisive factors for victory than individual bravery.

Explanation: Succession crises are frequently detailed in the Zuo Zhuan, providing significant insight into the political dynamics and personal relationships within the ruling elite of the period.

Explanation: The 30 chapters of the Zuo Zhuan are structured according to the reigns of the successive rulers of the State of Lu.

Explanation: The detailed narratives in the Zuo Zhuan primarily serve to elaborate on the Spring and Autumn Annals, offering rich historical and cultural context.

Explanation: The 663 BC example demonstrates the Zuo Zhuan's method of juxtaposing a brief Annals entry with an extended narrative that elucidates the context and highlights impropriety.

Explanation: A central thematic message of the Zuo Zhuan is that arrogance, evil, and foolishness typically result in self-inflicted disaster, while wisdom and humility are often rewarded.

Explanation: The Zuo Zhuan presents ritual propriety (li) as governing actions, including warfare, but it does not guarantee victory. The text shows instances where observing li does not prevent negative outcomes.

Explanation: The narrative concerning Duke Zhuang of Zheng is often cited as an illustration of the traditional Chinese virtues of filial piety (xiao) and ritual propriety (li).

Explanation: These brief moral comments, often attributed to Confucius or an unnamed gentleman, serve as moral commentary on the events, rather than simply the author's personal opinions.

Explanation: The concept of 'ming,' referring to fate or destiny, is present and explored within the Zuo Zhuan, particularly in relation to rulers' acceptance of their mission.

Explanation: The Zuo Zhuan strongly implies a direct link between rulers' actions and their consequences, emphasizing moral conduct and adherence to principles.

Explanation: The concept of 'ming' (fate or destiny) in the Zuo Zhuan suggests that rulers should accept their mission selflessly, prioritizing the people's welfare as their true destiny.

Explanation: The Zuo Zhuan conveys a strong thematic message that arrogance and evil actions tend to lead to disaster, whereas goodness and wisdom are generally rewarded.

Explanation: The Zuo Zhuan portrays ritual propriety (li) as a governing principle for all actions, including warfare, but acknowledges that its observance does not ensure positive outcomes.

Explanation: The narrative of Duke Zhuang of Zheng is frequently employed to exemplify the traditional Chinese virtues of ritual propriety (li) and filial piety (xiao).

Explanation: The brief moral comments appended to anecdotes in the Zuo Zhuan serve to provide a moral commentary on the events described, reinforcing ethical lessons.

Explanation: The concept of 'ming' in the Zuo Zhuan illustrates that rulers should accept their fate selflessly, particularly when their destiny involves benefiting the populace.

Explanation: The Zuo Zhuan is recognized as a masterpiece of early Chinese prose and has profoundly influenced Chinese literature and historiography for nearly two millennia, serving as a cornerstone of traditional education.

Explanation: Martin Kern observed that the Zuo Zhuan conveys moral lessons implicitly through the narrative itself, rather than through explicit authorial judgments or commentary.

Explanation: The Zuo Zhuan has been esteemed as a masterpiece of early Chinese prose and a significant historical narrative for approximately two millennia.

Explanation: The Zuo Zhuan is the source of more Chinese idioms (chengyu) than the Analects of Confucius, underscoring its significant impact on the Chinese language.

Explanation: The Zuo Zhuan's narrative style influenced Chinese storytelling by establishing a model of third-person narration and character portrayal through action and speech, not by favoring first-person accounts.

Explanation: The Zuo Zhuan was canonized as a Chinese classic in the 1st century AD, which cemented its status as a foundational text for education and historical understanding.

Explanation: As a rich source of information on the society and context of Confucius's time, the Zuo Zhuan is considered valuable for understanding the development of Confucian thought.

Explanation: The Zuo Zhuan is recognized as the source of more Chinese idioms (chengyu) than any other classical work, demonstrating its profound influence on the language.

Explanation: Martin Kern observed that the Zuo Zhuan teaches moral lessons implicitly through the unfolding of its narratives, rather than through explicit authorial commentary.

Explanation: The Zuo Zhuan has been recognized as a masterpiece of Chinese prose and a significant historical work for nearly two millennia.

Explanation: The Zuo Zhuan's consistent third-person narration and its method of character portrayal through dialogue and action significantly influenced subsequent Chinese narrative styles.

Explanation: Canonized as a classic, the Zuo Zhuan was a cornerstone of traditional education in East Asia, essential for learning classical Chinese prose and history.