Spring and Autumn Annals of Wu and Yue - by Jianjun He (Hardcover)

About the Book

"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"--

Book Synopsis

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.

Review Quotes

The Spring and Autumn Annals of Wu and Yue is part of a major tradition within Chinese literature, dealing with the long drawn out and highly dramatic conflict between these two kingdoms in the early fifth century B.C.E., which culminated in the conquest of Wu by Yue. He Jianjun is to be commended for taking on the challenge of translating this book into English.

-- "Journal of Chinese Studies"

About the Author

Jianjun He is Associate Professor at the University of Kentucky.