Why is Zuozhuan called "the most narrative"?

The narration of Zuo Zhuan often pays full attention to the process and causality of events. The most outstanding achievement of Zuo Zhuan's narrative lies in describing the war. The war description in Zuo Zhuan fully embodies the narrative characteristics of Zuo Zhuan. The book Zuo Zhuan records hundreds of wars, big and small. The descriptions of the battles of Chengpu, Gaogao, Gaoge, Ange and Yanling have always been praised by people, and countless small battles have also been written with their own characteristics, wonderful and vivid. Generally speaking, the description of war in Zuo Zhuan is not limited to the description of the process of engagement, but profoundly reveals the cause, brewing process and consequences of war. In the twenty-eighth year of the reign of Emperor Rugao, the background and direct causes of the war broke out were explained, and the reasons for Jin's victory over Chu's defeat were constantly shown in the text: revenge against him, rectifying military discipline, keeping his promise, listening to the opinions of his subordinates, and being United as one. However, Chu Fang, the monarch and the minister were separated, and the commander-in-chief relied on many soldiers, arrogant and domineering, and went his own way and blindly advanced on the Jin division. The result of the battle of Chengpu is also very comprehensive. It not only describes the great victory of Jinshi Branch and the establishment of Jin Wengong hegemony, but also describes the consequences of the war: Yu Zi of Chu committed suicide in shame after the defeat, and Jin Wengong was overjoyed. After returning home, he rewarded merit and punished evil, summed up the battle, and then praised Jin Wengong's hegemony with the words of a gentleman. At this point, the narrative is over.

The description of the causal relationship of events in Zuo Zhuan often has the characteristics of moralization and mystery. For example, in summing up the experience of the battle of Chengpu, the author said: "Gold is a servant and can attack with virtue." (Twenty-eight Years of Xi Gong) Not only the dispute between Chengpu and Zuo Zhuan, but also moral factors such as propriety, righteousness and morality are described by the author as important reasons that affect the success or failure of the event, and there are often mysterious factors in the narrative. Take the omens that often appear in Zuo Zhuan as an example. Most of these omens tend to be benign: things that meet the requirements of propriety and righteousness are often auspicious, and things that violate propriety and righteousness are often ominous. These omens are sometimes the words of wise men, and sometimes the mysterious hints of divination, dreams and celestial phenomena. For example, in the battle of Qin, Jin and Korea in the fifteen years of Nuogong, it was predicted that the late King Jin was "in Korea" in the ten years of Nuogong. In the fourteenth year of Xi Gong, Jin did not say that there would be great disasters in the future and the extinction of several ethnic groups. Before the war, there were signs that Qin Bu's father explained divination, but Jin Gonghui did not follow it. After these seemingly mysterious omens, it is Jin's breach of etiquette, injustice and treachery. In the face of established historical facts, the author adds various mysterious legends and stories to describe historical events according to the gains and losses of words and deeds of historical figures, so as to predict the outcome of the events and explain the causal relationship of the events. This reflects people's world outlook and understanding level in the Spring and Autumn Period, and has distinct characteristics of the times.

Others:

1. Literary tailoring and storyline of historical events. For example, "Zheng Boke Duan" describes the cruel battle for the throne between brothers and mothers in the royal family of Zheng in the early Spring and Autumn Period. In this protracted debate, the author of Zuo Zhuan described the origin, development and end of time clearly and vividly in just over 500 words.

2. Depicting the characters is vivid and three-dimensional. For example, The Death of a Childe in the Jin Dynasty describes that after 19 years of exile, he changed from an aristocratic childe who longed for ease to a politician with broad mind and extraordinary courage.

3. Vivid scene description and vivid detail description. Zuo Zhuan is famous for being good at writing war. It describes many battles, big and small, in the Spring and Autumn Period, and often pays attention to the narration of the pre-war plans of both sides.

4. Good at writing diplomatic rhetoric, rich in literary grace.