This is the only work of which Confucius was the author, and of this every word is his own.  His biographers say that “what was written, he wrote, and what was erased, was erased by him.”  Not an expression was either inserted or altered by any one but himself.  When he had completed the work, he handed the manuscript to his disciples, saying, “By the Spring and Autumn Annals I shall be known, and by the Spring and Autumn Annals I shall be condemned.”  This only furnishes another of the many instances in which authors have entirely misjudged the value of their own works.

In the estimation of his countrymen even, whose reverence for his every word would incline them to accept his opinion on this as on every subject, the Spring and Autumn Annals holds a very secondary place, his utterances recorded in the Lun yu, or Confucian Analects, being esteemed of far higher value, as they undoubtedly are.  And indeed the two works he compiled, the Shoo king and the She king, hold a very much higher place in the public regard than the book on which he so prided himself.  To foreigners, whose judgments are unhampered by his recorded opinion, his character as an original historian sinks into insignificance, and he is known only as a philosopher and statesman.

Once again only do we hear of Confucius presenting himself at the court of the duke after this.  And this was on the occasion of the murder of the duke of T’se by one of his officers.  We must suppose that the crime was one of a gross nature, for it raised Confucius’ fiercest anger, and he who never wearied of singing the praises of those virtuous men who overthrew the thrones of licentious and tyrannous kings, would have had no room for blame if the murdered duke had been like unto Kee or Show.  But the outrage was one which Confucius felt should be avenged, and he therefore bathed and presented himself at court.

“Sir,” said he, addressing the duke, “Ch’in Hang has slain his sovereign; I beg that you will undertake to punish him.”  But the duke was indisposed to move in the matter, and pleaded the comparative strength of T’se.  Confucius, however, was not to be so silenced.  “One-half of the people of Tse,” said he, “are not consenting to the deed.  If you add to the people of Loo one-half of the people of Tse, you will be sure to overcome.”  This numerical argument no more affected the duke than the statement of the fact, and wearying with Confucius’ importunity, he told him to lay the matter before the chiefs of the three principal families of the state.  Before this court of appeal, whither he went with reluctance, his cause fared no better, and the murder remained unavenged.