From the Songs to the Spring and Autumn Annals

English translation

Mencius said, “When the traces of the sage kings faded, the Songs ceased to be compiled; only after that did the Spring and Autumn Annals come into being. Jin’s *Cheng*, Chu’s *Taowu*, and Lu’s *Spring and Autumn Annals* were alike: their subject matter was Duke Huan of Qi and Duke Wen of Jin, while their wording followed the historians’ records. Confucius said, ‘As for their underlying judgment, I took it privately for myself.’”