Abstract:

 Viewing the history of Spring and Autumn Period in the perspective of Zuo Zhuan, we find that the power between big and small states was yet to lose balance with big states still scrupulous towards small ones. More importantly, the rites of Zhou was still prevalent in Spring and Autumn period, exerting strong restraint on the hegemony of a powerful chief of princes. Due to these two reasons, the big and small states in Spring and Autumn Period had mutual responsibilities and obligations: big states were obliged to help the small ones out of danger or poverty, while small ones showed loyalty and paid articles of tribute. The setting conformed with the state relations between big and small ones depicted in Lao Zi. While in Warring States Period, rites and righteousness were sacrificed for cheating and fraud, and invasion and aggression was upheld, thus leading to the wide power disparity between big and small states. In this regard, the gettingalong principle designed for the big and small states in Lao Zi could only exist in the Spring and Autumn Period rather than in the Warring States Period.

Key words: big states, small states, rites of Zhou, Lao Zi