The triptych of human existence: Life, desire, and death in Lu’s Spring and Autumn Annals

Aesthetics, etymologically meaning perception or sensation, takes on new significance in an era where generative AI challenges the notion of humans as “zoon logon echon” (animals with reason/language). Desires, which stem from survival instincts and sensory capabilities, embody a unique aspect of human existence as mortal biological organisms. In examining human nature, the major ancient Chinese philosophers touched upon the concept of desire but tended to undervalue its importance. Daoism advocated “renunciation of desire” (無欲 wu yu) as a means to spiritual enlightenment, while Confucian moral cultivation was interpreted as “preserving Heavenly Principle and dismissing human desire” (存天理去人欲 cun tianli qu renyu) by later scholars. Among pre-Qin philosophical works, Lu’s Spring and Autumn Annals stands out for placing desire at the centre of human life. This paper aims to provide an in-depth analysis of the significance of desire in Lu’s Spring and Autumn Annals by exploring four key aspects of its thematic portrayal in the book: 1) the categorisation of desire, 2) the role of desire in evaluating the value of life, 3) the reconciliation of desire with moral principles, and 4) death as a means of fulfilling desire. These expositions demonstrate the syncretic nature of Lu’s Spring and Autumn Annals, which integrates the Daoist emphasis on personal well-being with the Confucian moral spirit of self-sacrifice for righteousness. Copyright © 2023 International Society of East Asian Philosophy All Rights Reserved.