The Spring and Autumn Annals (春秋 Chūn Qiū, also known as 麟經 Lín Jīng) was the chronicle of the state of Lu during the Spring and Autumn Period, from 722 BC to 481 BC. Traditionally attributed to Confucius as writer or at least editor, it covers not only annual events of Lu itself but also of the major states of Qi, Jin, Qin and Chu that dominated the politics of these three centuries. The naming of this article reflected some characteristics of agricultural society, as only first three seasons were useful to the peasants - sowing in spring and harvest in autumn. Winter was basically a resting season, thus not counted into a year.
The book is considered one of the Chinese Five Classics.
