This paper is to offer a study of Liu-xiang's theory of Chun-qiu through examining Xin-xu (新序) and Shuo-yuan (説苑) written by Liu-xiang.
I think that Xin-xu was completed early in the Yuan-di (元帝) era, and Shuo-yuan in the Cheng-di (成帝) era. Lin-xiang's theories of Chun-qiu in the above works are different from each other. His former theory on Chun-qiu is based on Gu-Iiang-zhuong (穀梁伝), while the latter one on Gong-yang-zhuang (公羊伝).
The reasons for the change can be summarized as follows :
1. Gu-Iiang-zhuong does not have the zai-yi (災異) theory.
2. Gu-Iiang-zhuong was the basis for the movement of religious reformation (祭祀改革運動).