本論文以《左傳》敘事文本為主要探討對象，由敘事、閱讀、歷史解釋等角度，嘗試建構具有中國特色之經典閱讀方法，與歷史解釋體系。敘事態度、敘事結構、歷史想像與文化語境，是解讀《左傳》敘事之關鍵。本文提出「因果結構」、「屬辭結構」、「比事結構」以建構《左傳》之敘事結構；並由歷史想像角度切入，探討史家態度如何藉由敘事表達而呈現。同時就敘事結構與「以人統事」等角度，指出《左傳》突破編年體史書限制之設計。
在敘事藝術方面，除討論《左傳》人物敘寫藝術外，更以被學界所忽略之「初」字敘事法為對象。探討其來源、特色與歷史解釋功能。整體而言，因果揭示、補充說明與錄異保存是「初」字敘事法之功能，而奇聞異事與歷史想像為其主要內容。史家運用「初」字敘事法，區別史書敘事與神異題材，透過此字法之標示，一則能達成資鑑勸懲之功能，另則能保持史書敘事之可信度與真實性。
敘事即是解釋，亦是文化理解。剪裁取捨間，已寓史家褒貶。探討中國敘事作品，除借鏡西方敘事理論操作外，建構屬於中國文化之敘事審美理論，是今後敘事研究之重心。秉此理念，試以晉國諸氏興廢、晉楚弭兵、禍福敘事等為論述對象，冀能釐清《左傳》敘事與歷史解釋之相關問題。如此，除對探討中國歷代敘事觀念之發展與變化，有源頭探討之貢獻外，更能修正西方史家誤認中國無史學之偏見。此外，以《史記》為首之中國一系列正史，其敘事與歷史解釋或受《左傳》影響，本文以「《左傳》之敘事與歷史解釋」為題，期能對文史學界有所貢獻。
This thesis discuss " Tso-chuan (左傳)" text mainly. We discussed from the angle of narrating, reading, understanding. We try to build and construct the method of reading and explaining with china's traditional characteristic. The attitude of narrating, Structure of narrating, Imagination of history and context of culture, is the key to understand " Tso-chuan (左傳) " narrate. In the artistic respect of narrating, We discuss mainly that describe art of personages, and the narration method of ' the beginning(初) '.
Discuss the literary works of narration of China, how could to build and construct a system belong to the culture context belong to China, is a focal point of research in the future. Narrative is the form of explanation. Distinguish the relevant problems about the art of historical narrative and the art of historical explanation of " Tso-chuan (左傳) ",can help to understand the changes and develops about the idea of narration in successive dynasties. Such a discussion can offer contribution to literature and history.