本研究的宗旨，在指陳中國春秋時期（西元前770年至481年）諸侯國在政治、軍事互動關係上所顯現的特徵，並從政治、社會變遷的角度，分析造成這些現象的原因及其所蘊含的歷史意義。研究結果指出，春秋中期之前是文武合一的時代；春秋後期時，專業將領和軍事家已經出現和受到重用。西周時，天子握有最高軍事權威；自前八世紀末至前六世紀初，軍權下移至諸侯之手；到春秋後期，再下移到卿大夫；然而，春秋時期諸侯或大夫的軍事權威，並不像後來專制君主般具有絕對性。此外，本文提出了兩個主要論點：1．西周春秋時期的軍權下移現象，是實行封建所造成的，而非封建制度的破壞所造成的；2．專業將領和軍事家的出現與受重用，應在春秋後期，而非戰國時期。

This paper adopts the approach of socio-political change to investigate some salient traits of civil-military relations in the Spring and Autumn period (770-481 B.C.). The most significant trend is the downward transference of politico-military authority from the Son of Heaven to the King of feudal states and then to the king's ministers. This trend, as this paper points out, is a natural result of Chou's feudalistic state system. In this socio-political system, civil-military affairs and personnel are integrated. It is in the late period of the Spring and Autumn (i.e., around 575-481 B.C.) that civil-military affairs and personnel began to differentiate. This paper also identifies five factors contributing to the rise of military professionals and strategists and compares three famous generals and the socio-political backgrounds in which they are situated.