洪亮吉是乾嘉之學的代表性人物之一,「深於《春秋》」曾自稱有「《左傳》癖」,花費約二十年完成的《春秋左傳詁》,即其經學代表作。以撰述歷程為中心,兼從師友交遊、治學方式、解釋類型與經說的因承關係等因素多方考察,可深入理解其學術淵源,以及藉由著述呼應當世學風的現實意識。這部著作延續惠棟之學,遵循「漢學」典範,以存古學為宗旨,表彰漢魏儒者之古訓,從而匡正杜預之失。書中往往註明「杜取此」、枉本此」或「杜同此」這不僅指陳杜氏與漢魏經說之淵源與異同,還有意針吃因襲掠美之病;相對於此,引古義則載明見於何書,採用當代學者之說亦顯明標示,諸如此類,既用以強調學術規範,也蘊涵重視著書心術的態度。所謂「心術者,學術之源也」,慨歎「安得仲尼之徒布滿天下,以救天下之學術,即以正天下之心術乎!」由此看來,洪氏《左傳》學,存古訓以明經,寓有正人心而勵風俗的經世懷抱。
The most representative work in Hong Liang-Ji's opus of studies of the Classics is his ”Chunqiu Zuozhuan Gu” (春秋左傳詁). This study focuses on the process of its composition, based on an examination of such aspects as Hong's communication with teachers and friends, his method, the type of interpretation, and his inheritance of traditional exegesis of the Classics - with the purpose of both developing a sense of the depth of this scholarship and reflecting the actual scholarly atmosphere of his time. This particular work of Hong's extends the earlier research of Hui Dong(惠棟), follows the paradigms of Han Learning, embodies the objectives of perpetuating the study of antiquity, and furthers the ancient phonology of the Han and Wei scholars, all in order to rectify the mistaken interpretations of Du Yu(杜預). Hong's work not only points out the extent to which Du Yu both followed and differed from the Han and Wei scholars, but also deliberately draws attention to the way in which Du Yu appropriated the work of previous scholars. In contrast to Du Yu, Hong states clearly what the ancient views were and the works from which he drew them, as well as the explanations of other contemporary scholars, thereby emphasizing a model of proper scholarship and embodying an attitude of sincerity. From this view of ”sincerity as the origin of scholarship,” Hong's ”Zuozhuan” scholarship continues the exegesis of the Classics based on ancient phonology, in the hopes of rectifying social customs, and maintaining the ideal of ordering the world through study of the Classics.