Mr. He Shengsui, President of Fudan University Press, and Mr. Gao Ruohai, Editor-in-Chief, asked me to write a preface for Mr. Yi Zhongtian's masterpiece "The End of the Empire", and they readily agreed.It takes a lot of hesitation how to write.With Mr. Yi's current reputation as an "academic star", just like his name - "Rising Sun", the books he has written are all bestsellers that readers are eager to buy. There is no need for my preface to add icing on the cake, let alone my preface may not be able to "add icing on the cake" ".The reason for "graciously agreeing" is not only the author and the publisher's kindness, but also from the heart.Before I met Mr. Yi, I had already had textual acquaintances in the news media.

In 2006 Shanghai Book Fair, I was invited to give a speech at the book fair site (Shanghai Exhibition Hall) to promote my book "Sixteen Lectures on National History" published by Zhonghua Book Company. The title of the speech was "A New Interpretation of National History".After the speech, someone asked: Is Yi Zhongtian's "Pin Three Kingdoms" in the CCTV Baijia Forum a "joke"?I said: no.He asked again: Is it between "joking" and "just talking"?I said: No, it is "right to say".He asked: Why do you say that?I said: He used "Three Kingdoms" instead of "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" to talk about the history of the Three Kingdoms, and he discriminated and analyzed historical facts and details, so he was "correct."It's just that the way of speaking is different from that of historians. It is lively, fascinating, refreshing, and has received unexpected effects.I also particularly emphasize that due to the efforts of him and all the "lecturers" in the forum, he explained history in a popular and vivid way, which is popular with the public, and stimulates the public's interest in history. In recent years, an unprecedented "history craze" has been formed. , which is a great thing.As a professional engaged in history teaching and research, I am very grateful to them and express my deep gratitude to them.

Unexpectedly, these words were published in the "News Afternoon" the next day, with the headline: "Professor Fan Shuzhi, a master of history, supports Yi Zhongtian", which surprised me.The so-called "historical master" was of course "coronated" by that reporter. How can I dare to wear such a "high hat"!Regardless of morality and writing, they are far from the old masters and cannot be counted. There is still some self-knowledge.However, "supporting Yi Zhongtian" is true, and it did not violate my original intention.Later I heard that reports with the same title were also seen in overseas media.It can be seen that keen journalists feel that this is eye-catching "news".Perhaps it is because, in sharp contrast to the applause of the general public, Mr. Yi is criticized a lot in the circle of scholars.I probably belong to the alternative among scholars. If I dare to "support", it becomes "news".I am delighted that journalists are able to bring diverse voices to light, showing that there is more than one voice in academia.

Since then, I have repeatedly reiterated the above-mentioned viewpoints in the Fudan classroom, and learned from them, trying my best to tell the history vividly, but at the same time, it must be penetrating and thought-provoking.Over the past few years, I have given lectures on "Summary of National History" in Fudan every semester, and there are more than two hundred people attending each lecture. It seems that the "history craze" has affected universities. The "historical craze" fueled by CCTV's hundreds of forums is really a great thing for us in the field of history studies.Not only does it make the whole people pay attention to history, but it also affects the college entrance examination.According to the information I have obtained from authoritative departments, in the past two years, the "1" of "3 + 1" among liberal arts candidates in the Shanghai college entrance examination, the choice of most candidates has shifted from the past politics to history. The impact of "historical fever" on several generations will be immeasurable.

It seems that history should be written "good-looking" and told "good-sounding", which is not just a matter of form.To come out of the ivory tower and be accepted by the public, one must write "good-looking" and speak "good-looking".However, this "good" is not a "joke".People are becoming more and more disgusted with the "joking" style of TV series with historical themes.The writers and directors of historical dramas seem to remain the same. When someone criticizes them for "joking", they retaliate with the excuse that "we are not compiling history textbooks".Of course people like to watch interesting plays, not boring textbook renditions.But we can't always let everyone watch "Guan Gong Fights Qin Qiong"!

Looking at the problem from another angle, people can also criticize historians. Why are historical works always written in a boring, hideous and daunting manner?Always write high-spirited sermons in "stereotyped" accents?In fact, the characters and events, scenes and details of history itself are extremely lively and colorful, full of turbulence, wind and thunder, and can be written vividly and vividly without "joking".Sima Qian's "Historical Records" is the best example, without "joking", it is still fascinating and "good-looking".Huang Renyu's "Fifteen Years of Wanli", which has been selling well for many years, presents the history of the Wanli era with a unique style of writing, which is both profound and vivid, refreshing readers who are used to "high-level lectures".Recently, an article commenting on "The Complete Works of Huang Renyu" quoted the words of the American writer Updike: "The Fifteen Years of Wanli" entangles the past with the reality. Although it is a rigorous academic work, it has the characteristics of Kafka. The dreamy color of surrealism like the novel "The Great Wall".Some people lamented that Huang Renyu's ability to tell stories makes it impossible for most professional historians today.

This illustrates a truth-"history has no fixed law", and history can be expressed and interpreted in different ways.Ranke, a German historian who made history a science, advocated "writing truthfully and directly", advocating objectivity, calmness, and colorlessness; Toynbee, a British historian who is famous all over the world for his masterpiece "Historical Research", explained history with types of civilization The French historian of the Annals School, Braudel, advocated an overall view of history, observing the world since 1500 from a distance.When it comes to the American historian Shi Jingqian, it is another scene. He uses the style of "telling stories" to introduce his research results to readers, such as "Cao Yin and Kangxi", "The Death of Wang Shi" and other popular masterpieces , both English and Chinese versions are very popular.American historians do not belittle his academic status because he is good at "storytelling".

However, some scholars in our country are very repulsed by the method of "storytelling" to interpret history, and dismiss it.Probably because I have been used to a certain pattern for many years, and I am used to reading "eight-legged essays", but once "a hundred flowers bloom", I am not used to it. Another meaning of "history is indeterminate" is that history needs to be constantly interpreted.British historian Carle has a famous saying: "History is an endless exchange of questions and answers between the present and the past." He means that people can only understand the past with the help of the present, and only with the help of the past can they fully understand the present. "Present and past" are relative concepts, "present" is endlessly extending, and its dialogue with "past" is of course never-ending and will never stop, so the interpretation of history will never stay at the same level.As the Dutch historian Gail said: "History is an endless debate." If we agree with their point of view, then we should advocate different authors, use different perspectives, and use different methods to reinterpret history.

Mr. Yi Zhongtian's "The End of the Empire" is his way of interpreting Chinese history, or a unique understanding of the history of the Chinese Empire from its formation, development to its end.If readers calm down and savor carefully, it is not difficult to find his understanding of the original meaning of "feudalism", his understanding of "the world is public", his understanding of centralization of power, his understanding of bureaucracy and The understanding of bureaucratic society has some unique views, showing wisdom and sensitivity to history and reality.

This book is different from his "Three Kingdoms" in that it is a historical theory rather than a narrative genre, so it has a greater degree of freedom and subjectivity. The focus of readers' attention is not on the "story", but on the The spark of thought flashed by the author's comments and discussions on history. The preface is difficult to write, it is easy to fall into clichés, full of stereotypes, and it is difficult to satisfy yourself and readers.It is even more difficult to write a preface for a celebrity. This kind of difficulty can only be understood but cannot be expressed in words.The genius Russian writer Lermontov once lamented that the most difficult thing to write in all articles is the preface, the preface written for others.It is a wise saying.

Although it is difficult to write, I still have to write.I hope readers and admirers of Mr. Yi will forgive me for the inappropriate writing. October 5, 2007