Chapter 19 Section Four: The Birth of Local Chronicles

The flying years not only left tens of thousands of local chronicles, but also accumulated rich experience in compiling local chronicles.People practice and think at the same time. They explore more and more deeply about the nature, characteristics, functions, contents, and compilation methods of local chronicles, as well as the process of its emergence and development, and the mystery of its everlasting prosperity, and gradually form a systematic knowledge. , This is local history. At the beginning, people’s thinking and opinions on local chronicles were mostly found in the prefaces and postscripts of chronicles. For example, Zheng Xingyi’s Preface to Guangling Chronicles in the Song Dynasty said: “The county has ambitions, and the country has history.” It shows that he realized that local chronicles and history are closely related. relation.Liu Wenfu of the Song Dynasty said in the "Preface to the Tujing of Yanzhou" that the compilation of records is to record the various measures and experiences of the predecessors in dealing with local political affairs, and to "govern the future".Song Dynasty Dong Yan [fenfen] "Yanzhou Tujing Preface" also said that the revision of the annals is not just to cope with the leap year reporting system, but to "enable the politicians to know the pros and cons of customs, teach the sages to make achievements, and learn from the late students." If you look at it, you can compile harmony and return to the old customs, and if you play with celebrities, you can gain fame and fame.”That is to say, the purpose of compiling the will is to make the rulers understand the pros and cons of customs, and to use the excellent achievements of the sages as an example.After reading it, the late students can get along with each other and help restore the simple and honest customs of ancient times.Officials and celebrities savor it carefully, which is conducive to maintaining their own high morals.This is a summary of the functions of local chronicles.Liu Lusheng of the Ming Dynasty said in the "Preface to the Chronicles of Quwo County" that when compiling local chronicles, "you want to know the contents, verify the facts, and make the books straight."This is a summary of the quality requirements for the annals.These early local chronicle theories are very fragmented, and most of them are such fragments without further elaboration.

Whether it is to organize the compilation of local chronicles across the country, or to compile a specific chronicle book, there must first be an overall idea: why compile the chronicles?What will it look like?This overall design is the government promulgated the regulations on revision of the local records, or the general rules of the official records.What is the basis for this idea?Be sure to examine the practices of predecessors first, and then study the current situation to decide whether to discard or innovate.Therefore, the regulations and common examples of compiling local records are the induction and summary of previous experience in compiling local records, and they are also an important wealth in the theoretical treasure house of local chronicles.

Before the Song and Yuan Dynasties, this kind of idea and plan for compiling local chronicles was rarely seen in records. No record does not mean that there is no such thing. For example, the Han Dynasty required the whole country to report "county and state annals". Unified format requirements, that is unimaginable.It was not until the Southern Song Dynasty that "general rules" began to appear in chronicles. For example, "(Chunyou) Yufeng Zhi" (Kunshan, Jiangsu) had five general rules, but they were extremely concise and only listed the scope of the included materials.Later, there was Zhou Yinghe's "Revising Chronicles" attached to "(Jingding) Jiankang Zhi". In addition to describing the process of compiling the Zhi, it clearly summarized the whole process of compiling the Zhi and divided it into four aspects: The framework structure of the book, category setting, writing requirements), division of tasks (how to divide the work of the editors), extensive search (how to collect data through multiple channels), detailed reference (how to review manuscripts to ensure quality).This is an important document in the history of local annals, letting us know what level the Song Dynasty people have reached in the method of compiling local annals.

After the Yongle Year of the Ming Dynasty, not only did the government formulate the regulations for the revision of local annals, but also more and more local chronicles printed the regulations in books, and the content of their regulations became more and more detailed and thoughtful.For example, "(Chenghua) Xinchang County Chronicles" (Yifeng, Jiangxi) stipulates that the biographies of characters should be based on their political achievements and virtues, not the size of their official positions.Make a big biography if you have good political achievements and good morals, otherwise you can just add a small biography under the name. "(Jiajing) Xuzhou Chronicles" (Xuchang, Henan) said that local chronicles are not the genealogy of aristocratic families, so those edicts bestowed on the families of scholar-bureaucrats will not be accepted.In the twenty-ninth year of Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty (1690 A.D.), Henan Province issued a "Revision License", which listed 23 items, which stipulated that to record historical sites, "it is necessary to identify a certain generation and a certain person, and to note the facts in detail, and no novels are allowed." mixed in".Indigenous products, "non-local and ordinary vegetation, need not be included, but their special products must be included."Such things are obviously raised in response to the abuses in the past compilation of diaries.They also express the editor's understanding of the nature, function, and quality standards of Zhishu.However, like the fragmentary opinions in the preface and postscript, they are inevitably scattered and fragmented.Until the end of the Ming Dynasty and the beginning of the Qing Dynasty, there was no systematic work on the theory of local chronicles.

After the mid-Qing Dynasty, many scholars took part in compiling records. They used their different academic viewpoints to guide the practice of compiling records, and gradually formed different schools.The theory of local chronicles was perfected step by step in their discussion and contention.At that time, local chronicles were mainly divided into two factions: One is the Geography School, also known as the Textual Research School or the Old School.In the Qing Dynasty, due to the deterrence of literary inquisition and the promotion of the government, during the Qianlong and Jiaqing years, a style of study that focused on textual research emerged.A group of scholars devoted themselves to the research of classical documents, collected evidence from ancient books, identified authenticity, corrected fallacies, and made great contributions to sorting out ancient books.However, they often become addicted to ancient times, fall into unrealistic and cumbersome textual research, think that only textual research is the right way to do learning, and despise all knowledge other than textual research, so that they are seriously divorced from reality and do not understand world affairs. Textual research school or Qianjia school.Representatives of the Geography School, Dai Zhen and Hong Liangji, are all masters among Qianjia scholars.They used the academic thoughts and research methods of the textual research school to study local chronicles, forming their own characteristics.

The geography school sticks to the traditional view on the nature of local chronicles since the Han and Tang Dynasties, and believes that local chronicles belong to geographical books.Dai Zhen said: To compile annals is to research geography. As long as you do your best to research the evolution of geography clearly, there is nothing else to do (see Zhang Xuecheng's "Records and Dai Dongyuan's Discussion on Xiuzhi").Hong Liangji also said: "The history of one party's aspirations is the most important thing." ("Postscript Newly Revised Luzhou Mansion Chronicles and Send Zhang Taishou Xiangyun") He also advocated that the main words of the revision of the will must be based on evidence, "Inheritance is more important than innovation. Carry records but not believe in rumors" ("Jing County Chronicle Preface").Of course, it is impossible to verify the evidence in ancient classics ("Zaiji") for new things that appear in the contemporary era. According to his proposition, they can only be regarded as unreliable "rumors".The annals compiled by this school are dedicated to extensively collecting and compiling old documents, and doing detailed textual research one by one. The materials are rich and the evidence is conclusive. It sets an example of rigorous scholarship in the local chronicles, which is conducive to correcting irresponsible blind plagiarism and even A crooked trend fabricated out of thin air.However, they favor the past and underestimate the present, do not believe in or adopt other materials except ancient documents, do not attach importance to reflecting the actual situation of contemporary society, and confine chronicles to the narrow field of paleogeographical research, which of course will greatly affect the practicality of local chronicles value.

The other school is the historical school, also known as the new school, whose representative is Zhang Xuecheng.Zhang Xuecheng (1738-1801 A.D.) (Figure 8), whose style name is Shizhai, was born in Kuaiji (Shaoxing, Zhejiang). He was weak and sickly when he was young, and he was not smart. have unique insights.He took part in the provincial examination seven times, and he won the Juren in his 40s. He was admitted as a Jinshi in the second year. He thought that his thoughts were not in line with the trend, so he refused to be an official, and spent a difficult and unstable life through writing, compiling, and lecturing.He participated in the compilation of more than ten kinds of local chronicles in his life, but only "(Qianlong) Yongqing County Chronicles" (Hebei Yongqing) has been preserved perfectly. , and his works in his later years—"Hubei Tongzhi", which best embodies his theories of compiling records, were all written when the draft was just completed. Because the local governor changed, the new boss did not like his theory and writing, and finally It fell short and was not published, so it was lost.Only some of the manuscripts he kept in his own hands were later included in his anthology.

Zhang Xuecheng is an outstanding historian. He wrote "Wen Shi Tong Yi", which is unique in historiography theory.He used the theories and methods of historiography to study local chronicles and put forward a complete set of theories. Zhang Xuecheng's greatest contribution is to explicitly deny the old idea that local chronicles are just geography books.He believed that local chronicles belonged to history. He said: "Chronography is a historical style" ("Reply to Zhen Xiucai on the first book on Xiuzhi"), "local chronicles are like the history of ancient countries, and they are not specialized in geography" ("Ji Yu Dai Dongyuan on Xiuzhi"), "Fang Zhi is the whole history of one side" ("Ding Si's Sui Shu Huai Throwing Gifts for Bingu's Transit Causes to Farewell Zhi").This point of view more accurately reflects the actual situation of the development of local chronicles since the Sui and Tang Dynasties, greatly expanded the content and scope of local chronicles, and had a profound impact on the local chronicles.Once, Zhang Xuecheng met Dai Zhen in Ningbo.Dai Zhen was 15 years older than Zhang Xuecheng, and was already very famous at that time.He doesn't think much of Zhang Xuecheng, "domineering".Zhang Xuecheng was not timid, and had a debate with Dai Zhen on the nature of local chronicles, expounded his opinions with reason and evidence, and refuted Dai Zhen's views.

Starting from the basic point of view that local chronicles belong to history, Zhang Xuecheng discussed all aspects of local chronicles in detail.He believes that the purpose of compiling records is not to show off knowledge, but to be practical.It should be as detailed and slightly distant as compiling history, and there is no need for every local chronicle to start from ancient times.If the predecessors have already cultivated the will, the future generations only need to continue to repair and fill in the gaps.The important task of local chronicles is to prepare materials for the compilation of national history, so we should not just compile old documents, but should pay special attention to the collection and preservation of contemporary documents.He said, for example, when Sima Qian wrote "Historical Records", he also wrote about the three dynasties of ancient times, and some places were wrong.It doesn't matter if something in ancient times is wrongly written, the ancient books are all there, everyone can verify it, and they will naturally find his mistakes.However, people will use Sima Qian's records as evidence for the Qin and Han Dynasties. If he doesn't remember in detail, what will later generations use to verify this historical fact?This kind of view is really opposite to Qianjia scholars' respect for the ancient.At that time, textual research was officially supported and advocated, and it occupied a dominant position in the academic circle. However, Zhang Xuecheng dared to be independent and put forward innovative insights, which is indeed commendable.

In addition, Zhang Xuecheng also specifically designed the style of the local chronicles, and summarized a whole set of procedures and working methods for compiling the local chronicles, from the division of labor, collection of materials, and formulation of general rules to how to draw up titles and compile appendices.He analyzed the characteristics of various types of local chronicles of provinces, prefectures, states, and counties, and pointed out that they should have their own purposes and compilations, and should not be confused with each other.He also suggested that prefectures and counties set up permanent "Zhi Ke" and assign special personnel to collect and sort out new materials frequently to make a reserve for the compilation of the Zhi, so as to prevent the materials from being lost and cramming when compiling the Zhi.He wrote these propositions into many papers such as "Three Discussions on Fang Zhili", "Ten Discussions on Xiu Zhi", "Different Types of Fang Zhi", "States and Counties Please Li Zhi Ke Discussion".They are the culmination of local chronicle theory since the Han and Tang Dynasties, initially established a complete system for Chinese local history, and became the symbol of the birth of Chinese local history.Zhang Xuecheng is recognized as the founder of local chronicles in my country.

Although Zhang Xuecheng dares to innovate in academic views, his thoughts have another rather pedantic side, such as advocating that the annals should praise the "Emperor's Grace", be beneficial to the "Ethical Education", and convey loyalty, filial piety, and righteousness, etc. They all run through his local annals theory and other chronicles. In addition to theoretical achievements, there is another important field of local annals in the Qing Dynasty, which is the collation of old annals.One of the most successful is the collection of ancient topography. Yi is a method of sorting out ancient books, and "Yi" is also written as "Yi", which means "lost".Most of my country's topographical maps before the Song Dynasty have been lost, and some of them still retain some quoted chapters, paragraphs or sentences in other ancient books.Editing is to find out these scattered materials, organize and compile them, and reproduce the original appearance of this work as much as possible.This is of great significance for us to understand the history of the development and evolution of local chronicles. The compilation of lost works was very popular in the Qing Dynasty.The most successful compilation of ancient topography is Wang Mo. After he became a Jinshi in the 43rd year of Qianlong (AD 1778), he preferred not to be a county magistrate, but to be a poor school instructor in order to devote himself to writing ancient books. pick gold.He originally wanted to compile and engrave a huge "Han Wei Posthumous Notes", including various books of classics, history, and literature. Later, he gradually realized the importance of geography books. The energy turned to geography, and a total of nearly 400 kinds of ancient topography were compiled.At that time, he was over 80 years old, poor and sick, so he could not engrave all of them. Now there are only more than 70 kinds that can be collected.Zhonghua Book Company published them as "Han and Tang Geographical Book Notes".At the back, 66 kinds of Hunan ancient topography compiled by Qing Chen Yunrong (originally collected in "Lushan Jingshe Series") are attached.In addition, such as Ma Guohan's "Yuhanshan Fangji Lost Books" and Wang Renjun's "Yuhanshan Fangji Lost Books Supplement", also compiled about 60 kinds of topography before Tang Dynasty.When the Qing Dynasty compiled the "Siku Quanshu", several kinds of local chronicles were compiled from the Ming Dynasty kind book "Yongle Dadian". Now that "Yongle Dadian" has been lost, these compiled materials are extremely valuable. Scholars in the Qing Dynasty conducted in-depth textual research and discussions on the writing time, author, version, content, and style of many old records. They wrote a large number of inscriptions or summaries based on their own research experience, discussing the compilation time of the old records, the editor's life and The dissemination of editions, and the pros and cons of commentary on chronicles.This is also an important way to summarize experience in compiling records and guide practice in compiling records.For example, Zhang Xuecheng once wrote seven chronicles, including "Book Wujun Zhihou" and "Book Gusu Zhihou".The Qing Dynasty's "Siku Quanshu Zongmu" has hundreds of summaries of local chronicles in the category of history and geography.Zhou Zhongfu's "Zheng Tang Reading Secretary" also has nearly 200 titles of chronicles.These works have made important preparations for the development of the catalog of local chronicles and the further sorting of old chronicles. Gu Yanwu, a thinker in the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, was unique in sorting out old annals.At the end of the Ming Dynasty, he was faced with the country's crisis and distress. He wanted to find a way to save the country and the people, so he began to collect all records related to major issues related to the national economy and people's livelihood from local chronicles and other documents, including terrain, passes, military defense, taxation, taxation, etc. Agricultural administration, handicrafts, minerals, water conservancy, transportation, etc. are collected and studied by region.After the fall of the Ming Dynasty, Gu Yanwu failed to participate in the Anti-Qing Movement and was displaced in various places. He still collected materials and conducted field investigations.In more than 20 years, he compiled more than 1,000 kinds of materials, mainly local chronicles, and finally compiled 120 volumes of "Tianxia Junguoli Disease Book".Gu Yanwu's concern for the country and the people and his experience in sorting out old annals did not receive enough attention at the time.However, with the development of local chronicles, people have become more and more aware that Gu Yanwu is a pioneer in systematically sorting out local chronicles, and he has created a broad road for future generations to comprehensively study and utilize local chronicles. The birth of local chronicles shows that Chinese local chronicles have entered a new and more conscious stage of development.The trickle that originated in ancient times has finally converged into a giant current.As a solid cultural tradition, no matter how the historical situation changes, it will continue to be passed on.