On The Academic Achievement Of Zhu Weizheng’s Research On The History Of Chinese Historiography

Zhu Weizheng(1936-2012),Professor of History at Fudan University,was born in Wuxi.His research in the history of Chinese historiography combines historical evidence and theory building.He published "Three Topics in the History of Historiography","Historical Codification: Process and Form","History of Historical Concepts: State and Body Diseases-Sima Qian and the Legend of the bian’’que","Ban Gu and the Book of Han-An Examination of the Knowledge of People and the World","Ban Zhao’s Examination","The Historian and the Official History-Han and Liu’s Debate on the Historian","On the Three Passages",and "Wang Shen’s Examination of the Book of Wei".He proposed that the study of the history of Chinese historiography should include three overlapping systems: the history of historical codification,the history of historical concepts,and the exchange and comparison of Chinese and foreign historiography.This view has had a large impact on the academic community.In his research on the history of historical codification,Zhu Weizheng emphasized the study of historians,historical writings,and historians.In his study of the Historical Records,he pointed out that Sima Qian intentionally linked the "medical state" with the "medical man",reflecting the medical concept in traditional historiography."He analyzes Sima Qian’s historiography through these two aspects,and discusses the "static research" category as a supplement to codicology from its origin.In his discussion of the evolution of the historical revision system,he also focuses on the historian’s "understanding of the historian" and analyzes the contradictory state of mind of the historian who became a historian through Han Liu’s "debate of the historian".Zhu Weizheng’s concept of the history of historical concepts is proposed in response to the shortcomings of contemporary theoretical research,and he emphasizes the influence of concepts on historical thinking,For example,under the influence of the Western "scientific" spirit in the mid-Qing period,traditional historiography showed a strong tendency to "seek truth" in its research methods and mentality;in the late Qing Dynasty,historiography turned its attention to practical issues such as the frontier under specific historical conditions,promoting the evolution of academic history from "learning" to"art".Zhu Weizheng also devoted himself to expanding the field of historical research and deepening the discussion of the "relationship between scripture and history" and "orthodoxy".In his study of the "relationship between scripture and history," he argues that although scripture has had a continuing influence on historiography,historiography has shown a clear tendency toward independence in its development;he points out that the study of "orthodoxy" should abandon bias and carefully examine the roots and changes of orthodoxy from the perspective of production relations;In the history of historical exchanges he emphasizes cultural exchanges and collisions between regions and advocates understanding traditional culture and historiography from the perspective of integration.Zhu Weizheng’s research on the history of historiography has two distinctive features:first,he attaches importance to cultural factors in historiography,focusing on the impact of medical concepts and the imperial examination system on changes in historiography,and examining the development of historiography from the perspectives of genesis and morphology;second,he adheres to a materialistic approach to history,emphasizing the decisive role of material conditions on historiography and culture,and insisting on the "truthseeking" orientation of historiography.The second is his adherence to a materialistic approach to history,his emphasis on the role of material conditions in determining history and culture,and his insistence on the "truth-seeking" orientation of history.Finally,his contribution is also reflected in the cultivation of students’ historical consciousness,his emphasis on "teaching for growth" and active reflection,his adaptation to the general development trend of the study of the history of Chinese historiography,and his continuous refinement of teaching and research in the history of historiography.By discussing and specifically analyzing Zhu Weizheng’s research on the history of Chinese historiography,on the one hand,further understand the role of the historical research system constructed by Zhu Weizheng in promoting academic research;on the other hand,we can gain a more comprehensive understanding of Zhu Weizheng’s historical thinking and historical achievements.