Fan Wenlan And Chinese Marxist Historians

The 1930s witnessed the maturity of Maozedong thoughts, which marks an essential period in Marxist historiography. Compilation of Chinese General History written by Mr. Fan Wenlan could be regarded as an embodiment of Maozedong historical thoughts, which carries through a series judgments of Mao, using abundant facts to confirm its truthfulness, and initiates a brand-new general history system. Consequently, the study and examination of Fan Wenlan historiography holds great significance to the formation and development of Chinese Marxist historiography. The thesis focuses on Compilation of Chinese General History, compared with Yan'an version and revision version, emphasizing on the anatomy of ideological characteristics and differences. The thesis consists of seven parts: Introduction, Chapter ONE to Chapter Five, and Conclusion.The part of Introduction summarizes the researches undertaken by the previous scholars and makes a presentation as to the methods and standpoints of this thesis.Chapter one—"Fan Wenlan's special position in history of Chinese Marxism Historiography" Summarizes the main achievement of Fan wenlan's historiography,and proves that Fan Wenlan's special position in history of Chinese marxism historiography bydescribing four aspects--the special role , the establisher of Marxist general historysystem, Chinese particularity and the national characteristics of his history style, advocating the initiative history principle thought against dogmatism school traditionand.Chapter Two—"Fan Wenlan and the establishment of Marxist Historiography institution" probes the evolution of historiography institution of Fan wenlan style. The historiography in Yan'an period pays much attention to its institution construction and makes considerable achievements, which the previous scholars somewhat overlooked. This thesis tries to make up the blank by probing into the background, evolution, as well as the main traits of the historiography in Yan'an period.Chapter Three—"Fan wenlan and the wartime historiography" mainly discusses the basic framework of Compilation of Chinese General History by Fan Wenlan, the evidences and structure of its theory of stages, the essential connotation of wartime cultural psychology, as well as its influences in Fan's historical research.Chapter Four—"Fan Wenlan and the Marxist general history of China( I) " reveals the vivid militancy and criticism of Marxist historiography. In Compilation of Chinese General History, there are both interclass fights and national conflicts, the praise of patriotism and the denouncement of quislism, which demonstrates a rich national tinct of Fan, who often comments from the point of view of Han, showing a hostility toward the nationality of Man.Chapter Five—"Fan Wenlan and the Marxist general history of China( II) presents the various versions of Compilation of Chinese General History, with an emphasis on Yan'an copy. Interclass warfare runs through almost all the sociological and historical shapes. There are positive and progressive attitudes toward the people under exploitation and negative, reactive feelings toward the ruling classes, that the laboring class is the real motivity in the advancement the sociological history, etc. the author makes a comparison between the revision version and the Yan'an copy, and sums up the features of the former. It analyzes the historical viewpoint in detail, self-questions the limitations in the Yan'an version, and explains the reconstruction of each new dynasty with a "concession theory". In short, the revision version rectifies a deviation in its Yan'an counterpart.In Chapter Six—"Fan Wenlan and the Marxist general history of China(III)"probes the formation of China Marxist modern general history system, the achievement and the flaw. The fundamental clue of Chinese history he had revealed has important theory and practical significance.Finally ,this chapter pointed out that the modern history researchshould surmount two kind of models --"the revolutionary history" and "themodernization" Finally, the part of the Conclusion gives a general evaluation to Concise Edition of Chinese General History regarding its status and function in Chinese Marxist historiography.