A Study Of Su Yuanle 's Historiography

Su Yuanlei was an outstanding Chinese scholar in the 20th century. He conducted a wide range of researches on Chinese intellectual history and historiography with a solid theoretical approach and has made many contributions to these fields. However, the academia has not yet systematically evaluated the achievements and short comes of Su Yuanlei’s research. This paper focuses on his academic life, and tries to evaluate his works that relate to perspectives on history study. This paper is divided into six sections:The introduction part briefly descr ibeswhy this topic was chosen and clarifies how scholars evaluated Su’s achievements in philosophy, history, and literature etc. at around 1949. This will prepare for the following discussion on how Su incorporated these three fields into his research.The fi rst chapter mainly introduces Su’ s personal life and academic career, which can be further divided into four parts: period of the May Fourth New Culture Movement and the Northern Expedition (1908-1933), period of Ant i-Japanese War and the second Chinese civil war (1933-1949), period of the first seventeen years after founding of P. R. China and the Cultural Revolution (1949-1976), per iod of two years break and the Reform and Opening (1976-1995). This chapter will reflect the characteristics of Su’s research in different periods by a chronological study of his academic works.The second chapter looks at Su’s perspectives on history and historiography. On history, Su’s perspectives before founding of P. R. China were mainly based on historical rationalism, historical materialism and the Principle of Minsheng, after 1949 he mainly adopted historical materialism in the contemporary context of materialism and Marxism. On historiography, Su, who was under the influence of both modern western academia and traditional Chinese culture, had many insights into primary source study, history study methods, and use of history study.The third chapter deals with Su’s contributions to research on historical figures. Su’s booksSong Pingzi Ping Zhuan{A Commentary Biography of Song Shu), XuanZang, BaiJuyiZhuan(Biography of BaiJuyi), andDui Yu Cao Cao Ping JiaZhongJiGe Zhu Yao Wen Ti De KanFa (Opinions on Several Main Issues Regarding the Appraisal of CaoCao). Several matters about these texts will be clarified, such as origin of the research, evolution of different editions, and the main content.The fourth chapter mainly focuses on Su’s achievements in hisresearch on classical Chinese history records. It is further divided into four parts:Su’s research on Shi Jing, Shang Shu, and Chun Oiu; Su’s research on Shi Ji and Han Shu;Su’s research on ZiZhi Tong Jian;Su’s research on Shi Tong, Tong Zhi, and Wen Shi Tong Yi.In the conclusion, relations among Su Yuan lei, history study and change of the time are discussed with the macro perspective of the academic history in the 20th century. Su’s research methods and characteristics will be further reflected:the advantages should be inherited and carried forward, while the short comes should be analyzed objectively with understanding and compassion.