Mu Historical Methodology Thought

Qian Mu (1895-1990) is a famous and prolific modern historian. His major historical works,such as "Research methods of Chinese history","Outline of Chinese History","Elaborationof Chinese History" and so on, contain rich thought of Methodology on History. Throughin-depth analysising, inducing and summing up an integrated system of Qian Mu’s thought ofHistorical Methodology is not only beneficial to enrich the studying of the historicalmethodology, but aslo to supplement the research of historical theory.This paper expounds Qian Mu’s Methodology on History from four parts: studing historymust grasp its three characteristics at first; some historical attitude and mood of studying history;significance and effect of studing history; studying history can not be barricaded in room buthave to go out, melting feelings to the scene. Firstly, this paper explains Qian Mu’s research onthe three characteristics of history and clarifies the relationship among them.We should not onlysee the particularity of history from its variability, but also to grasp the traditional of history onthe basis of former two characteristics. The three characteristics are an inseparable integrationfrom which we grasp Qian Mu’s study of history is not a "dead"and scattered accumulation ofmaterial, but a "live" history. Secondly, Qian Mu’s study of history focuses to seize thehistorical evolution of trends, which are obtained from the history and mastered by historicalfigures in different times. The historical figures must be positive characters with "historicalheart" from which we can know the personality or the spirit of history of a nation. Furthermore,Quian Mu makes a claim that, for the study of history, before the materials and methods, theremust be some significance in our heart at first. From this, we can see that the historical studies ofQian Mu contains a very strong purpose, his study of history is not only an academic, moreimportantly is the lifeblood of the historical heritage, and to promote the idea of "Ching-kuosave the world". Finally, the study of Qianmu’s thought of historical methodology can not justlook at his discourse of history, but also have some understanding of historical emotionalsustenance. Therefore, in conclusion, in order to inspire the historical researcher, the paperdiscusses the extension of Qian Mu Methodology on History,"Traveling in history is likereading books on history, especially reading a living history books", as a perspective of researchin Qian Mu’s Methodology on History.