Xiao Mountain Historical Research

As one of the most influential scholars between Twenties and Forties of the twentieth century, Xiao Yishan not only made prominent achievements in the field of historical documents, studies of Qing Dynasty and cultural history, but the richness of the historical thoughts and the profundity of historical views were not inferior to contemporary historians also. Therefore, systematic researches of his achievements are of great significance in improving awareness of the diversity of modern historiography.Xiao Yishan published four books of historic data during his life, including Series of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom(episode one),Decrees of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, Letters of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom and Historical Data of the Secret Society in Modern Time, known as pioneer of the collection about Taiping Heavenly Kingdom. Although there were some mistakes, his achievements had gone far beyond Liu Fu, Cheng Yansheng and other predecessors. Furthermore, his spirit of suspicion and Deposition of varieties were exactly the same as other famous scholars.General History of the Qing Dynasty created a new situation in the study of Qing Dynasty in the genre style, sources of historical data, historical views and many other aspects; the ethnic revolution was the main thread of the Outline History of the Qing Dynasty. Although the revolutionary atmosphere was too rich, it created a totally new interpretation mode of the modern history; Zeng Guofan's Biography emphasized on Zeng's academic thoughts and simplified his battlefield attribution, faintly pinned his ideal of politics, education and academic; History of Qing Dynasty was an adaptation of Outline History of the Qing Dynasty. Its adjustment reflected the author's special aims all the time.Xiao Yishan had a unique angle in the research of culture. He confirmed the supremacy of traditional culture by comparison of Zhongyong Philosophy and dialectics. Based on these arguments, he made full research of changes in traditional culture, national character and the outlook of Chinese culture. Though his understanding of dialectics was not deep enough, Xiao accurately pointed out certain characteristics of traditional culture. And, under the impetus of Serving the Reality, two conflict attitudes toward traditional culture, that is, ultra-conservative and radical Westernization, unified perfectly in his works.Xiao Yishan endowed traditional Serving the Reality with modern sense. This was the soul of Xiao's academic thoughts and final destination of his research. Even in the collection of historical data, which was far from reality, we still can see this intensive feeling. Within the framework of Zhangjieti, he absorbed the writing methods of Chi Chuan, Chronicle and Jishibenmo, showing his deep insights of genre. Emphasizing on modern and abbreviating on ancient time, balance narration of politics, economy and culture, concerning about the lower classes, etc, were also firm principles which were followed by Xiao Yishan in compiling history books. He also set an example for later historians in aesthetic of history books.Historical view of ethnic revolution's ultimate aim was to explain rationality of the platform of Chinese Nationalist Party. It could not provide a reasonable explanation about the evolution of economy and culture. It excluded many farmer revolutions outside of Tiandihui and Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, but it did not include ingredients of ethnic discrimination and were of great academic significance in enriching the research of modern history. We can not agree with his Heroic View of History, but the propaganda was to urge those heroes to take on their responsibility of national salvation. On the evaluation of historical figure, his one dividing into two methods were in accord with our opinion. The social development theory of Great Circle and Small circle also reflected his deep historical insights too.Xiao Yishan's learning was an academic system beginning from seeding historical reality, via finding social law, and reaching vivid social reality finally. As the thought of Serving Reality played an important role in this system, we can also call it Learning of Serving Reality. His academic thoughts were more influenced by Cai yuanpei, Sun Yat-sen, Liang Chi-chao and Zeng Guofan in a certain sense, but it also broadly absorbed achievements in various fields. His academic status can be summed as a Lonely Academic Comet. Because his many thoughts departed from the main stream of academic circle, we say he was lonely; because his academic life was too short, we call him a comet.