| In this dissertation, the author collates and punctuates the extant copies of Chronicles of Chongqing County in Chenghua period and Chronicles of Chongqing Government in Wanli period of Ming Dynasty. Based on the relevant historical facts, the author also infers how the chronicles of ancient Chongqing government before Chenghua period were compiled. According to the research, it is found that there were at least four kinds of chronicles of government and other prefectures and counties in Chongqing before Chronicles of Chongqing County in Chenghua period in Ming Dynasty came into being. All these historical data are the source of Daming Yi Tong Zhi and Chronicles of Chongqing County in Chenghua period of Ming Dynasty.Chronicles of Chongqing County in Chenghua period of Ming Dynasty, according to the conjecture, was compiled by Jiang Chaozong independently in the period of Chenghua and Hongzhi in Ming Dynasty. As far as its content and writing style are concerned, it is extremely homologous to Daming Yi Tong Zhi. With regard to their stylistics rules and layouts, they are similar as well,for Jiang Chaozong basically followed the Guiding Rules for Compiling Chronicles in Yongle period of Ming Dynasty when compiling Chronicles of Chongqing County in Chenghua period.While Chronicles of Chongqing Government in Wanli period of Ming Dynasty was claimed to be based on Chronicles of Chongqing County in Chenghua period, they are different from each other in respect of the writing styles of the corresponding parts. On the one hand, the Guiding Rules for Compiling Chronicles in Yongle period was more strictly adhered to in the compilation of Chronicles of Chongqing Government in Wanli period; on the other hand, there were lots of new materials in Chronicles of Chongqing Government in Wanli period.Chronicles of Chongqing County in Chenghua period of Ming Dynasty gave a detailed description of the situation at that time but discussed slightly about things happening before. Being brief and concise, it also has a simple but clear style of writing. However, it has such defects as following:many defaults or errors, most part being lost, the literature cited being not marked, and poor copies. While, Chronicles of Chongqing Government in Wanli period is exquisite and excellent with logical structure, simple but clear writing style, substantial content, and marked literature. Regrettably, the part with great historical value is missing. In addition, the preface was written with seal characters, which is a little odd. In a word, a large quantity of historical data about ancient Chongqing government with great value in and before Ming Dynasty were recorded in the two chronicles, which will benefit a lot to the study of Chongqing government in Ming Dynasty.Compared to other chronicles of governments of Ming Dynasty in Sichuan, Chronicles of Chongqing County in Chenghua period is much poorer with respect to its comprehensive quality, whereas Chronicles of Chongqing Government in Wanli period can be regarded as one of the distinguished chronicles of governments of Ming Dynasty in Sichuan. |
