Discussion On Liu Yizheng’s Understanding Of Chinese Traditional Historiography

Among the scholars of the Republic of China,Liu Yizheng’s understanding of traditional historiography is quite distinctive,mainly in content,form,method,the value of traditional historiography,etc.Since modern times,the content of the traditional historiography has been criticised and questioned by many scholars such as the “New Historiography” represented by Liang Qichao and the “Doubting Antiquity School” represented by Gu Jiegang.Liu Yizheng responded these doubts that traditional historiography is not merely a record of emperors and ministers,it also reflects the development and evolution of Chinese culture.He also pointed out that the ancients’ historiography always valued authenticity and the spirit of veritable records.About the written form of the traditional historiography,Liu Yizheng expounded and developed the biography style,praised the complementary roles of annals,biographies,tables and memories.In terms of traditional research methods,Liu Yizheng advocates inheriting the traditional historiography’s methods,such as from the Chinese Classics into history and textual research.As for the value of traditional historiography,Liu Yizheng explained the function of traditional historiography in terms of learning from the past and cultivating moral integrity.We can see that he always held an affirmative and defensive attitude towards traditional historiography by analyzing his treatise of various aspects of traditional historiography,which was closely linked to the thoughts of the times and the deepening national crisis.It is important to note that while Liu Yizheng maintains and promotes the traditional historiography,he does not exclude western historiography,but holds an open attitude.By exploring Liu Yizheng’s understanding of traditional historiography,which not only can deepen our cognition of his academic thought,as well as we scan the value of traditional historiography and dealing with the relationship between traditional and Western historiography today.