《徐霞客游记》的史学价值

The Historical Value of Travels of XU Xia-ke

一部良史,必须真、善、美兼备。历史的真实不在已经归纳的概念符号中,而在千殊万态的社会现象中。真能如实反映一代真相的记载,只能由像徐霞客那样独立不羁、好学深思之士来承担。优秀的史家,应有强烈的社会责任感,能入而复出,在洞悉事实之后,进行深刻的反思和批判。史学同样是人学,不可能毫不动情,更无法回避社会群体的情感、民族的情感。《徐霞客游记》的出现,为文史相通,为科学与历史的结合,提供了完美的典范作品。历史的最高目标不是实录,而是垂鉴。徐霞客撰写游记,并非要誉于一时,而是视作名山事业。《徐霞客游记》是明末南方社会最直接、最真实、最生动的记载,可说是一部“游史”,一部当之无愧的信史。

As a fine historical writing, it must be true, good and beautiful. The truth of history reflects not in concepts but in social phenomenon. It is the scholars who are independent, free from all the fetters, and fond of learning and deep thinking, for example, XU Xia-ke, that can make a true account of an era. A good historian should have a strong sense of social responsibility and spirit of deep reflection and criticism when the facts are fully revealed. He can go in and out of his studies. The science of history is a science of human beings. It can not be no feelings and emotions. It can not evade the feelings and emotions of a social community and an ethnic group. The appearance of Travels of XU Xia-ke supplies an example of a combination of liberal arts and history, a combination of science and history. The top goal of history is not a ture record but an objective lesson for people in future. The reason why XU Xia-ke wrote down his travel notes was that he considered them as a piece of immortal social work, not as a personal glory for the time being. Travels of XU Xia-ke, a most direct, true and active account of South China in the late Ming Dynasty, is a history in the form of travel notes. It is worthy of a true history.