西方学者研究中国史的方法

Western Scholars' Methods of Studying Chinese History

西方学者从事中国史的研究是在以下几个重要层面展开的;第一,不同的历史学家基于不同的观念所进行学术研究的目标和学术问题也是不同的。第二,在历史研究中,比较和对照的方法是提出问题,以及将研究结论提升到更具有普遍意义层面的重要途径。第三,对史料本身的文本批评是历史研究的重要步骤。第四,西方历史学家研究中国史面临的主要困境在于历史记录的不完整性、将当代的假设和思想置入历史时期的诱惑和危险、对中国丰富史料的熟悉程度等方面。第五,不同的历史学家有不同的研究意图和方法。最后,西方历史学家研究中国史的未来之路在于对两种相似的文化进行比较研究、关注中国历史上的分裂时期、在分别针对专家学者和其他领域研究者以及普通读者三个层面上进行中国史的写作。

This paper points out there are several important aspects in Chinese history research for a west- ern scholar. Firstly, the approach of any historian depends on his concept of the function and duty of the histori- an and the purpose for which he is writing. Secondly, comparison and contrast are the hope of reaching conclu- sions that are both valid and of a reasonably wide significance. Thirdly, identifying his sources of information and assessing their value are important aspects in historical research. Fourthly, the historian＇ s difficulties are incomplete information, the temptation to impose the assumptions and ideas of our own time on the past, famili- arity with the Chinese sources and so on. Fifthly, different historians have different intentions and methods. Fi- nally, the author points out the way forward： comparing in two cultures, conjointly but independently; paying attention for periods of disunity ; presenting the results of research on several levels （ professional standard, for colleagues in other disciplines and for general readers）.