碑为瑰宝,为功甚巨:碑刻与广东华侨史研究

Value and Contribution of Tablets:Tablet Inscriptions and the Study of the History of Overseas Chinese from Guangdong

碑刻在将“散佚”的历史还原方面具有重要的价值,它使我们既能把握过去的散佚,又能通过对散佚历史的拼接把握历史的真相。华侨在侨居地的碑刻主要集中于东南亚新马泰、菲越等国,散落在异国的华侨碑刻从多个层面记录下他们在侨居地的社会生活。如《大越国王敕赐河中寺焕碧禅师塔记铭》《义冢墓道志碑》《创建广福宫碑》,还有极乐寺保存的碑刻等。而在华侨主要输出地的广东侨乡,有关华侨的碑刻在主要侨乡都有发现。这些珍贵的碑刻从不同的角度记录下他们在海外贸易经商、辛苦打拼后,如何心系桑梓、回报故乡。如《梅溪乡庙书塾尝业碑记》《沈公祠堂记》等。广东华侨史研究应该珍视碑刻所提供的鲜活细节和独特书写,从碑刻中开掘新史料是一个有效有益的路径,这既是史料观的转换,更是方法论层面的变革。

Tablet inscriptions are of great value in restoring the lost history.They enable us not only to grasp the lost history,but also to grasp the truth of history by splicing the lost history.The inscriptions of overseas Chinese in the places where they live are mainly concentrated in Southeast Asia,Singapore,Thailand,the Philippines,Vietnam and other countries.The inscriptions of overseas Chinese scattered in foreign countries record their social life in their places of residence from many aspects.In the hometown of overseas Chinese in Guangdong,where overseas Chinese are mainly exported,inscriptions on overseas Chinese have been found in the major hometowns of overseas Chinese.These precious inscriptions record how they cared for and repaid their hometown after doing business and working hard overseas from different angles.The research on the history of overseas Chinese from Guangdong should value the vivid details and unique writing provided by the inscriptions.It is an effective and beneficial way to dig out new historical materials from the inscriptions,which is not only a shift of the view of historical materials,but also a transformation of methodology.