明代方志功用说探研

Exploring the Theory of Local Records’ Functions in Ming Dynasty

明代修志者认为,编纂志书是地方官员一项重要的工作,一些地方官员也已经自觉地把修志视为自己的职责,如认为编纂志书为“邑之大典也,官兹土者之责也”,“固王政之首务”“系邑政先务”,修志为“官职”“官责”的观念基本形成。方志功用问题是明代修志者比较关注的一个重要问题。笔者梳理了明代修志者关于方志功用的不同观点,侧重分析了资治、教化、存史三项基本功用的有关历史内涵,希望对考察明代方志编纂在中国方志发展史上的地位及其影响有所裨益。

Ming Dynasty local records compilers took it as an important job of local officials to compile local records. Some local officials consciously took local records compilation as their own duty, seeing local records compilation as, for example, “a great ceremony of an administrative region as well as duty of the governing official”, the “first priority of strengthening the imperial governance”, and “a priority political affair of an administrative region”. In this way, the conception of compiling local records as “ official duty” and “official responsibility” took shape. The issue of the local records’ functions became important and caught fairly great attention of Ming Dynasty local records compilers. This article reviews different opinions of local records’ functions held by those compilers, and particularly analyzes relevant the historical connotations of local records’ three basic functions, viz. mirroring governance, educating and cultivating local people, and preserving history. It hopes to offer some insights into the position and influences of Ming Dynasty local records compilation in the history of local records development.