Compared with other types of sources, archival materials have three outstandingcharacteristics: they are direct, plentiful, and systematic. Historians of China have invariably paid attention to the use of archives; an...Compared with other types of sources, archival materials have three outstandingcharacteristics: they are direct, plentiful, and systematic. Historians of China have invariably paid attention to the use of archives; and many important historical wodrks haverelied extensively on them. We hope that society will continue to value its archival resources, opening them to scholars around the world; and that cooperation between thehistorical and archival fields will be strengthened, enhancing their mutual contributionto human civilization.展开更多
文摘Compared with other types of sources, archival materials have three outstandingcharacteristics: they are direct, plentiful, and systematic. Historians of China have invariably paid attention to the use of archives; and many important historical wodrks haverelied extensively on them. We hope that society will continue to value its archival resources, opening them to scholars around the world; and that cooperation between thehistorical and archival fields will be strengthened, enhancing their mutual contributionto human civilization.