试述中国历史文献积聚与散佚的一般特征

历史文献在历史研究中起着极其重要的作用。中国古代历史文献数量浩大,其积聚与散佚始终并存,相互作用。其积聚过程有四个特征:一是历代统治阶级的重视;二是史官制度的完善;三是私人藏书的兴盛,四是造纸术与印刷术的推动。历史文献的散佚则有三个特点:一是由于战乱;二是版本之间的优胜劣汰;三是由于保管不善。

General Reasons of Collection and Anecdotes of the Document of Chinese History

The historical documents play an important part in the research of history. The number of the ancient historical documents of China is great and large. The collections of documents have always been together with anecdotes. There are four reasons during the collections: ( i )rulers named them; ( ii ) gradual improvement of the system called "Historical Officer System"; ( III ) the growing of private stores of collected books ; ( iv ) the promotion of the arts of paper-making and printing. There are three reasons about thd anecdotes: ( i ) beause of the constant wars; ( ii ) the survival of the finest among the editions; ( iii ) some historcal documents were not kept well in the stream of history.