Ancient Historical Texts (Ming and Qing Volume 1 and 2)

Author: Compiled by the Institute of History, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2004-11-01
Features: Over ten years ago, our institute invited colleagues to select three papers each, compiling them into a volume as an academic archive. However, due to the substantial length and constraints of the time, it was not published. This year, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of our institute's establishment, we reduced the scale of selection and invited colleagues to compile this collection once again. On one hand, it serves to celebrate the anniversary; on the other hand, it allows us to glimpse the academic pursuit of several generations of scholars for truth-seeking.
The authors of this collection are all researchers and associate researchers of our institute. Active and retired colleagues selected one paper each, while deceased teachers were assisted by relevant experts to select one as well, totaling 180 papers. However, due to various constraints, except for a few teachers, most papers are within 10,000 words. Therefore, some excellent papers with slightly larger lengths were not included, and they cannot fully represent the representative works of our colleagues. Additionally, some researchers were unable to submit papers on time due to various reasons, and as the publication is imminent, we had to make some sacrifices.
The papers in this collection span from the pre-Qin period to the Ming and Qing dynasties, generally categorized by historical periods, forming four volumes: the Pre-Qin Volume, the Qin, Han, Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties Volume, the Sui, Tang, Song, Liao, Jin, and Yuan Dynasties Volume, and the Ming and Qing Dynasties Volume. Some comprehensive topics that defy period boundaries are grouped under a general category and placed at the beginning of the volumes.
Historical research is a rigorous and creative endeavor, demanding that every word be supported by evidence and every sentence have a source. The discipline's inherent characteristics dictate that historical research must start from historical materials, rely on solid academic foundations, proceed with diligence and pragmatism, and reject any form of falsification or exaggeration.
Historical research is also a part of the great cause of building socialism with Chinese characteristics. The mission of academia and the responsibility of society require historians to stand with the times, serve the people, and adhere to using Marxist perspectives, viewpoints, and methods to guide our academic practice. Our research must respect history and pursue truthfulness.
The 50 years of the Institute of History have been a process of arduous struggle. Over the past half-century, generations of historians have worked tirelessly and devotedly here for the academic cause of the nation and its people. In the future, we will continue to do so, using our creative labor to contribute to the theoretical innovation of Marxism in China, the further development and prosperity of philosophy and social sciences in our country, and the great cause of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects for the Chinese nation. We will keep learning, keep contributing, and keep contributing.