Here is the English translation of the provided content: "Coming to Xin Xia Volume - Scholarly Musings of a Gray-haired Head"

Author: Lai Xinxia
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2006-10-01
Features: Reflections on the compilation of local chronicles in the new century—sending out the old and welcoming the new—is a historical necessity. However, what was done in the old century and what will be done in the new are important questions that everyone should consider. As we face the arrival of the new century, the field of local chronicle compilation must not only look back at the past but also look forward to the future. The first new local chronicle initiative over the past nearly half-century can be said to have achieved remarkable success and abundant results. This is an undeniable fact that is evident to all. Thousands of new local chronicles, hundreds of specialized works on local chronicle studies, and tens of thousands of papers have left scholars both in China and abroad in awe. This is a grand textual project in contemporary China. According to official statistics, by the 50th National Day anniversary, approximately 4,000 new local chronicles had been published, achieving two-thirds of the target of 6,000. It reflects the unprecedented prosperity of the new initiative in local chronicle compilation, reaching a new height in history.
There are three noteworthy aspects of the second initiative in local chronicle compilation:
1. Overall planning with decentralized execution.
2. Comprehensive coverage with emphasis on distinctive features.
3. A strong sense of the times.
However, there are also some shortcomings, such as inconsistent formats, uneven chronological boundaries, excessive word counts, and a long gap between manuscript completion and publication. Some have said, "The quality of the published chronicles is uneven, and the shortcomings and issues in some of them are still quite prominent, such as inaccuracies in historical facts, improper selection, imprecise language, sloppy proofreading, and even an unobjective account of certain historical events and figures." These problems can be analyzed one by one, but they should not be used as grounds for harsh criticism of the first initiative in local chronicle compilation by those who claim to be authorities. Instead, an objective and thorough study of the second initiative should be conducted to summarize its experiences and lessons, which can then be used to guide the challenges faced in the second initiative. This is the great task the new century has given us.
However, the new century awaits an even greater task: how to compile the second set of local chronicles. Official and many chroniclers have referred to this as "continuation," but this term is inaccurate and impractical. Since local chronicles are compiled every 20 years, an endless cycle of "continuations" would create certain complications for future generations. The term "continuation" is neither simply a "continuation" that only connects with the previous set of chronicles in terms of time, nor a complete negation of the former ("recompilation"). Instead, it should be a new initiative in local chronicle compilation that includes revisions, continuity, and innovation. Therefore, naming it the "Second Initiative in Local Chronicle Compilation" is more practical and operationally feasible.
However, there are still differing opinions on this issue, such as:
1. Some believe that "continuation" is the same as "new compilation." This may hold some truth in a certain sense, as the second initiative will undoubtedly have innovative aspects, but it cannot entirely overlook the inheritance from the previous initiative. Replacing "continuation" with "new compilation" may easily confuse concepts. After all, when the first initiative was launched, there was a slogan: "Summarize the old chronicles and compile the new." Moreover, "new" and "old" are relative concepts. If the second initiative is called "new chronicles," should all future "continuations" also be referred to as "new chronicles"?
2. Some argue that the first initiative in local chronicle compilation lacked sufficient theoretical and material preparation, with outdated format designs, and many chronicles did not meet the requirements of newly compiled chronicles. Therefore, "continuation" should involve a comprehensive revision that spans the past and the present. This clearly shows a lack of full understanding of...