Journal paper

Issue No.	No. 34
Title	The Historical Tradition of “To Have a Thorough Knowledge of the Changes from Ancient Times to the Present”
Author	Lin Shi-Min
Page	35-58
Abstract	In Chinese history, since Ssu-ma Chien proposed “To explore the relationship between the nature and the society, to have a thorough knowledge of the changes from ancient times to the present, and to write a book of one’s own,” most of the scholars of later generations took it to be the criterion, executed it accordingly, and nobody exceeded it. This celebrated dictum of Ssu-ma Chien became the major principle of history, and one of the important traditional inheritance. 　　Besides exploring how Ssu-ma Chien achieved the ideal of “To have a thorough knowledge of the changes from ancient times to the present” in his book “The Historical Records,” the article analyzed the representative historians of all the past dynasties, such as Liu Zhiji Chi, Tu Yu, Ssu-ma Kuang, Zheng Qiao, and Zhang Xuecheng, and the gists of their books. I found that vertically from Han Dynasty to the modern times, the thought of “Tong-bian (to have a thorough knowledge of the changes)” that was derived from the same origin has extended continuously and ceaselessly. Horizontally, the historians were specialized in diverse fields such as the general history of Ji-jhuan-ti (the style emphasized the individuals and their performances), the historical criticism and theory, the general history of Dian-jhih-ti (the style of institutions and systems), and the general history of Bian-nian-ti (of chronological style); based on them, the historians established their reputation, and became famous in all ages. I observed that although the items of their accomplishments were different, the basic principle/ method of Tong-bian (to have a thorough knowledge of the changes) actually originated from Ssu-ma Chien’s ideal of “To have a thorough knowledge of the changes from ancient times to the present” in his book “The Historical Records.” Therefore, we shall know that for us to study the history today, we shall not neglect this guide of thought.
Keyword	：To have a thorough knowledge of the changes from ancient times to the present, Tong-bian (to have a thorough knowledge of the changes), Huei-tong (to understand thoroughly), tradition
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