The symposium on "The Present Situation and Prospect of Historical Documents and Ancient Society Research" co-sponsored by China Historical Research magazine and the Institute of Ancient Books of Jinan University was held in Guangzhou from June 25th to 27th. More than 80 experts from China Academy of Social Sciences, Nankai University, Sun Yat-sen University, Wuhan University, Nanjing University, Shanghai Normal University and Sichuan University attended the meeting, and * * * submitted 69 related papers. Chen Chunsheng, secretary of the Party Committee of Sun Yat-sen University, Xia Quan, deputy secretary of the Party Committee of Jinan University, secretary of the Discipline Inspection Commission, Peng Wei, editor-in-chief of China Historical Research, and Liu Zhenggang, director of the Institute of Ancient Books of Jinan University, pointed out in their opening speeches that historical documents are the foundation of historical research, and the era of big data has brought opportunities and challenges to the study of ancient history in China that cannot be ignored. With the continuous discovery of more new documents, especially the popularization of database and other application means, researchers need to have better historical knowledge and problem awareness. To deal with the relationship between handed down documents and unearthed new materials, we should not pay too much attention to new materials and ignore handed down documents; The writing of historical documents may have changed in different times. Historical researchers should do a good job of textual research and handle the relationship between pursuing small truth and big truth.

In the academic report and group discussion session of the conference, the participating scholars selected official history, anthology, local chronicles, archives, books and other handed down materials, as well as archaeological excavations, inscriptions, bamboo slips, etc., and had a heated discussion on how to promote the study of ancient society. Judging from the papers and discussions, this meeting has four characteristics:

First of all, this is an interdisciplinary academic seminar. The academic papers received at the conference involved different disciplines, such as history, philology, ethnology, anthropology, literature, archaeology and religion. Some scholars also submitted articles on how to deepen the study of China's ancient history in the era of big data, showing interdisciplinary characteristics, which played a positive role in broadening academic horizons, enriching research perspectives and learning from research methods among disciplines.

Second, handed down documents are as important as unearthed documents. Most scholars still focus on discovering new problems or reinterpreting historical documents handed down from ancient times. Some scholars attach importance to the utilization of newly discovered documents, such as discovering new discoveries of documents collected by relevant institutions such as South Korea, Britain, Germany and Japan, studying newly discovered contract documents in eastern Fujian, and some scholars attach importance to the utilization and interpretation of unearthed documents. Professor Cheng from the Institute of Classical Literature of Nanjing University believes that books are the first-hand materials to provide information about historical figures and events, and their historical materials, arts and cultural relics are very important. There are some difficulties in book sorting and publishing, such as illegible handwriting, difficult textual research of senders and recipients, difficult sorting of multi-page letters, and difficult identification of authenticity. It is necessary to combine the perspectives of historical documents, calligraphy art and stationery cultural relics to promote the research and utilization of a large number of historical books.

Third, pay attention to the use of a variety of documents for comparative study. The research of experts attending the meeting presents the characteristics of comparing traditional documents (such as official history, anthology, notes, local chronicles, etc.). ), folk literature (such as inscriptions, genealogy), newly unearthed materials, oral materials, research and discussion on a certain issue. For example, Professor Liu Yingsheng, a famous expert in Mongolian Yuan history, made a detailed comparison with Yuan History, Wu Shengzhi and Secret History of Mongolia about a record of Mongolian ancestors and Genghis Khan before the founding of the People's Republic of China in Chen Gui's A Mirror Supplement, and then made a detailed investigation on the related records, their spread and evolution. Taking the female official system in the early Ming Dynasty as an example, Professor Liu Zhenggang pointed out that local documents have important complementary and perfect value to the official history. Although some female officials have disappeared from the official history, their vivid images can be gradually restored through local chronicles, anthologies, inscriptions, genealogy and other materials.

Fourthly, some new views are put forward on the discussion of historical theories and methods. Such as the thinking of historical positivism, the thinking and understanding of the over-interpretation of the "double evidence law" existing in the current academic circles. Professor Zhao Yifeng of Northeast Normal University proposed to reflect on positivism in historical research. Taking the history of Qin and Han Dynasties as an example, Professor Peng Wei proposed that the relationship between handed down documents and new materials should be handled well. He believes that handed down documents are the basic context and space for us to construct the historical imagination of Qin and Han dynasties, and unearthed materials have important functions of correcting fallacies and connecting historical fragments, which are complementary rather than substitutes.