How to transcend the crisis of historiography

Zheng Yiwei, an eclectic school of Nangang: Because it inherited three academic resources: firstly, the "Nangao School" (also known as the "Peking School"), Guo Tingyi graduated from Nanjing Normal University (predecessor of Nanjing University) and inherited its excellent tradition of attaching importance to historical materials; The second is the oral history research of Columbia University; The third is the Overseas China Studies introduced by Fei Zhengqing of Harvard University, which is different from Sinology and is the mainstream of American studies on China. In fact, Nangang School was also influenced by the historical language, attaching importance to historical materials, but overcoming its tendency of overemphasizing historical materials. Zheng Yiwei: The study of modern history in mainland China relatively ignores historical materials and emphasizes historical views. Until today, few scholars like Yang Tianshi have really settled down to collect and study historical materials. In addition, the international vision is insufficient, which has improved since the 199 s. On the whole, we emphasize theory, few researchers comb materials, and pay little attention to oral history. Nangang School relied on overseas funds when it was founded, so it has close international academic exchanges and is good at accepting and transforming other people's cutting-edge research results. The Nangang School is worth paying attention to. It has been squeezed in many ways in Taiwan Province. First, the scientism school of the Institute of History and Language equates history with historical materials, and relatively ignores the practice of learning. As can be seen from the book Nangang Style of Study, the two sides are still worried about the friction of that year; The second is the revolutionary historical view of the Kuomintang, which interprets modern history as the revolutionary history of the Kuomintang and represents modern history with party history. Under all kinds of pressures, Nangang School still adhered to the spirit of learning people to rule history, and finally became the representative school of Taiwan Province historiography after 198s. Zheng Yiwei: Taking Zhang Pengyuan as an example, he took the study of the Revolution of 1911 as a breakthrough, hooked up the contribution of the "Constitutionalists" and completed three books: Liang Qichao and the Qing Revolution, the Constitutionalists and the Revolution of 1911 and Liang Qichao and the Politics of the Republic of China. After the first book was finished, it was suppressed by the Kuomintang authorities and the Kuomintang revolutionary historical view, because it completely subverted the views of the Kuomintang Party History School on the Revolution of 1911, and was published with the support of Guo Tingyi. Another example is Zhang Yufa's Revolutionary Groups in the Qing Dynasty and Constitutional Groups in the Qing Dynasty, which shows the complex factors behind the Revolution of 1911, not the work of the League, but the "national revolution". Take the "Three People's Principles" as an example. The "Three People's Principles" was not systematic at the initial stage. Due to Liang Qichao's constant criticism in Xinmin Congbao, Wang Jingwei and Feng Ziyou were forced to participate in the debate, and the theoretical framework was gradually completed in the debate. Obviously, Liang Qichao's contribution was very great, but in the past, Liang Qichao was "counter-revolutionary" and was artificially distorted. These studies have a high level, a wide field of vision, and attach importance to historical materials, which can be used for reference by mainland academic circles. Today, some mainland scholars, such as Yang Tianshi and Yang Kuisong, also attach great importance to the study of historical materials, which is also an important reason why they have achieved high-level research results and are loved by readers. Scholars on both sides of the strait share the same concern Zheng Yiwei: Looking through this library, we will find that the three generations of scholars of Nangang School are deeply concerned about the suffering and trauma of modern China, and are thinking hard about the reasons. They are also pursuing the revival of Chinese civilization. In the historical research, the emotional motivation of the two sides of the strait is the same. From these emotional similarities, it can be constructed as an academic isomorphism and an ideological isomorphism, and this unified trend is of great value. The research of Nangang School is systematic, and in a sense, it is a bit like the contemporary Zi Zhi Tong Jian. For example, the views of "gradual reform" put forward by Mr. Huang Kewu are of great reference value at present. When talking about cross-strait academic cooperation, he said: "I think a better starting point should be to seek * * * knowledge from the ideological resources of Liang Qichao, Zhang Jian and Yan Fu in the late Qing Dynasty, to carry forward the realistic constitutionalism in the late Qing Dynasty, to set an example of the cultural concept of carrying forward the past and the adjustment direction of gradual reform, which may be the place where it is easier for the two sides to reach * * * knowledge." Academic Achievements Concentrate on the Mainland Zheng Yiwei: Today, ordinary readers in Taiwan Province are not interested in the study of Xinhai, and related research has lost its market. However, the mainland has paid more attention to this. The ideological market of overseas scholars including Yu Yingshi has gradually turned to the mainland, and outstanding academic achievements of Chinese are increasingly concentrated on the mainland, focusing more and more on thinking about national rejuvenation. Our library can be described as timely. Zheng Yiwei: In fact, this library is not difficult to read. For example, Mr. Chen Sanjing's On the History of the Four Branches of the Stream focuses on the international factors in the modern changes. The titles of the articles in the book are all wonderful, such as "Enemy?" Friends? Chiang Kai-shek's Love-Hate Complex for Japan, Chiang Kai-shek's View of Japan in the Early Northern Expedition, Consumption Habits and Economic Development of Modern Shanghainese, Shanghai's Prosperity and Vicissitudes, etc., can be read by ordinary readers, but I'm afraid they won't turn it inside. In the future, we can discuss with the author and make some titles look better. Zheng Yiwei: Mr. Chen Sanjing analyzed the reasons in an article. There are many researchers in mainland China's modern history, far more than Taiwan Province, but the number of famous people is almost equal to that of Taiwan Province. Chen Sanjing believes that in terms of research resources, the mainland has insufficient funds, especially in the 199s, when "everything is money-oriented", many humanities and social science research institutions were forced to generate their own income, and even rented conference rooms to engage in karaoke, resulting in the so-called "poverty of philosophy, degradation of literature and poverty of history". This situation has only changed in recent years. In contrast, there are many related funds in Taiwan Province, and scholars have air-conditioned offices. Many mainland scholars can only study at home. In addition, there are many funds for publishing in Taiwan Province, so the chances of getting funding are high, and researchers are well paid. The income of distinguished researchers in Academia Sinica is 3-5 times that of ordinary researchers. Young researchers have works awards, but they are only awarded to people below associate researchers, with an annual income of NT$ 3,. Enterprises have lectures on outstanding talents, and participants can get NT$ 5,-1,, per year for five years in a row. Coupled with the Zhongshan Academic Works Award, scholars are rewarded handsomely. There are too many historians in mainland China, and it is hard to find a job. Since graduation, ordinary people have to change careers and go to the sea. If they are middle-class, they will find a transitional shelter, and they will be overqualified. Only the best people can do research, and they will be treated as much as the bench. They have to endure loneliness and endure for many years before they can get ahead. All these have affected the achievements of scholars. Academic exchanges are necessary. There are many academic exchanges between Taiwan Province and the West. Over the years, the mainland has increased this, but there are more opportunities for famous scholars, and it is difficult for ordinary scholars to obtain relevant resources. Zheng Yiwei: There is a risk of historical crisis on both sides of the strait. Under the conditions of putting science and technology first, attaching importance to practicality and implementing market economy, humanities, especially history, are not paid enough attention, which is the main influencing factor. Historiography is difficult to make a fortune on both sides of the strait, and its future is not dazzling. In Taiwan Province, historiography is greatly influenced by politics, especially by "Taiwan independence", which inclines to local history research in funding, resulting in trivial research, lack of grand vision, mostly thematic history and regional history, which has little to do with society. History for history's sake, the influence of disciplines has become smaller, and there is a lack of continuity. However, mainland studies have a relatively grand vision, so cross-strait academic cooperation is very important, which is beneficial to both sides. In fact, even in the United States, there is a crisis in historical research, because the faculty competition in universities is too fierce, and scholars have no time to do their own research. They can only maintain the situation by constantly publishing papers in core journals until they get a professorship, but they will soon retire. In East Asian studies, many American universities have only one professorship, and the old ones have not retired, and the young people can't get on no matter how high their academic level is. Like Mr. Huang Renyu, because new york University cancelled the relevant positions, they were unemployed at the age of 6. In contrast, the academic environment in Taiwan Province is relatively relaxed. As long as the level is sufficient, scholars have no worries. Once mainland universities enter, there is no risk of unemployment. This aspect is better than the west. There is no contradiction between specialty and popularity Zheng Yiwei: These scholars strive to popularize their writing, and the titles of the articles are all very interesting. They are very good-looking academic books. Readers who have a certain reading experience know that reading this collection of essays often gains more, because popular history and general history need a lot of pen and ink to describe what you know, while papers are concise, focused and more thoughtful. Zheng Yiwei: Actually, from the market point of view, young people who are concerned about academic publishing have emerged in recent years, but there has been no serious shrinkage. This is related to our cultural tradition, and China people have always paid more attention to history. Today, young people play games, such as "Killing the Three Kingdoms", which is quite popular. The environment on campus is relatively simple. Young people often start with heroic legends. As they go to society and encounter setbacks, they will pay attention to topics such as how China will develop, and they will take the initiative to read history and seek experiences and lessons from history. Therefore, the popularization of our history is motivated. The market of modern history and contemporary history has not shrunk, but many bestsellers have been produced. Yang Kuisong once said that this was unimaginable a few years ago. Let more young people read professional history writing, which needs the help of the media. China readers like history, and when they have a little leisure time, they will read it. If TV and newspapers can be promoted more, professional writing will rise. I'm not so pessimistic about the market prospect of serious books. China has a large population, so many liberal arts students are trained every year, and it has realistic motivation. I believe everything will get better gradually. Chen Hui/Wen Zhengyiwei: Senior book editor, now working in Kyushu Publishing House.