21世纪初的中国古代史研究

新资料的刊布促使研究工作呈现出持续进步的态势,研究者的兴趣点更为广泛,以及研究理念和学科建设引起了学界的思考,这些是21世纪最初13年中国古代史研究的基本趋势。目前中国古代史领域面临的问题主要集中在如下方面：第一,研究工作多致力于对古代历史的重建,而对一些值得深入思考的重要理论问题着意有限。第二,由于缺乏问题意识,出现了研究工作立意有限的情形。第三,学术评论一直没有得到有效开展。第四,对新资料的使用存在一定程度的偏差。第五,在电子技术的背景下,提升研究者史识的紧迫性得到凸显。在未来的中国古代史研究中,我们需要打通不同研究领域的壁垒,思考学术研究的一些深层次问题,更多地关注中国历史上的重大问题,从而促进中国古代史研究质的飞跃。

Studies on the History of Ancient China in the beginning of 21st Century

The studies in the 21st century of the history of ancient China show a number of trends. First, the publication of newly discovered materials has contributed to the steady development of the research on the history of ancient China. Against this new background of historical knowledge, research on the whole is going deeper. Second, interests have expanded from traditional to new areas of research. Third, research concepts and the development of research principles has become a new concern of the academia, including the treatment of the newly discovered materials, the definition of the social morphology of ancient China, and the furthering of the research on traditional disciplines. One consensus among scholars is the 'long-time' and 'broad-space' study of history beyond the restraints of divisions between dynasties and geographical regions. The past 12 years of research have brought us judgments of historical details which are closer to the truth. New clues have emerged as to unresolved topics like legal forms, taxation systems, possession of land, etc. In the meanwhile, with more academic interaction on the international level, the issues of domestic research, while preserving our local characteristics, have become more universal and pioneering, for example, issues of ecology and environment, sex, diseases and cures in history, etc. have been explored, which demonstrates the vitality of the research on ancient Chinese history. At present, the field of research has to face and tackle five major issues: firstly, research has been devoted more to the reconstruction of ancient history than to important theories. Theoretically, we have abandoned inaccurate generalizations of Chinese history, but we have failed to produce more persuasive formulations at the same time. Secondly, at various periods in Chinese history, the topics of research have been observed to be limited due to the lack of a questioning attitude. Thirdly, academic criticism and a healthy mechanism have long been lacking. Fourthly, the employment of newly discovered materials is sometimes biased, as is exemplified by the exaggeration of their value by researchers and the researcher's desire to aggressively occupy an advantageous position. Lastly, electronic technology highlights the urgency of upgrading the researcher's knowledge of history. Future research calls for a breakdown of the barriers between different areas of research, more cooperation among scholars of different disciplines, greater courage to develop academic awareness, discussion of issues at deeper levels and more attention to major issues in Chinese history. All these are vital to the qualitative leap forward in the study of ancient Chinese history.