The transformation of modern Chinese historiography needs to be examined in the context of the overall transformation of modern Chinese society, states Shu Xilong in his article in “Hebei Academic Journal” 2024 first issue. As he points out, special attention shall be paid to the indigenous factors of historiographical transformation and the continuity of historiographical development. By deeply exploring the truth of the transformation of modern Chinese historiography from the perspectives of both indigenous and external factors, we should emphasize not only the “otherness” in the process of historiographical transformation but also never overlook the “modern factors” in traditional historiography.
The transformation of modern Chinese historiography is based on the integration of achievements in both Chinese and Western academia and selectively constructed according to the internal needs of the country. If we only focus on the role of Western academic inputs and ignore the “modern factors” in traditional Chinese academia, we will inevitably fall into the explanatory model of Western cultural centrism.