How do local chronicles reflect the richness of history and culture?

Local chronicles are one of the forms of traditional Chinese culture and are the result of the long and profound historical accumulation of the Chinese nation. Local chronicles are a special kind of history books, "officially compiled" love letters about the place, "a kind of writing with a special style, a comprehensive, systematic and scientific collection of the history and current situation of nature, humanity, society and economy in various regions of our country." Information on the state of the nation is also a book on the state of the nation that carries forward the past and opens up the future, serves the present, serves as a reference for future generations, and has unique historical, cultural and academic value."

1. Functions of local chronicles

(1) "Governance" function

The governance function of local chronicles means that local chronicles are comprehensive and systematic in terms of geographical conditions. Reflection provides a basis for leaders and decision-making organs to understand and grasp the terrain conditions, proceed from local realities, learn from the experiences and lessons of historical successes and failures, and make scientific decisions. Politicians in the past dynasties have attached great importance to the governance role of chronicles. When ** was working in Shanghai, he once pointed out: “The compilation of new local chronicles provides our party and government leaders with detailed and reliable market conditions, district conditions, and county conditions, and provides a basis for understanding, researching, and managing cities, as well as for local economic and social development. It provides a scientific basis for decision-making and plays a positive role in promoting reform and opening up, revitalizing and building Shanghai. Since the reform and opening up, some domestic and foreign merchants often ask for and purchase local chronicles and yearbooks whenever they visit to strengthen their understanding of the situation. Research and understanding of the investment environment. In recent years, party and government leaders in many places have given local chronicles and yearbooks as precious gifts to domestic and foreign guests as a means of self-promotion for various regions and departments in formulating development plans. The most convenient way to understand local advantages is to consult local chronicles. We can fully understand local resources, industrial and agricultural advantages from the detailed descriptions of local products, mineral deposits, specialties, and the history and current situation of economic construction. and disadvantages. If you master these situations, you can use your strengths and avoid weaknesses, give full play to your advantages, and formulate practical measures to achieve the best results.

(2) "Education" function

New. Local chronicles record real and rich information in all aspects, thus providing excellent local teaching materials for our patriotism and socialist education. ** said at the founding meeting of the Shanghai Local Chronicles Editorial Committee: "The new local chronicles, It is a realistic, vivid, friendly and persuasive teaching material for the general public, especially the younger generation, to educate the general public on adhering to the Four Basic Principles and on patriotism, socialism and revolutionary traditions. For example, the achievements of spiritual and material civilization created by the working people of our country recorded in the local chronicles, as well as the rich resources and magnificent mountains and rivers in various places, can enable the people, especially the young generation, to understand the long history of the Chinese nation, the splendid culture and the greatness of the motherland. , thereby enhancing national pride and national self-confidence. It can be seen from this that the "educational" function of local chronicles is obvious.

(3) "Historical Preservation" Function

Chronicles have important historical preservation value and can provide comprehensive, systematic, detailed and reliable historical data for future generations. Due to the nature and style of local chronicles, it is a cultural undertaking for contemporary people to record contemporary things. To study national and geographical conditions, local chronicles are indispensable. Especially when future generations formulate development strategies and measures, they can study and learn from the historical evolution of local things, the background, process and results of the rise and fall of changes, right and wrong, gains and losses, detours taken, and emergencies. What mistakes have been made, so that future generations can learn lessons, gain enlightenment and education, and not repeat the mistakes of the past. This reflects the value of "preserving history" of chronicles.

2. The role of local chronicles

(1) Local chronicles serve as a reference for leaders at all levels to make decisions

The things recorded in local chronicles range from their origins to their achievement. day, the ins and outs, and detailed records, providing relatively comprehensive and systematic historical and realistic information for various regions. This information is of great value to leading cadres in various regions for scientific decision-making. Some leading cadres said: "Chronicles help us grasp the historical trend from yesterday to today, and choose the best path from today to tomorrow." Chronicles have the convenience of a miniature archive, and having one volume in hand saves time. (2) Local chronicles serve the development of economic construction

Local chronicles of the past dynasties have recorded a lot of information about meteorology, natural disasters, mineral deposits, products, water conservancy, etc. Precious information. Since the 1950s, my country's scientific research institutions and relevant government departments have compiled these materials into "Two Thousand Years of Iron Ore Mining and Smelting in the Motherland", "China's Ancient Copper Mine Records", "Collection of Ancient Chinese Celestial Phenomenon Records" and "China Collections such as "Earthquake Historical Data Collection" have important reference value for my country's economic construction.

(3) Local chronicles provide important information for natural sciences and social science research.

Local chronicles are well-known. As an "encyclopedia", it is a three-dimensional writing covering astronomy, geography, meteorology, and geological mineral deposits. It is a comprehensive carrier of natural sciences and social sciences. It has a systematicness, completeness, and accuracy that other writings and publications cannot match. , authoritative, with both a macro overview of ancient and modern times and highly professional micro-subject materials, which provides information for scientific research or proposes research topics. In the field of social sciences, it plays a role in filling the gaps in the history of the country and providing a summary of the history of the country. It has been recognized by more and more people. The information on the natural and social conditions of various places recorded in local chronicles is far richer and more detailed than those recorded in official history, and it can serve the research of various disciplines.

For example, there are rich astronomical records in old chronicles. The Beijing Observatory extracted millions of words of astronomical data from many local chronicles and compiled them into the "Compilation of Chinese Astronomical Data." Local chronicles are not only historical evidence, but also background materials in media reports. For example, what is discovered or happened in a certain place is often said to be "according to local chronicles...". In terms of science and technology, architecture, folk customs, social life, etc., local chronicles are extremely rich in information and can provide valuable information for research in the history of science, architecture, folklore, ethnology, economics and other disciplines.

(4) Local chronicles provide rich materials for the development of tourism and the prosperity of literary and artistic creation

Local chronicles generally record local scenic spots and historic sites in detail. Local chronicles can be called a business card with pictures and texts. , simple and loyal tour guide. When Mr. Mao Dun, a famous Chinese writer, was the Minister of Culture, he suggested compiling information on places of interest and historical sites from local chronicles to serve the development of tourism. He said: "Our country's local chronicles have a long history and are of various types. The extensive collection of materials in the chronicles exceeds those recorded in official history, unofficial history, and predecessors' notes. It seems that it can organize manpower, that is, it can be organized according to the various interests of tourists in local chronicles. Fascinating people, write tour guides. "In recent years, relevant departments in Huize County have renovated the Jiangnan Guild Hall, Huguang Guild Hall, Sichuan Guild Hall, etc. based on old and new records, restoring traditional culture and promoting the development of the local tourism industry.

(5) Local chronicles serve local industrial and agricultural production

Local chronicles can provide important data for research on disaster prevention and relief. The records of natural disasters in local chronicles are regional, continuous and reliable, thus providing important research materials for people today to understand and grasp the status and certain laws of natural disasters in the region. This is crucial to reducing the damage caused by disasters to industry and agriculture and increasing the output value of industry and agriculture. Local chronicles can also provide reliable information for the planting of local crops and the development of new agricultural products. In addition, before carrying out basic projects such as water conservancy, construction, roads, bridges, etc., it is necessary to investigate and understand the local topography, geological structure, soil composition, hydrology and rainfall, etc. Local chronicles can play a certain reference role.

It can be seen that the role of local chronicles is all-round, and the above are just some of the aspects. With the development and progress of the times, the role of local chronicles in social production and life is becoming more and more important. We should seriously strengthen research so that the role of local chronicles can be fully exerted under new historical conditions and contribute to the construction of socialist cause. Local chronicles are one of the forms of traditional Chinese culture. New local chronicles inherit and develop traditional local chronicles and are an important part of the construction of advanced culture. Huize County is a national-level historical and cultural city. As local chroniclers working here, we must not only fully understand the important role of local chronicles in the construction of a famous historical and cultural city, but also have unshirkable responsibilities and obligations to give full play to the unique functions of local chronicles and let local chronicles This ancient traditional nation's unique cultural form radiates new light under new historical conditions, adding brilliance to the construction of a famous historical and cultural city.