欧阳修论考史

欧阳修在长期从事文献史料的收集、整理和研究工作中,始终能够坚持创新与求实并重原则,在考史方面得出了一些新的观点和认识,即:考史应"不没其实",力求史实真相;"慎于传疑",不轻易下结论;"勇断不惑",敢于创发己见;"不苟立异",反对刻意标新;"切于人事",排斥天命神学,这些至今仍具有方法论的意义。

Ouyang Xiu on the Method of Textual Research in Historical Studies

During the process of collecting,arranging,and examining documents,Ouyang Xiu sticks to the principle that a scholar should be practical-minded when a new idea is brought forth.He puts some new views on checking the historical materials which are as follows:don't hide or neglect the truth and seek truth from the historical facts;refrain from any rash decision without sufficient evidence;be bold in bringing forth his own new ideas;put forward ones own doctrine without the special purpose to develop one's own unique style;conform to the ways of the world and fighting the divination combined with mystical confucianist belief.So far these methods are still of methodological significance.