《清季外交史料》的成书历程及其价值、特色

《清季外交史料》由王彦威、王亮父子辑编,该书出版,使晚清外交的官方档案文献得以合成完璧。其成书,耗时近半个世纪,王氏父子做出了巨大的努力和贡献。其内容主要为光绪、宣统两朝各种外交事件,另涉及相关的重要内政。其中尤为重视约章,扣住晚清外交最重要环节,反映了中外条约关系的变化和时代需要。所辑文件为官方档籍,不仅对当时外交起了资鉴作用,且对研究晚清中外关系史具有极高的文献史料价值。编纂体例上,既承袭了传统体裁,又有新创,增加了新的表述形式。作为一部史料汇编,该书亦有时代的局限,存在种种不足和不当之处。

On the Forming Process of The Historical Materials of Diplomacy of Late Qing Dynasty and Its Value and Characteristics

The Historical Materials of Diplomacy of Late Qing Dynasty,whose publication brought about a thorough accom-plishment of the official diplomatic archives and documents,was compiled by Wang Yan-wei and his son Wang Liang. It took Wang and his son nearly half century to complete the book and they had made great efforts and contributions. The contents mainly contain all kinds of the diplomatic events in both Guangxu and Xuantong imperial courts,and the relevant important in-ternal affairs as well. Treaties and rules were the key parts of the late Qing Dynasty’ s diplomacy,which reflected the change of sino-foreign treaty relations and the needs of the times. What was compiled was official documents and files,which not only played a reference role to the current diplomacy but also brought a high value of documents and historical materials to whoever would do research on the sino-foreign treaty relations. As far as the compilation style was concerned,it followed the traditional types of literature,and in addition, the new forms of expression were absorbed. As a assembly compilation, the book has its shortcomings and deficiencies.