An Analysis of Song Scholars' Exploration on the History of Han Dynasty

Researches on the history of Han Dynasty in the Northern Song,which supported the activities of checking the ancient books organized by the government,were mainly about examinations and corrections.However,from the late period of the Northern Song to the Southern Song,the works which combine textual research with demonstration,specializing in evaluating the historical events and figures,and attaching importance to the institutions of two Han Dynasties,became the mainstreams.Song scholars'exploration on the history of Han Dynasty was not only the forerunner of the school of complementing the historical materials but also the school of textual research for Ming and Qing Dynasties to follow.It was the beginning of reviewing The Records of the Historian.