A Review and a Prospect of the Historiography of Modern and Contemporary History of China

Historiography of China's modern and contemporary history is a theoretical and methodical science that studies the collection, textual criticism, classification and utilization of historical materials on China's modern and contemporary history. It is a fundamental theory study on history, compared with the concrete practice of the study on historical materials,and they are both relevant and different. The whole research field experienced the birth period before the establishment of new China, the early founding period during the initial stage of the People's Republic, the vigorous and rapid development since the reform and the opening to the outside world .It has now become a fundamental research system. At present, we ought to uphold Marxism's theoretical guidance, enlarge the research area, and perfect the research structure of the subject. We should assimilate the Chinese traditional and foreign historical research method, cultivate competent research professionals and make constant innovations for the promotion of the study on China's modern and contemporary history. It is important for us “to understand present from the historical perspectives”, “to provide political reference and education for people”, so that it can play a greater role in the construction of the socialism with Chinese Characteristics.