Professor Tong Xiangqing, Academic Vice Dean of the School of Humanities and Head of the History Department at Zhejiang University City College, at the invitation of the School of Humanities, delivered a lecture titled “Basic Literacy in Historical Research: Insights from Newly Unearthed Song Dynasty Materials” on November 3. The lecture was chaired by Zhang Chengzhong, Specially Appointed Professor and History Department Head at Taizhou University.

Professor Tong began humorously, stating he “might never climb out of the tomb pit,” reflecting his cautious outlook on Song epitaph research and prompting students to consider essential skills for historical inquiry. He analyzed current Song epitaph studies and conventional research methods. Contrasting transmitted and unearthed epitaphs, he raised key questions: Why prioritize new materials? Why might one person have two epitaphs? Using Wang Anshi’s father Wang Yi’s epitaph as an example, he vividly illustrated the epitaph creation process and its potential variations, reconstructing the context and constraints faced by historical figures, offering a nuanced understanding of epitaphs as historical sources.

Summarizing historical methodology, Professor Tong emphasized that materials aren’t inherently new or old; the researcher’s perspective matters most. He urged students to read primary sources intensively, think deeply, identify meaningful questions within basic materials, and cultivate the scholarly ethos of “enduring long solitude for rigorous research.”

Attendees at the lecture

The Q&A session featured lively discussion on historical research. Professor Tong encouraged broad reading now to build a solid foundation for future historical study.

This lecture provided valuable guidance for history students, enhancing their ability to interpret and utilize historical materials. It is hoped that students will immerse themselves in sources, becoming rigorous yet thoughtful historians who can clarify narratives and impart deeper meaning to human civilization.