本文论述了我国地方志的起源和性质,认为地方志是记述一定地域内自然与社会,历史与现状科学的资料性的独特的文字载体,具有其他文献不可代替的功用,并将它归纳为政府主修和私人著述两类,还提出了我国地方志发展所经历的主要阶段。

The origination and characteristic features of the ancient local chronicles in China are described in the essay. Based on the description the essay proceeds to define them, assuming that they are the documentation of the physical environment, social constitution as well as the historical and contemporary development in certain areas. The essay believes that the ancient local chronicles are a singular vehicle of the state of affairs in those places, which are scientific and resourceful and cannot be replaced by other literature. In conclusion, it divides the chronicles into two categories:that by the government and that by the individuals; it also generalizes the four phases in their development.