1, direct and indirect differences

Generally speaking, historical materials are divided into primary materials and secondary materials. The former refers to the historical materials that are close to or directly generated from the time when history occurred, which can be used as the historical basis more directly, while the latter refers to the research and interpretation made by later generations using first-hand historical materials, but the boundary between the two is often not clear (for example, Historical Records can hardly be said to be first-hand or second-hand historical materials).

2. Differences in status

First-hand historical materials are of high value, so we need to be more cautious when using second-hand historical materials.

Extended data

In the 1980s, Rong Mengyuan, a famous historian in China, divided historical materials into four categories, which is generally considered to be a more comprehensive and reasonable traditional classification of historical materials.

The first category is books and newspapers, including historical records, historical works, document compilation and group members outside the history department.

The second category is documents, including government documents, group documents and private documents.

The third category is physical objects, including production tools, means of subsistence and relics of historical events.

The fourth category is word of mouth, including memoirs, investigation records, mass legends and literary works.

In addition to the above four historical materials, there are other historical materials, as follows

1. Images: such as paintings, murals, embroidery patterns, etc. It is helpful to understand people's life and aesthetics at that time. The most famous historical image is The Riverside Scene at Qingming Festival, which helps to study the urban life in Song Dynasty.

2. Physical objects: including ancient buildings, furniture, clothes, utensils, ornaments, coins and tombs, used to discuss people's lives and concepts at that time. Most of these historical materials were excavated by archaeology.

3. Custom category: Based on the observation of today's popular custom culture, it is the basis for discussing historical phenomena. For example, by studying the folk belief rituals left over from today, we can understand the ancient situation. Or from the study of primitive people that still exists today, we can infer the lifestyle of early ancients.

4, including inscriptions, epitaphs, genealogy, etc.

References:

Baidu encyclopedia-historical materials