In the process of the formation and development of local chronicles, with the gradual deepening of local chronicles practice, people constantly sum up their experience and begin to discuss local chronicles theoretically. This theory was preliminary and scattered at first, and then it was gradually systematized, and finally local chronicles were formed.

Zheng Xuan in Han Dynasty explained the concepts of "local records", "local records" and "world map" mentioned in Zhou Li, which had a great influence on later historians. In the Southern Dynasties, Ye Fan also mentioned the contents and types of the Records of the Second Han Dynasty in the Biography of the Western Regions. When describing the material selection of Huayang Guozhi in Jin Dynasty, Changqu thought that a single record of history, geography or people in Fang could not reflect the whole picture of a region, and put forward the idea of trinity of history, geography and people. In the Tang Dynasty, Li Jifu believed that the compilation of local chronicles should be based on "hills and mountains, mountains and rivers, and the interests of the offensive and defensive", not on ancient and modern times. Sui Shu Jing Ji Zhi systematically discusses the evolution and origin of local chronicles and geography books before the Tang Dynasty, which provides important information for future generations to study the development history of local chronicles.

In the Song Dynasty, the content and style of local chronicles were gradually fixed, and local chroniclers in the Song Dynasty also discussed the theory of local chronicles in many aspects. For example, regarding the nature of local chronicles, there are many opinions that local chronicles are the development of ancient geography books, "The county has aspirations and the country has a history" (Zheng Xingyi's Preface to Guangling Records), and local chronicles are comprehensive in ancient books. Regarding the role of local chronicles, it is generally mentioned that local chronicles are used as reference and education; In the compilation of local chronicles, the principles of emphasizing facts, right and wrong, enriching customs and expressing talents and feelings are put forward, as well as the steps of compiling local chronicles such as setting an example, dividing tasks, searching widely and inquiring in detail. The local chroniclers in this period mainly include Ma Guangzu, Zhu, Zheng Xingyi, Dong Yuan, Zhang Wei and Zhou, and the local chronicles theory is mostly reflected in the preface of some local chronicles.

Local chroniclers in Yuan Dynasty made many innovations in compiling local chronicles. For example, Zhang Xuan put forward the style of using historical records in the revision of the Annals of Jinling in Zheng Zhi: firstly, textual research, secondly, general history, with representation, chronology and biography in the middle, and finally, leaving behind; The purpose of the application of Historical Records in the unified chronicle is: to study the relationship between heaven and man, change the ancient and modern times, and form a unified statement; Writing records and applying writing style with faith and history: not empty beauty, not hiding evil; Continued recording should be detailed today and slightly ancient. This period also saw the emergence of local chroniclers such as Huang Cheng, Yang Jingde, Yang and Ouyang Xuan. This paper further discusses the nature, source and function of local chronicles.

Local chroniclers in Ming Dynasty generally classify local chronicles and historical books as similar works, and the origin of local chronicles is more detailed. In the compilation of local chronicles, it takes straightforward expression and strict freehand brushwork as the standard of good ambition, and puts forward the principles of "three good", "three long", "four precious" and "seven not writing", which has reached a higher level. Yang Yiqing, Zhang Jiamo, Yang Tinghe, Li Weizhen, Yao Jiuhong, Lu Huai and other local chroniclers have all developed the theory of local chronicles in their own practice.

Famous scholars such as Fang Bao, Dai Zhen, Qian Daxin, Hong and Zhang Xuecheng participated in the compilation of local chronicles during the period of Ganjia in Qing Dynasty. They put their academic viewpoints into practice, discussed and debated the theory of local chronicles repeatedly, gradually formed various schools, published some monographs on local chronicles, and finally local chronicles were born. The schools of local chronicles in Qing Dynasty are mainly textual research school and historical records school. Textual research school, also known as geography school, compilation school or old school, is represented by Dai Zhen, Hong and Li Zhaoluo. They despise the originality, complexity and absurdity of local chronicles since the Ming Dynasty, and advocate that textual research should be used to guide the research and compilation of local chronicles. They believe that in the compilation of local chronicles, it is more important to follow tradition than innovation, and to believe books rather than rumors. We should collect old documents extensively and record their sources in detail in order to win trust. They pay special attention to the textual research of geographical evolution and use it as a standard to measure local chronicles. The Historical Records School, also known as the historical school, the literary school or the new school, is represented by Zhang Xuecheng. He made a serious study on the nature, style, function and compilation of local chronicles, and formed a systematic theory of local chronicles. He believes that local chronicles belong to history, "it is the whole history of one side" and "it is not specialized in geography", and denies that textual research on geographical evolution is the standard to measure the quality of local chronicles. From this point of view, he thought that local chronicles should use historical style and designed the structure of "three books" and "four styles". The "three books" are: "the body of imitating official history, the body of writing records, the body of imitating laws and regulations, the body of making anecdotes, and the body of imitating literary elements." ("Three Books Parting Local Records") Four-body refers to: "Celebrating the emperor's kindness as a discipline, the official is divided into scores, the legal system of ancient books is tested, and the famous officials are passed down." This is an important contribution to the theory of local chronicles. He also believes that local chronicles and local chronicles are self-contained and have their own examples, which cannot be separated and supplemented each other; It is pointed out that prefectures and counties should establish the compilation of local chronicles as law, editors should be well versed in historical style and be knowledgeable, knowledgeable and fair, and scholars should not participate in the compilation of local chronicles. In the compilation of local chronicles, he put forward four standards: simplicity, strictness, core and elegance, and demanded that the "five difficulties" and "eight taboos" be removed. Zhang Xuecheng's theory is embodied in his papers "Revising Local Records with Dai Dongyuan", "On the Separation of Three Books Local Records", "On the Style of Local Records", "On the Deliberation of Counties and Counties" and "Ten Discussions on the Revision of Local Records", which was included in the external edition of his book "Literature and History" and became the first monograph on local records theory. Zhang Xuecheng himself is recognized by modern scholars as the founder of China local chronicles. In addition to literature and history in general, many scholars in Qing Dynasty also published monographs on local chronicles, such as Dai Zhen and Duan Ruoying's On County Records, Lu's Twenty Records of Lingshou, Zhu's On Editing Records, Cheng's On Editing Records, Liu's On County Records, Wang Shu and so on.

During the Republic of China, under the influence and promotion of modern scientific research methods, the theory of local chronicles has made great progress, mainly in: 1. Established an independent discipline system. 1924, Liang Qichao published the article "The Total Achievement of Qing Dynasty Scholars in Sorting out Old Learning-Local Records" in Oriental Magazine, clearly put forward the concept of local records, and urged Zhang Xuecheng to be the founder of local records in China. 2. There are many works that systematically summarize the theory of local chronicles, such as Local Chronicles by Fu Zhenlun, China Local Chronicles by Gan, Local Chronicles Today, and Local Chronicles by Shou Pengfei. In addition to Liang Qichao's Local Records, there are Wang Baoxin's Local Records (Anya No.4-6, No.8, 12) and Yu Nairen's Local Records (Jianguo 1 2). Zhang Xuecheng's monographs on local chronicles theory include cutie's Zhang Shizhai's Local Chronicles Theory (Volume II No.9), and cutie also compiled Zhang Shizhai's Collection of Local Chronicles. 3. He has published many articles about the compilation and comments of new local chronicles, trying to compile local chronicles with new methods of modern science, such as Zhicheng Deng's A Case Study of Local Chronicles (No.4-5, Volume 9, Journal of Geosciences), Wu Jingchao's Reconstruction of China County Chronicles (No.60, Independent Review) and Fu Zhenlun's A Brief Introduction to New Local Chronicles (No.4-5, Journal of Geosciences).

Since the founding of New China, the large-scale compilation of new local chronicles has promoted the discussion of local chronicles theory, surpassing the past in depth and breadth. He has carried out local chronicles research, local chronicles history, local chronicles basic theory, local chronicles compilation, local chronicles application and local chronicles review, and published nearly 10,000 academic papers and a large number of monographs. For example, Fu Zhenlun's China Local Records, An Introduction to China Local Records, An Introduction to China Local Records, An Outline of China Local Records, An Introduction to Lin Yanjing's Local Records, A Collection of Local Records by Huang Wei, An Introduction to New Local Records by He, and A Study of China Local Records by Huang Dexin. At the same time, academic activities are also widely carried out. In addition to the professional academic publication China Local Records, provinces and cities also have their own professional journals. In addition, all kinds of newly compiled local chronicles compilation conferences and training courses are also being held or held continuously. The study of local chronicles has become a cause of concern to the whole society.