從《歷代三寶記》論費長房的史學特質及意義=A Discussion of the Historical Significance and Special Historiographic Qualities of the Record of the Three Precious Ones in History by Fei Ch'ang-fang
Scholars in the past have all used the bibliographic method of researching The Record of the Three Precious Ones in History. The present article involves, however，an attempt to analyze the above book by means of a historical perspective. The result of such an analysis reveals the dual nature of five clearly-defined and particular characteristics of the book：1) The coexistence of spurious legends and historical facts; 2) the combined use of falsified and objectively-pursued knowledge; 3) supra-experiential and experiential interpretations of history; 4) philosophical outlooks of the world，one with China and the other with India as the center; and 5) value judgments of the orthodox and unorthodox in terms of both government and religion. This kind of phenomenon is the result of the interaction of three formidable factors：1) historical thought in Chinese customs and traditions, 2) Buddhist thought，and 3) imperial oppression. The historical significance this represents is that 1) In the field of historiography，imperial power gradually came to control Buddhist historiography; but 2) the autonomous nature of the latter was not completely lost as its proponents still fought，within a limited area, imperial oppression; consequently，3) in comparison with contemporary Confucian scholars, Buddhist historians pursued knowledge with even greater fervor.
