Abstract：Zhang Shunhui’s scholarly interest covered many dimensions， focusing mainly on Chinese history and the study of Chinese language and characters. His achievements in historical studies were an integral part of his comprehensive academic research， therefore， should be studied as a whole. His historiography was deeply affected by the historical changes in the past century， as well as his identity as a scholar from Hunan province where local intellectuals celebrated the pragmatic functions of academic research. Based on his vernacular identity and his understanding of the present， Zhang shunhui developed his fundamental historical view—people’s history. Zhang Shunhui tried to graft traditional historiography with historical materialism， commended general history， progress， and practice， forged a new general history of the people， and formed his own academic characteristics integrating the old and the new. He criticized and interpreted history independently， despite conventions or prevalent trends. In his deeds and life， he nourished his mind with moral principles. Zhang Shunhui’s self-contradiction and scholarly exploration also reflected the conflict and anxiety of the intellectuals of his generation.
2021, Vol. 60 
