宋代是史學極盛的時代，不僅超越漢唐，而且凌駕元明，甚至清代史學亦有所不及。宋代史學的特質可述者有四：(一)向博徵與考信。史學著作徵引浩博，體大思精，考證謹嚴，如司馬光修成《資治通鑑》，自為《考異》。(二)經世與義理。歷史在述人事，前代治亂足為今日之鑑戒。而人事之善惡是非尤賴辨明，方為對後世有益，故應重義理。(三)承舊與創新，承襲前代的編年體和紀傳體，並恢宏了編年史體，更進而創綱目體和紀事本末體。(四)貫古與通今，宋代史家長於考證古史，亦重通史，以求通古今之變，尤其對本朝史的纂修成就最偉。宋代史學家強調正統，嚴於忠奸之辨，對後世史學精神之重視，倫理觀念之提升，極有貢獻。他們所創的新史體，更為元明清史學家所繼承。而對於其本朝史之纂修，元明清三朝之史學家都遠不如宋代。所以在我國兩千多年的史學發展史中，宋代史學的特質及其影響是最值得研究的。

The study of history during the Song Dynasty thrived to an extent unseen before and since. Among its special features are: (1) wide references and extensive textual research; (2) emphasis upon the application of historical knowledge and perspectives; (3) the introduction of new styles in history writing; (4) the construction of a general history. The historians in the Song period were devoted to a very wide varieties of subject matter, and very productive in their research, dwarfing historians in the Yuan and Ming Dynasties. Even the historians in the Q'ing Dynasty were no match to their Song's predecessors, whether in historiographical research or in the study of contemporary history.

史學特質；徵信；資治；義理；編年；新史體；經世思想

Song Dynasty；Historiography the application of historical knowledge；historical writing