historical-source-verification

Overview

A methodology for handling conflicting or uncertain historical records, based on the principle of transmitting doubts rather than forcing conclusions.

Steps

1. Gather all available sources - Collect 谍记 (genealogical records), 历谱谍 (chronological tables), and other documentary evidence
2. Cross-reference accounts - Compare different versions of the same events across multiple texts
3. Identify discrepancies - Note where sources contradict each other (乖异 - points of divergence)
4. Assess completeness - Determine if records have 年月 (dates) or are 略 (incomplete/summary only)
5. Apply the doubt principle - When evidence is insufficient or conflicting: 疑则传疑 (transmit the doubt as doubt)
6. Document uncertainty - Record conflicting accounts side by side rather than choosing one arbitrarily

Decision Points

• If sources agree and are complete: proceed with confidence
• If sources conflict but one is clearly more reliable: note the discrepancy but follow the stronger source
• If sources conflict with no clear resolution: preserve both accounts with notation of uncertainty

Expected Outcomes

• Transparent documentation of historical uncertainties
• Readers can see where evidence is contested
• Scholarly integrity maintained through honest acknowledgment of gaps

Validation

1. Confirm that all available sources (谍记, 历谱谍, other texts) have been gathered and cross-referenced systematically
2. Verify that conflicting accounts are preserved side by side with explicit notation of uncertainty rather than arbitrarily choosing one
3. Check that the doubt-transmission principle (疑则传疑) is applied consistently — no forced conclusions where evidence is insufficient