Page 120 - Journal of Library Science in China, Vol.47, 2021

ZHANG Bin & YIN Xin / Historical development and contemporary construction 119
of the basic theoretical system of archival science with Chinese characteristics

of the subject are mainly manifested in the further improvement of the disciplinary system of
archival science, the enhancement of the scientific nature of archival theories, and the start of the
internationalization process of archival theories.
(1) Improving the discipline system of archival science with Chinese characteristics
In the mid and late 1980s, the design and research of the discipline system of archival science
reached a new height, highlighted by WU Baokang’s design of a relatively complete discipline
system based on the conditions in China, which was built on the disciplines of theoretical archival
science and applied archival science, and included multiple branch disciplines, such as “archival
theory”, “history of archival science”, “history of archival undertakings” “laws on archives”,
“archival terminology”, “archival management”, “archival philology” and “application of archival
technologies”. It not only enriched the content of archival theories in China, but also demonstrated
the backbone and branches of the discipline of archival science with Chinese characteristics.
(2) Enhancing the scientific nature of archival theories
Education on archival science was restored and pushed forward after the reform and opening-up
in 1978. The volume on archives of the Encyclopedia of China published in 1993 systematically
introduced the terms of “archival science”, “archivists”, “archival management”, etc. The medium-
sized reference book on archival science—Archives Dictionary published in 1994, compared with
the volume on Archives of the Encyclopedia of China, added the basic terms of archival science
abroad, international organizations on archives, international treaties and other professional entries,
further enriching the theories of archival terms and promoting the development of the basic theories
of archival science. During that period, the systems on the concepts, knowledge, subjects, teaching
materials, experiment, curriculum, teaching and learning, higher education institutions and talent
training of archival science were developing constantly, and archival science was transformed into
an independent discipline composed of many feature subjects, such as “Introduction to Archival
Science”, “Archival Management”, “Management of Scientific and Technological Archives”,
“Compilation of Archives”, “Preservation Techniques of Archives”, “Document Science” and
“History of Archival Work in China”. A more complete and new discipline system was created, and
the scientific nature of theories on archival science was enhanced.
(3) Starting the internationalization process of theories on archival science
With the second revolution toward reform and opening-up started in China, and guided by the
ideas of opening-up, the internationalization process of theories on archival science gradually
rolled out. As FENG Huiling commented, “The trend of reform and opening-up provides the
context and booster for the development of archival science. The second venture on archival
science in China is fortunately in synchronization with the national reform and opening-up
[6]
process.” From 1978, with the new opportunities brought by the reform and opening-up process,
the archival community began to introduce, learn and localize the achievements on archival science
from other countries. In 1978, HAN Yumei, a renowned scholar in the field of foreign archival
science, introduced the mechanism of International Council on Archives (ICA) to China, outlined