Page 121 - Journal of Library Science in China, Vol.47, 2021

120 Journal of Library Science in China, Vol.13, 2021

the mission, organization and major activities of the ICA to the domestic archival community, and
gave an overview on the origin and development of archival appraisal abroad. In 1996, the 13th
International Conference on Archives was held in China, marking that archival science in China
[7]
was going out to the world . Guided by the principles and policies of sticking firmly to the reform
and opening-up process and actively communicating with other countries in the field of archives,
[8]
the achievements in the development of the archival undertakings in China is shown to the world .

1.3 The formation stage (1997- )

Since 1997, the basic theoretical system of archival science in China has been gradually improved
and matured, which is reflected in various ways. For example, the theory on the management of
electronic records in the digital era is created; the archival value theory with Chinese characteristics
is enriched and developed; two pillar theories of archival science, namely, the principle of
provenance and the theory of records’ life cycle are developed; the theory of archival law is
proposed under the guidance of the theory of socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics;
the electronic records management theory and archival information theory of China for the digital
era are established; and the theoretical system of archival science with Chinese characteristics is
perfected.
(1) Establishment of electronic records management theory with Chinese characteristics
In 1997, FENG Huiling elaborated on the record revolution brought about by electronic
records from eight aspects in her doctoral thesis, including “understanding electronic records”,
“originality and evidentiality of electronic records”, “paperless collection”, “dual appraisal”,
“long-term preservation”, “electronic records as mobile resources”, “refocusing on the principle of
[9]
provenance”, and “new thinking in the era of electronic records” , which laid the foundation for
the theory of electronic records management in China. The theory contributed to the formulation
of the national strategy for electronic records management, and in 2009, the Interim Measures for
Electronic Records Management was issued. According to FENG Huiling, the characteristics of the
national strategy for electronic records management in China are nationwide coordination, guided
[10]
by policies, integrated development and comprehensive management .
(2) Enrichment and development of archival value theory with Chinese characteristics
The theory of archival value is an important part of the basic theoretical system of archival
science with Chinese characteristics. The development of the theory has gone through three stages:
the instrumental value theory, the dual value theory, and the subject-object value theory. The value
of archives in ancient times was mainly exhibited as the instrumental value of political deterrence
and social control. The archives were either sealed in the “Golden Chamber of the Stone Room” or
simply burned. Since modern times, on the basis of treasuring the information value of the “ancient
archives”, the “dual value” concept has been proposed . The introduction of dual value theory in
[11]
the 1980s provided an ideological basis for the emergence and development of the value theory,