方志一詞，起源甚早。《周禮》是一部專載古代設官分職的政典，原先的書名是《周官》。這部書說，古代有五類史官。其中的“外史”職責是“掌四方之志 ”（《周禮*春官》）。在《周禮*地官》中說得更明確：“涌訓，掌道方志，以詔觀事。”這可能是我國古籍中最早出現的“方志”一詞。
方志，又稱地方志。顧名思義，它是專門記述天下四方之事的志書。我國較早的儒傢經典《周禮》即出現“方志”一詞，而作為志書的方志更是淵源有自。《尚書》就記載了中國上古時代的方域、山川、土質、物産、貢賦，可以認為是中國上古時代的一部全國性的方志。此外出現的《山海經》、《華陽國志》更是其繼承和發展。方志分為兩類：一為全國性的總志，即記載全國各地的疆域嚴格、風俗、物産、城鎮、人物、名勝、古跡和藝文等，如《大元一統志》、《大明一統志》、《大清一統志》；二是地方志，即記載一地（省、府、州、縣、鎮、寺）等的有關上述名目的書，如《畿輔通志》、《山東通志》、《順天府志》、《平定州志》、《錦縣志》、《烏青鎮志》、《黎裏志》、《廬山志》、《靈隱寺志》等。由於年代久遠，以及其他一些原因，東漢以前的方志早已失傳，東漢以後見之於著錄的多稱為“記”、“圖經”等名目，但流傳於世的也較少。宋代以後，“志”漸漸取代了“記”、“圖經”等名稱。明清兩代，由於中央和地方政府的重視，方志數量不斷增多，捲帙俞趨浩繁，體製日漸成熟，成為記述一個地區古今事物發展的百科全書。清雍正七年（1729），世宗鑒於全國各地一些新的府、州、縣的不斷涌現，下詔“天下布政司纂修通志”，於是雍正、乾隆之際修方志之風彌漫全國，並使方志達到了繁榮鼎盛階段，對於保存和弘揚中華古老文化，其功甚偉，同時也為方志學的建立準備了條件。清中葉，著名史學家、思想傢章學誠在著述和編修方志過程中，根據自己的修書實踐，又總結了前人修志的成敗得失，建立了方志學。他的名著《文史通義》專門立有篇章，集中闡釋其方志學思想。著名史學家朱士嘉於1935年出版了《中國地方志綜錄》一書的第一版，對保存和介紹中國的方志起了積極的促進作用。目前，全國現存的總志、方志約在八千種左右，這在世界各國中也是獨一無二的。
我國編纂方志的歷史悠久，歷代方志約達萬餘種。江蘇人文薈萃，文化發達，方志有千餘種，約占全國1/8。江蘇和浙江是方志大省。歷史上著名的方志學者也以兩省最多。
方志應該是歷史學、地理學的新型結合，是地方信息的科學。方志應有強烈的獨立價值和意義。既是一門古老的科學，也是一門賦予新的內容和概念的學科。從這個角度去考查源頭，古籍中許多內容都可能包括進去了。
方志以地區為主，綜合記錄該地自然和社會方面有關歷史與現狀的著作。又稱地志或地方志。有關專載江河湖海、祠廟寺觀、名勝古跡、水利交通的著作，亦可歸入其內。方志種類大體是：①綜合全國情況的有總志和一統志。②地區性方志，如省志、州志、縣志、廳志、鄉土志等。③專志，指山水禪林、寺廟、書院、遊覽勝跡、人物、風土方面的志書。方志起源很早。《周禮·春官》有外史“掌四方之志”的說法。到了西漢和魏晉時期，方志一詞已屢見不鮮。在秦漢魏晉南北朝時期，方志尚處於形成階段。當時，無論是體例內容，方志皆屬地理書，其稱謂亦多為地志、地記。其內容主要記敘地區的方域境界、山川物産、風俗民情。現存的第一部具有比較完整內容的方志書《越絶書》（相傳為東漢袁康所撰），就出現在這個時期。隋唐兩朝，圖經盛行，以志、記為名的方志書也發展起來。所謂圖經，開始多以圖為主，表示疆域、山川、土地，經是圖的說明，是圖的附屬物。隋唐時期，圖經已以經為主，圖反成為輔了，更加接近於後來所說的方志的性質。宋代，以記地為主的方志成為史學的一個分支。至此方志書始體例初備，自成一體。明代的方志比較前朝又有發展，數量和種類都有增加。全國有一統志，各省普遍修總志或通志，省以下的府州縣亦各多次修志。此外還出現了邊關志，以及村鎮志等等。對於志書的性質，明代明確提出屬於史的範疇。清代是地方志的全盛時期，不但種類全、數量多，在體例和內容方面也更加充實完備。清代朝廷多次下詔促令各省修志，修山水寺廟以及園林勝跡的專志也很多，還修關津志、????井志、鄉村鎮裏場坊市裏等志。清末又新出現鄉土志。與清代相比，民國時期方志的編纂，規模要小得多，體例多數亦沿襲舊志，不過也出現了一些新的內容，如註意記載農工商業的生産情況和人們的生活面貌，還增加了各種統計圖表等等。中國的方志，反映地方特點，志書按時修訂，包括內容廣泛，具有較大的可靠性和真實性。保留至今的志書（不包括山水祠廟等專志），約8500多種，其中清代最多，共6000多種，10萬餘捲。方志書除分藏國內各圖書館外，在國外也有不少，亦有散存於私傢的。20世紀80年代以後，中國方志編纂工作由隸屬於國務院的中國地方志指導小組領導，到1995年，全國新出版的地方志已達5000多部。
以方志為研究對象的方志學是研究方志的産生和發展、性質和類別、特徵和功能、編纂理論以及整理和利用的學科。
Chronicles the word, a very early origin. "Zhou" is a special set of ancient sub-level political officials based code, the original title is "Week official." The book said that there are five categories of the ancient historian. The "Unofficial History" duty "charge of the Quartet of the Chi" ("Zhou * Spring official"). In "Zhou * local officials," said more clearly: "Chung training, palm Road Chronicles, by Chao View of things." This may be the earliest Chinese ancient books in the "Chronicles" is used.
Chronicles, also known as local history. As the name suggests, it is something special account of the historical texts of the world Quartet. China earlier Confucian classics, "Zhou" is a "Chronicles" rather as a source of local records of local history is a self. "Book of History" on the record of China's ancient times Fangyu, mountains and rivers, soil, products, Kung Fu, can be thought of ancient times in China Chronicles of a national. In addition, there's "Shan Hai Jing", "Hua Yang Guo Zhi" is the inheritance and development. Chronicles is divided into two categories: one for the national total chi, that is, the boundaries of strict records all over the country, customs, products, and towns, people, landmarks, monuments and art, etc., such as "Great Yuan Yi Tong Zhi", "Da Ming Yi Tong Zhi "" Great Qing Yi Tong Zhi "; Second, local history, that is recorded in one place (province, government, state, county, town, Temple) and other books relating to the above-mentioned items, such as" Exploitation in Annals "," Shandong Annals " "Shuntian Zhi", "Binh Dinh Chi State", "Jin County," "Town in Chi", "Li Li Zhi", "Lu Zhi," "Lingyin Temple chi" and so on. As the age-old, and some other reasons, the Eastern Han Dynasty had lost the previous Chronicles, after the Eastern Han Dynasty seen in the recorded multi-known as the "mind", "plan after" and other names, but it's also less spread in the world. After the Song Dynasty, "Chi" gradually replaced the "mind", "plan after" and other names. Ming and Qing dynasties, as emphasis on the central and local governments, increasing the number Chronicles, Yu voluminous voluminous trend, system is maturing into account the development of a regional encyclopedia of things past and present. Qing Emperor Yongzheng seven (1729), Sejong view of the new government around the country, state, county, continue to emerge, even ordered, "Annals of the world Chief Compilation", so the Yongzheng and Qianlong occasion Difangzhi wind filled the country, and Chronicles of prosperity to reach its peak phase, the preservation and promotion of Chinese ancient culture, its very Wei Gong, but also to prepare for the establishment of Local Chronicles conditions. Mid-Qing, a famous historian and thinker in the writing and editing Zhang Chronicles process, according to their revised book practice and summarizes the success or failure of previous annals established local history study. His famous "History through righteousness" special legislation has chapters focused on elaborating the ideas of its Local Records. Well-known historian Zhu Shijia in 1935 published "The Comprehensive Catalog of Chinese Local Chronicles" the first edition of the book, on the preservation and presentation of local history in China played a positive role. At present, the total existing blog, about 8000 kinds of local records about, which is unique in the world.
Compilation of local history has a long history in China, about thousand species of ancient Chronicles. Jiangsu cultural atmosphere, and cultural development, local history over a thousand species, accounting for about 1 / 8. Chronicles of Jiangsu and Zhejiang is a province. Chronicles the history of the famous scholars in most provinces.
Chronicles should be the history, geography of the new combination of local information science. Chronicles should be a strong independent value and significance. Is an ancient science, is a given new content and concept of the subject. From this point of view to examine the source of many ancient elements may include a.
Chronicles district-based, comprehensive record of the natural and social aspects in past and present works. Also known as topography or local history. The ad contained rivers and lakes, shrines, monasteries, monuments, works of water transport, may fall within this zone. Chronicles general types: ① The situation in the country with a total integrated and unified Chi Chi. ② regional gazetteers, such as the province of Chi, Chi State, County, Office of Chi, and other local records. ③ dedication that mountain Buddhist temple, temple, college, tour sites, people, endemic areas of historical texts. Chronicles early origins. "Zhou Chun officials" have Unofficial History "palm Quartet Zhi Zhi" argument. To the Western Han and the Wei and Jin Dynasties, the term local records have been common. In the period of Qin Jin, Chronicles still in the formative stage. At that time, the contents of both style, Chronicles both the geography book, its title will rise as the topography, in mind. The contents of the main narrative region Fangyu state, mountains property, customs and culture. The existing contents of the first relatively complete with the Chronicles book "Vietnam must" (the legend for the Eastern Han Yuan Kang Suozhuan), appeared in this period. Sui and Tang dynasties, plans by the popular, to commemorate, remember the name of the local history books have developed. After the so-called plan to start over in order to mainly that territory, the mountains, the land, through a diagram shows a map of the appendage. Sui and Tang dynasties, plans have to been the main plan against a secondary, and even close to what was the nature of local history. Song to remember in history mainly as a branch of local history. Thus local history books until the early style of preparation, self-contained. Comparison of the Ming Dynasty Chronicles former and development and has increased the number and types. Yi Tong Zhi across the country, the provinces generally repair or total Chi Annals of the provincial government the following counties are also the many Local Records. In addition, there border Chi, Chi, etc., as well as towns and villages. The nature of the historical texts, clearly belongs to the history of the Ming Dynasty areas. Qing is the heyday of local history, not only all types and number, in the style and content are more substantial complete. Qing imperial edict to promote so many provinces and Local Records, repair landscape temple and garden are also many famous historical site of the dedication, but also repair relations Jin Chi, Salt chi, rural town Square, the city and other blog site. Qing another emerging local records. Compared with the Qing Dynasty, the Republic of chronicles, a much smaller scale, style most have followed the old local chronicles, but also some new content, such as attention to record production of agricultural businesses and people's living face, but also increase a variety of statistical tables and so on. China Chronicles, which reflect local characteristics, historical texts on time amended to include a wide range, with greater reliability and authenticity. Remained in local records (not including landscapes such as the dedication of Temple), 8500, among which the most Qing Dynasty, a total of more than 6000 kinds, 10 thousand volumes. In addition to possession of the book Chronicles domestic sub-libraries in foreign countries, there are many, some scattered in private for. After 80 years of the 20th century, the Chinese local records under the State Council of China by the Steering Group of local history led to the 1995 National newly published over 5,000 local history department.
Ming and Qing study of the Local Records is to study the emergence and development of local history, nature and type, features and functions, consolidation and codification of theory and the use of the subjects.