方志一词，起源甚早。《周礼》是一部专载古代设官分职的政典，原先的书名是《周官》。这部书说，古代有五类史官。其中的“外史”职责是“掌四方之志 ”（《周礼*春官》）。在《周礼*地官》中说得更明确：“涌训，掌道方志，以诏观事。”这可能是我国古籍中最早出现的“方志”一词。
方志，又称地方志。顾名思义，它是专门记述天下四方之事的志书。我国较早的儒家经典《周礼》即出现“方志”一词，而作为志书的方志更是渊源有自。《尚书》就记载了中国上古时代的方域、山川、土质、物产、贡赋，可以认为是中国上古时代的一部全国性的方志。此外出现的《山海经》、《华阳国志》更是其继承和发展。方志分为两类：一为全国性的总志，即记载全国各地的疆域严格、风俗、物产、城镇、人物、名胜、古迹和艺文等，如《大元一统志》、《大明一统志》、《大清一统志》；二是地方志，即记载一地（省、府、州、县、镇、寺）等的有关上述名目的书，如《畿辅通志》、《山东通志》、《顺天府志》、《平定州志》、《锦县志》、《乌青镇志》、《黎里志》、《庐山志》、《灵隐寺志》等。由于年代久远，以及其他一些原因，东汉以前的方志早已失传，东汉以后见之于著录的多称为“记”、“图经”等名目，但流传于世的也较少。宋代以后，“志”渐渐取代了“记”、“图经”等名称。明清两代，由于中央和地方政府的重视，方志数量不断增多，卷帙俞趋浩繁，体制日渐成熟，成为记述一个地区古今事物发展的百科全书。清雍正七年（1729），世宗鉴于全国各地一些新的府、州、县的不断涌现，下诏“天下布政司纂修通志”，于是雍正、乾隆之际修方志之风弥漫全国，并使方志达到了繁荣鼎盛阶段，对于保存和弘扬中华古老文化，其功甚伟，同时也为方志学的建立准备了条件。清中叶，著名史学家、思想家章学诚在著述和编修方志过程中，根据自己的修书实践，又总结了前人修志的成败得失，建立了方志学。他的名著《文史通义》专门立有篇章，集中阐释其方志学思想。著名史学家朱士嘉于1935年出版了《中国地方志综录》一书的第一版，对保存和介绍中国的方志起了积极的促进作用。目前，全国现存的总志、方志约在八千种左右，这在世界各国中也是独一无二的。
我国编纂方志的历史悠久，历代方志约达万余种。江苏人文荟萃，文化发达，方志有千余种，约占全国1/8。江苏和浙江是方志大省。历史上著名的方志学者也以两省最多。
方志应该是历史学、地理学的新型结合，是地方信息的科学。方志应有强烈的独立价值和意义。既是一门古老的科学，也是一门赋予新的内容和概念的学科。从这个角度去考查源头，古籍中许多内容都可能包括进去了。
方志以地区为主，综合记录该地自然和社会方面有关历史与现状的著作。又称地志或地方志。有关专载江河湖海、祠庙寺观、名胜古迹、水利交通的著作，亦可归入其内。方志种类大体是：①综合全国情况的有总志和一统志。②地区性方志，如省志、州志、县志、厅志、乡土志等。③专志，指山水禅林、寺庙、书院、游览胜迹、人物、风土方面的志书。方志起源很早。《周礼·春官》有外史“掌四方之志”的说法。到了西汉和魏晋时期，方志一词已屡见不鲜。在秦汉魏晋南北朝时期，方志尚处于形成阶段。当时，无论是体例内容，方志皆属地理书，其称谓亦多为地志、地记。其内容主要记叙地区的方域境界、山川物产、风俗民情。现存的第一部具有比较完整内容的方志书《越绝书》（相传为东汉袁康所撰），就出现在这个时期。隋唐两朝，图经盛行，以志、记为名的方志书也发展起来。所谓图经，开始多以图为主，表示疆域、山川、土地，经是图的说明，是图的附属物。隋唐时期，图经已以经为主，图反成为辅了，更加接近于后来所说的方志的性质。宋代，以记地为主的方志成为史学的一个分支。至此方志书始体例初备，自成一体。明代的方志比较前朝又有发展，数量和种类都有增加。全国有一统志，各省普遍修总志或通志，省以下的府州县亦各多次修志。此外还出现了边关志，以及村镇志等等。对于志书的性质，明代明确提出属于史的范畴。清代是地方志的全盛时期，不但种类全、数量多，在体例和内容方面也更加充实完备。清代朝廷多次下诏促令各省修志，修山水寺庙以及园林胜迹的专志也很多，还修关津志、盐井志、乡村镇里场坊市里等志。清末又新出现乡土志。与清代相比，民国时期方志的编纂，规模要小得多，体例多数亦沿袭旧志，不过也出现了一些新的内容，如注意记载农工商业的生产情况和人们的生活面貌，还增加了各种统计图表等等。中国的方志，反映地方特点，志书按时修订，包括内容广泛，具有较大的可靠性和真实性。保留至今的志书（不包括山水祠庙等专志），约8500多种，其中清代最多，共6000多种，10万余卷。方志书除分藏国内各图书馆外，在国外也有不少，亦有散存于私家的。20世纪80年代以后，中国方志编纂工作由隶属于国务院的中国地方志指导小组领导，到1995年，全国新出版的地方志已达5000多部。
以方志为研究对象的方志学是研究方志的产生和发展、性质和类别、特征和功能、编纂理论以及整理和利用的学科。
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.