Make full use of various reference books. Classified collection method: according to the research topic, collecting historical materials is a common method in historical research. You can also do the opposite, that is, after determining the research direction, start collecting historical materials extensively, and then classify and compare the historical materials to form specific topics and draw conclusions.
Tracing search method: when a researcher browses a book to find historical materials, he finds that a book mentions other historical events closely related to the historical event, or mentions other titles or articles related to the historical event in the quotation, and then traces back the relevant historical works, and no new traces have been seen since then. I usually collect historical materials by reading books and newspapers. Collect word-of-mouth historical materials through investigation and interview.
Historical materials refer to things that can be used as a basis for studying or discussing history. Generally speaking, historical materials are divided into primary materials and secondary materials.
The former refers to historical materials that are close to or directly generated from the time when history occurred, and can be directly used as historical basis, while the latter refers to the research and explanation made by later generations using first-hand historical materials, but the boundary between the two is often not clear (for example, Historical Records can hardly be said to be first-hand or second-hand historical materials). Generally speaking, the historical materials in Chinese mainly refer to the first-hand historical materials.