中國古代金石學興于宋,盛於清。自宋至清,金石學的研究對象不斷擴展,從最初的鐘鼎石刻擴大到包括陶器、瓦當、璽印、鐵券、錢幣等在内的所有對象,認識不斷深入。對於金石文獻的著録,古人主要採用圖録(摹圖)、録文、目録等體例。在分類方面,逐漸形成了按器、按時、按地、按人等方法編排金石内容的傳統。古人對金石義例之學極爲重視,有尊唐宋者,有尊漢魏者,認爲掌握義例有助於古文創作、宣揚教化、考訂故實。古人認爲金石碑刻可以用來考經訂史,證補缺,是正文字,其内容藴含著有助於道德教化、經世致用的聖人之意。同時他們也認識到,金石碑刻的可信度也是相對的,在利用它們時,也需要用經史考訂金石。 Ancient Chinese petrology Xing in Song, Sheng Yu Qing. Since the Song and Qing dynasties, the study objects of petrology have been expanding. From the original Zhongding stone carving to all objects including pottery, watts, seals, iron coupons, coins and so on, the understanding has been deepening. For the writings of stone literature, the ancients mainly use the pictorial (copy), essays, catalogs and other methods. In the classification, gradually formed by the device, on time, by, by people such as the arrangement of stone tradition. The ancients attached great importance to the teaching of Jinshiyiyi. Someone who respect the Tang Dynasty and others who respect the Han Dynasty hold the belief that grasping the Jieshi helps the creation of ancient essays, preaching and enlightenment. The ancients believed that the stone tablet inscriptions can be used to test the history, the card is missing, is the main text, its content contains contribute to moral education, the purpose of the saints. At the same time, they also realized that the trustworthiness of stone inscriptions is also relative. When they are used, they also need to use the historical stone.