以小见大是历史研究中的一种重要方法。面对千头万绪、琐碎复杂的历史现象,要发现其背后内在的、本质的、规律性的东西,以小见大的研究方法常常可以收到四两拨千斤之效。这一点已被前辈学者所证明,如陈寅恪先生便通过考察杨贵妃进宫之时是否为处女这一看似细小的事件,从而说明唐朝的婚制与伦理、种族与文化等重大社会问题。 Seeing big things is an important method in historical research. In the face of a multitude of things and trivial complicated historical phenomena, we must find out what lies behind the inherent, essential and regular things behind us. This has been proved by the scholars of the past. For instance, Mr. Chen Yinke described the Tang Dynasty’s major social problems such as marriage system, ethics, race and culture by examining whether this phenomenon is a virgin when visiting Ms. Yang’s palace.