1.
historical materials; historical sources; primary sources
Documents, records, artifacts, and other materials from the past used as evidence for studying and reconstructing history.
貴重な史料が発見された。
Valuable historical materials were discovered.
史料に基づいて論文を書く。
To write a paper based on historical sources.
戦争当時の手紙や日記は、当時の生活を知るための重要な史料だ。
Letters and diaries from wartime are important historical sources for understanding life at that time.
A compound of 史 (history) and 料 (material). Specifically refers to materials used as evidence in historical research, as distinct from general reference materials.
USAGE:
A key term in history, archaeology, and academic research. 史料 includes documents, records, inscriptions, maps, photographs, and physical artifacts — anything that serves as primary evidence of the past. Note the homophone 資料 (reference materials, data), which is a much broader, everyday term.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 史料を調べる — to examine historical sources
- 史料に基づく — based on historical sources
- 一次史料 — primary sources
- 史料批判 — source criticism (evaluating reliability of historical materials)
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 資料 — materials, data, reference materials; a general-purpose homophone used in all fields
- 文献 — literature, written sources; refers specifically to published or written works
- 古文書 — old documents, historical manuscripts; a specific type of 史料