Frequently Asked Questions
What is ChinaRoots?
ChinaRoots is a non-profit digital humanities project dedicated to digitizing and presenting Chinese local gazetteers (fangzhi), making local history and culture accessible to a broader audience.
What are Local Gazetteers?
Local gazetteers are comprehensive records of a specific region’s history, geography, customs, notable figures, and more. As the saying goes, “A nation has its histories, a region has its gazetteers, a family has its genealogies” — gazetteers are an essential part of Chinese cultural heritage.
Can I republish your content?
Our original content is welcome for academic citation and public use, but please ensure proper attribution with a link to the original page. Reproduction for commercial purposes without authorization is prohibited.
How can I participate in the project?
We welcome like-minded individuals to join our efforts. If you have valuable historical materials to share or wish to volunteer, please reach us through our Contact page.
Why are there Chinese and English versions?
Considering the needs of overseas Chinese communities to learn about their ancestral homeland’s history and culture, we provide both the original Chinese text and English translations to promote cross-cultural understanding.
How do you ensure content accuracy?
We reference primary sources and authoritative publications whenever possible, and cite our materials within articles. However, due to the complexities inherent in historical research, we welcome corrections if you identify any errors.
Is this website free?
Yes, all content on the ChinaRoots website is freely accessible to the public. We believe in using digital technology to lower the barriers to learning about history.
How can I contact you?
You can reach us by email at yumuxu@gmail.com, or learn more on our Contact page.