There is no unified definition of archives in academic circles. Generally speaking, archives refer to various forms of original records with preservation value directly formed by people in various social activities. The original record is its essential attribute.
China ancient archives have different titles in different dynasties. Shang dynasty called it a book, Zhou dynasty called it a clock, Qin and Han dynasties called it an ancient book, and Han and Wei dynasties later called it a document, a copy, a file and a book. After the Qing dynasty, it was often called "file", but now it is unified as "file".
Different countries have different political and cultural concepts and different understandings of archives. For example, French-speaking countries believe that once a document is formed, it is called a file, including three stages: current role, semi-current role and non-current role.
In our country, a document is called a file only after it is filed in the archives department, including two stages: semi-active and passive. English-speaking countries believe that a document is called an archive only after it enters the archives, which only refers to the inactive stage of the document.
The best file
1. The earliest complete archive of diplomatic treaties in the world.
About 1296 BC, the Egyptian Pharaoh Ramses II signed a peace treaty with King Hattusi III of the Hittites, and formed a military alliance after the Battle of Kadesh. This treaty was originally made of silver plate.
2. The largest existing papyrus document in the world.
In BC 1 164, Egyptian Pharaoh Ramesses IV made a very large papyrus document. The document records the achievements and good deeds of his father Ramses III during his reign. The document is scroll-shaped, written by three scribes and glued together with 79 pieces of grass. It is 133 feet long and 17 feet wide. Found in a grave in Thebes, it was later bought by British Harris, hence the name Harris papyrus.