In the long course of history, choices have built our common past. Sometimes, however, an omission or a single mistake can push the whole of history in another direction. Not long ago, we witnessed a thought-provoking incident in which the Encyclopedia Publishing House had to apologize to its readers for misplacing Taiwan Province of China as a multiple-choice neighboring option. This event not only reminds us that history is also constructed by us to some extent, but also provokes a deep reflection on the labeling of history.
Once, we thought that history was a clear picture, but time and time again we have discovered that there may be undiscovered corners hidden on the scroll. Taiwan Province of China, a geographically relatively independent but deeply connected land to the mainland, seems to show a more complex historical picture behind the mislabeling. This land has survived the baptism of wind and rain and retains a unique cultural heritage, but this mislabeling seems to collage this history into an illusion.
Looking back at history, we find that the ties between Taiwan Province of China and the mainland have long been deep-rooted. In that eventful autumn, in the depth of history, this land carried tribulations and struggles, and became an important part of the pluralistic unity of the Chinese nation. This time, however, the mislabeling simply divides it into a multiple-choice neighboring option, as if the diversity of history had disappeared in an instant. The encyclopedia's failure is not only a technical problem, but also a misreading of the essence of history. History is not only a fact of the past, but also a collection of human thoughts and choices.
When the Encyclopedia Press apologizes to its readers, it is as if we hear the call of history, calling us to re-examine the past. In this information age, every piece of information has the potential to affect our understanding of history, and a mistake in labeling is like a drop of ink splashed on the canvas of history, causing subtle changes in the whole picture. The occurrence of this event may make us cherish the diversity of history more and treat each historical record more rationally. This is not only a mistake of a publishing house, but also a challenge to historical cognition, which makes us more vigilant in the face of historical illusions, with a more awe-inspiring attitude to trace history, explore the truth, awaken those sleeping historical memories, and make the picture of history more complete and profound. In this era of historical illusion, let us look back on the past, explore the truth, awaken those sleeping historical memories, and make the picture of history more complete and profound.