如果说方志这个概念是涵盖从方志编纂到方志接受或从方志实践到方志理论的全过程。那么这个全过程的核心要素则是方志文本（或作品）。笔者正是基于这种认识，故曾给方志作过这样界定：“方志就是一项以编纂和使用各类方志文本为中心的基础性学术文化事业。”（拙文《方志主客? If we say that the concept of chronicles is covered from the compilation of chronicle to accept or from the local chronicle to the theory of Chronicles the whole process. Then the core element of the whole process is the ching chih text (or work). It is based on this understanding that the author has given Fangzhi a definition of this: “Chronicles is a basic academic and cultural undertaking centered on the compilation and use of various types of chorography texts.”