從事歷史研究，如能直接掌握一手史料，進行分析與比較，勢必能為相關研究帶來可期的豐碩成果。有關文革的各種史料甚為多元，其中，當事人之回憶錄特別引人注目。欲認識文革，回憶錄是一個重要的途徑。藉由不同身分的當事人（當權派、激進派、受益派、貶謫類、家屬類、侍從類以及一般人士）的描述與舖陳，既可了解其人當時對文革的感受和事後對文革的理解與認知，亦有助於認識文革發展的歷程、內幕以及所謂的秘辛。文革回憶錄所具備的原始性、細節性以及多面性，更對文革研究有佐證、補充和開拓的意義與價值。然而，文革回憶錄亦受到個人主觀因素、記憶若干缺陷以及中共官方強力介入的干擾與影響。因此，在使用文革回憶錄時，一方面須與其他文獻比對與結合運用；另一方面，將之具體分析，歸納特色、釐清意義，並正視其侷限與曲折之處。使文革回憶錄不但成為認識文革的一種重要線索與有用資料，甚至透過其所展現的解釋權力壟斷情形，有助於了解中共處理文革問題的邏輯與方法，進一步為檢視中共對其他重大歷史事件的觀點與手段，提供一些經驗與借鏡。

It is essential to have first-hand historical data for studying history. There are many kinds of historical data about the history of the Cultural Revolution (CR), among them the memoirs especially arouse much attention. It is an important way to know more about the CR by reading the memoirs. According to the different positions and status of the authors, these memoirs can be divided into seven types: the power holders, radicals, beneficiaries, exiles, relatives of the leaders, workers assigned to serve them and the common people. By reading these memoirs, we can learn how these people acted and felt during the movement and how they understood and perceived it many years later. It also helps us to know the processes, inside stories and so-called secrets of the CR. These memoirs are first-hand historical data, which are multi-faceted and contain a lot of detail about the CR. These merits are very useful for studying the CR. However, on no account can the reality be ignored, as these memoirs are easily influenced and disturbed by the individual bias and the shortcomings of human memory. Deep involvement by officials and control on publication played a great negative role too. Thus, the article suggests that when we use these memoirs to study the CR, we must compare them with other kinds of historical data. On the other hand, we need to analyze and distinguish them carefully. By doing this, we will not only find out many important clues and information about the CR, but also learn how the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) described and explained the history of the CR by observing their power hegemony from historical explanations showed from these memoirs. Furthermore, it provides the experience to find out how the CCP dealt with other great historical events.