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Zettelkasten

The Zettelkasten (German for "slip box"), often translated as the "card box note-taking method" or "card box notebook," is a Personal knowledge management methodology designed to break away from rigid structures^[300-閱讀筆記__Zettelkasten.md].

Core Principles

Practitioners and experts typically adhere to twelve core principles to maximize the effectiveness of the system^[300-閱讀筆記__Zettelkasten.md].

  • Atomicity: Each note should contain only a single piece of information or idea^[300-閱讀筆記__Zettelkasten.md].
  • Autonomy: Notes must be self-contained and understandable independently, allowing them to be easily moved, processed, or merged^[300-閱讀筆記__Zettelkasten.md].
  • Linking: Every new note must be linked to existing notes^[300-閱讀筆記__Zettelkasten.md].
  • Annotation: When creating a link, provide a reason explaining the connection^[300-閱讀筆記__Zettelkasten.md].
  • Own Words: Explain concepts in your own language rather than copying and pasting^[300-閱讀筆記__Zettelkasten.md].
  • Source References: Record the source of the information to avoid plagiarism and maintain traceability^[300-閱讀筆記__Zettelkasten.md].
  • Personal Thoughts: Incorporate your own ideas into the cards^[300-閱讀筆記__Zettelkasten.md].
  • Fluid Structure: The method aims to break standardized structures; do not worry about rigid organization^[300-閱讀筆記__Zettelkasten.md].
  • Link Pages: Use pages to string related notes together into short articles or flows based on your thinking^[300-閱讀筆記__Zettelkasten.md].
  • Index Pages: Create a general index (Epic) to serve as a reference point for connected notes^[300-閱讀筆記__Zettelkasten.md].
  • Preservation: Do not delete old notes. Instead, link them to new notes and explain why the previous version was insufficient^[300-閱讀筆記__Zettelkasten.md].
  • Quantity: Feel free to add notes prolifically^[300-閱讀筆記__Zettelkasten.md].

Types of Notes

The Zettelkasten method typically categorizes notes into four distinct types^[300-閱讀筆記__Zettelkasten.md]:

  • Fleeting note: Used to capture quick ideas or inspirations^[300-閱讀筆記__Zettelkasten.md].
  • Permanent note: A refined, durable note incorporated into the system^[300-閱讀筆記__Zettelkasten.md].
  • Literature note: Notes taken while reading or conducting research^[300-閱讀筆記__Zettelkasten.md].
  • Project-related note: Notes associated with specific active projects^[300-閱讀筆記__Zettelkasten.md].

See Also

  • [[筆記法]]
  • [[Note-taking]]
  • [[Knowledge Management]]

Sources

  • [300-閱讀筆記__Zettelkasten.md] (Source Material)