Its scope will cover allegations of abuse of children in formal institutional care, faith-based organisations, children's homes and secure care as well as those in foster care, long-term hospital care and boarding schools.
The Scottish Government pledged to ''shine a light in the dark corners of the past'' earlier this year when it announced Susan O'Brien QC would chair the inquiry.
It is thought it could take up to four years and covers the period "within living memory'' until December 17th last year when the inquiry was announced.
Education Secretary Angela Constance, who annouced the inquiry, says that it will have the power to bring witnesses to give evidence.
Ms Constance has also previously pledged that where crimes are uncovered the ''full force of the law'' would be used to bring those responsible to justice.
During the beginning of this inquiry, anyone with information is being asked to make contact.
Organisations with records that could be of any interest are also being asked to take the appropiate steps to ensure the records are preserved.
Ms O'Brien said: "Today is a significant first step in starting up the work of the Historical Child Abuse Inquiry.
"From the outset, I am keen to ensure that survivors know that we will listen carefully to their experiences and that we will work hard to understand the lessons of the past in order to ensure that we keep our children safe in the future.
"Once the Scottish Government has appointed the inquiry panel members, and I have had a chance to discuss the issues with them, we will set out in detail the ways in which we will run the inquiry and take evidence from witnesses.
"Counsel to the inquiry will be in touch with survivors' representatives during October to make sure that their views are considered before that happens.
"It would be helpful if all other interested parties made themselves known to the inquiry now, so that their views can also be taken into account."
A special website has gone live ---ADD LINK www.childabuseinquiry.scot ---- to keep the public updated on the work and how they can get involved.
The Scottish Government has said it plans to lift the current three-year time bar for civil action in cases of historical child abuse since September 1964.
However the body that represents some of Scotland's top lawyers has spoken out against the proposals, saying the current system where cases are looked at on a case-by-case basis provides ''fairness to both parties''.
Jennifer Davidson, director of the Centre for Excellence for Looked After Children in Scotland (CELCIS), based at the University of Strathclyde, said: "This is a historic day for the people of Scotland, particularly survivors and their supporters who have campaigned for a long time to be heard.
"I hope that survivors can find a way to use their painful experiences and memories to get answers and to ensure this doesn't happen again."
