1, Zi Tong Zhi Jian was edited by Sima Guang in the Northern Song Dynasty. Mainly based on time and events, it began in the 23rd year of Zhou Weilie (403 BC) and ended in the 6th year of Xiande, Zhou Shizong after the Five Dynasties (959 AD), covering the history of 16 dynasties and 1362 years.

2. Content introduction

Zi Zhi Tong Jian is an unprecedented chronicle masterpiece compiled by Sima Guang (10/9-1086), a famous historian and politician in the Northern Song Dynasty, and his assistants Liu Ban, Liu Shu, Fan Zuyu and Sima Kang. It records the historical facts from the Warring States to the Five Dynasties *** 1362. In this book, the editor summed up many experiences and lessons for the rulers to learn from. Song Shenzong thinks that this book is "in view of the past, it has the resources for governance", that is, to strengthen the rule by taking historical gains and losses as a warning, so it is named "Managing with Capital".

Zitongzhijian has 294 volumes, about 3 million words, and Kaoyi and Catalogue have 30 volumes. It is the longest-running masterpiece in the chronicle of China (China's first chronicle is Chunqiu).

The history recorded in Zi Jian is limited, from the 23rd year of Wei Liezhou (403 BC) to the 6th year of Zhou Xiande (959 BC), with a period of *** 1362. The book is divided into sixteen dynasties, namely, five volumes of Zhou Ji, three volumes of Ji Qin, sixty volumes of Han Ji, ten volumes of Wei Ji, forty volumes of Jin Ji, sixteen volumes of Song Ji, ten volumes of Miracle, twenty-two volumes of Liang Ji, ten volumes of Chen Ji and Sui Ji.

The content of Zi Tong Zhi Jian mainly focuses on political, military and ethnic relations, as well as the evaluation of economic, cultural and historical figures, with the aim of warning future generations through the description of the ruling class policies related to the rise and fall of the country and the rise and fall of the nation.

3. Writing background

Sima Guang once suffered from a large number of historical books, and it was difficult for scholars to browse them all. Because he wanted to summarize the main points, he wrote a biographical history. Tongzhi, published in eight volumes, appeared in North Korea from the Warring States to Qin Ershi, which attracted the attention of Song Yingzong. In the third year of Zhiping (1066), he ordered the publishing house to be located in Chongwen Academy to continue compiling. Song Shenzong acceded to the throne and was given the title of "Zi Zhi Tong Jian", which was awarded in turn. This book was written in the seventh year of Yuanfeng (1084).