The book's central subject is research on the Palace Museum archives, focusing on the historical value of Qing dynasty archival materials kept at the Palace Museum. It is divided into sections on Qing history, memorials to the throne, and government institutions. The author once served as a clerk on the Committee for the Disposal of the Qing Imperial Household and worked at the Palace Museum's Documentation Office. For many years, the author was engaged in the organization, compilation, and study of Ming and Qing archives, and was one of the founders of China's historical archives field as well as an early researcher of Chinese ancient architecture. The book illustrates the relationship between archival sources and historical research, as well as how the discovery, organization, and compilation of Qing archives helped advance historical studies.
