A Popular History of Records

The Twenty-Four Histories is the collective name for the twenty-four official histories of ancient China, covering the period from the legendary Yellow Emperor to the end of the Ming dynasty. These histories were compiled mainly by imperial courts over successive dynasties, and cover politics, economics, culture, military affairs, and many other subjects. They are essential sources for the study of ancient Chinese history. The Twenty-Four Histories are not only a treasure of Chinese historiography, but also an important part of the world's cultural heritage. Written primarily in biographical-annalistic form, they give detailed accounts of each dynasty's politics, economy, culture, and military affairs, providing later generations with a wealth of historical material. Their compilation spanned a thousand years, from the Records of the Grand Historian in the Western Han dynasty to the History of Ming in the Qing dynasty. Each work represents the painstaking efforts of countless historians and stands as the culmination of ancient Chinese historiography.