This comprehensive history in biographical-annalistic form is “the swan song of historians.” It records more than three thousand years of history, from the ancient Yellow Emperor to the Taichu era of Emperor Wu of Han. Divided into five sections, including the Basic Annals and Hereditary Houses, it sets out to “explore the relationship between Heaven and humanity, and understand the changes from antiquity to the present.” Its vivid characterizations and concise narrative give it immense historical and literary value, making it a model for later historians.
