Zizhi Tongjian (Comprehensive Mirror to Aid in Government) is a monumental chronological universal history of China, compiled under the leadership of Sima Guang (1019–1086), a prominent statesman and scholar of the Northern Song dynasty. The main text comprises 294 scrolls, supplemented by two auxiliary works: Kaoyi (Textual Criticism and Discrepancies) and Rilu (Daily Records), each consisting of 30 scrolls.
Originally, Sima Guang completed an initial eight-scroll draft covering the period from the Warring States to the Second Emperor of Qin, which he titled Tongzhi (Comprehensive Records) and presented to Emperor Yingzong of Song. In 1066 (the third year of the Zhiping reign), he received imperial authorization to establish an official editorial bureau to expand the project into a full-scale history. After nineteen years of meticulous compilation, the work was completed in 1084 (the seventh year of the Yuanfeng reign) during the reign of Emperor Shenzong.
Recognizing its value as a guide for governance, Emperor Shenzong bestowed upon it the title Zizhi Tongjian – meaning “Comprehensive Mirror to Aid in Government” – quoting the phrase: “to take lessons from past events, thereby assisting in the way of governance”.
The narrative spans 1,362 years of Chinese history, beginning in 403 BCE (the 23rd year of King Weilie of Zhou, traditionally marking the start of the Warring States period with the partition of Jin and ending in 959 CE, the sixth year of the Xiande reign of Emperor Shizong of the Later Zhou (just before the founding of the Song dynasty).
In compiling this vast chronicle, Sima Guang and his team drew not only on the Seventeen Standard Histories but also consulted approximately 340 additional sources, including unofficial histories, biographical accounts, literary collections, genealogies, and miscellaneous records, rigorously evaluating and cross-referencing materials to ensure accuracy – a methodology reflected in the accompanying Kaoyi.
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