The Twenty-Four Histories is a collective title that refers to the standard histories of China’s dynasties up until the Ming (1368–1644); together, they form a comprehensive history covering two thousand years and presenting a galaxy of historical facts. Viewed as a single work, they are second to none. Each history begins with a section called “Basic Annals” which records all the major military, social, and even natural events during the reign of each emperor.

The twenty-four histories include Shi ji (Records of the historian), Han shu (History of the Former Han), Hou Han shu (History of the Later Han), Sanguo zhi (Memoirs of Three States), Jin shu (History of the Jin), Song shu (History of the Song), Nan Qi shu (History of the Southern Qi), Liang shu (History of the Liang), Chen shu (History of the Chen), Wei shu (History of the Wei), Bei Qi shu (History of the Northern Qi), Zhou shu (History of the Zhou), Sui shu (History of the Sui), Nan shi (History of the Southern Dynasties), Bei shi (History of the Northern Dynasties), Jiu Tang shu (Old history of the Tang), Xin Tang shu (New history of the Tang), Jiu Wudai shi (Old history of the Five Dynasties), Xin Wudai shi (New history of the Five Dynasties), Song shi (History of the Song), Liao shi (History of the Liao), Jin shi (History of the Jin), Yuan shi (History of the Yuan), and Ming shi (History of the Ming).              

Both emperors and historians attached great significance to history, viewing it as a mirror of their own times. The historians took it upon themselves to record the facts, whether the state was stable or in turmoil, prosperous or declining, a success or a failure. They preserved facts about history from oblivion. Sima Qian (ca. 145–ca. 90 BCE) is credited with the motto “wield the brush to record the truth”; this became the impetus behind the Twenty-four Histories. Later generations condemned those historians who distorted or hid the truth.

The Twenty-Four Histories has a total of 3,239 juan (fascicles), and more than forty million characters. Hundreds of historians dedicated their entire lives to the histories. While writing the Shi ji, Sima Qian traveled across the entire realm. Through on-site visits and private interviews, he verified many historical documents and rumors. When Jie Xisi (1274–1344), director-general of the Historiography Institute, presided over the editing of the History of the Liao and History of the Jin, he moved into the institute so he could work night and day to complete these two histories. He said that “even when I was exhausted, I did not dare rest.” He died of maladies brought on by the cold. It took ninety-five years to compile the History of the Ming; many emendations, modifications, and supplements were made to the work during that time.

Historically, the entire realm was regarded as the emperor’s own family. Therefore, the standard history of each dynasty was a genealogy that could be understood at a glance. The “Basic Annals” record the major annual events of each emperor’s reign as well as the emperor’s genealogy, his birth, and his fellow clan members.

The succession of dynasties was brought about mostly by war regardless if it was a peasant rebellion, a military coup, or an attack on the nation. The Twenty-Four Histories record the bloody massacres more realistically than other histories. For example, the Shi ji narrates in great detail the assassinations of the Second Emperor of Qin (r. 210–207 BCE) by Zhao Gao (d. 207 BCE) and Ziying, Prince of Qin (d. 206 BCE) by Xiang Yu (232–202 BCE). In the midst of these bloody massacres, the countless political struggles at court are also laid out in detail. For example, both the Old and New History of the Tang record the Xuanwu Gate Incident where Li Shimin (599–649), the future Emperor Taizong of the Tang (r. 626–649), initiated a palace coup by assassinating the Crown Prince Li Jiancheng (589–626) and the Prince of Qi, Li Yuanji (603–626). Other important events such as eunuchs monopolizing power, court officials manipulating state affairs, and factional strife were also recorded.

The socio-economic history of China over thousands of years can also be found in the Twenty-Four Histories. The “Basic Annals” record important economic measures taken in each dynasty as well as demographic information for the realm. The “Treatise on Food and Money” found in each history specifically records the laws and rules for agricultural land, farming, sericulture, taxation, trade, customs, salt and tea. In the History of the Yuan, a treatise also includes regulations concerning banknotes, ocean shipping, among others. Information on dynastic institutions is also included. The “Treatise on Official Posts” covers the history of the Chinese official titles and offices; the establishment and changes of the central and local bureaucracies are reflected in this monograph. The “Treatise on Criminal Law” is a history of the Chinese legal system showing the emergence and evolution of criminal law. Information on the military, including the make-up of the army, the various types of soldiers, garrisons, palace guards, as well as military farms, horse management, and posthouses can be found in the dynastic “Treatise on the Military.”