Zizhi Tongjian

Zizhi tongjian (Historical Events Retold as a Mirror for Governance) is a chronology of history mainly compiled by Sima Guang (1019-1086) in the Northern Song Dynasty. It covers over 1362 years of Chinese history spanning 16 dynasties from 403 B.C.-A.D. 959. An invaluable reference book of history, it is of great importance among Chinese historical records. Sima Guang is revered as one of the two great "Sima historians" in Chinese history, the other Sima being Sima Qian, who wrote Records of the Grand Historian.

Zizhi tongjian integrates in three parts annals, imperial records, calendars, celestial signs, contents, abstracts, and indexes, creating a new style of multi-functional cataloging for works of history. It covers politics, military affairs, ethnic relations, culture, the economy, and comments on historical figures, and summarizes the lessons and experience of 16 dynasties and their rise and fall, serving as a reference book on governance for monarchs. Zizhi tongjian was a must-read for emperors, officials, and scholars. It offers a deep insight into how the traditional political system functioned in China.

《資治通鑒》

《資治通鑒》是由北宋司馬光（1019—1086）主編的一部編年體史書，主要以時間為綱、事件為目，從公元前5 世紀末到10世紀中期，涵蓋十六朝1362年的歷史，史料價值極高，在中國古代史書中占有極重要的地位。司馬光和《史記》作者司馬遷被后人并稱“史學兩司馬”。

《資治通鑒》分三部分，將年表、帝紀、歷法、天象、目錄、舉要及索引集于一塊，開創了編年體史書多功能目錄的新體例，內容包括政治、軍事、民族關系、文化、經濟和歷史人物評價等，總結了16個朝代國家盛衰、民族興亡的經驗教訓，為當朝君主治國理政提供借鑒。《資治通鑒》是歷代帝王將相、文人騷客、各界要人必讀著作，也是一部深入理解中國傳統政治運行的經典著作。