Zizhi tongjian

The Comprehensive Mirror for Aid in Government, perhaps better known as Zizhi Tongjian, is a Chinese historiography by Sima Guang and was released in 1084 A.D., as a chronicle. It was a pioneering reference work, but historians now have their doubts about some events mentioned in this work, such as Meng Huo being captured seven times by Zhuge Liang.

History
In the year 1065 A.D., Sima Guang, a great historian of his time, was ordered by his Emperor Yingzong of Song to lead the compilation of a universal history of China. It took Sima Guang, with help of other scholars such as his chief assistants Liu Shu, Liu Ban and Fan Zuyu, 19 years to complete it.

In 1084 it was presented to Yingzong's succesor; Emperor Shenzong of Song.

The Zizhi Tongjian expose Chinese history from 403 B.C. to 959 A.D., contains 294 volumes (巻), and about 3 million Chinese characters and chronologically narrates the history of China from the Warring States Period in 403 B.C. to the beginning of the Song Dynasty in 959 A.D. With politics, military affairs and national relations as its main concerns, the book also comprises of economy, culture and appraisal of historical figures. The book was compiled with the purpose of providing historical references to the rulers by describing the rise and fall of previous empires.

Usage
Australian Professor Rafe de Crespigny used the Zizhi Tongjian, as well as many other history works, for several of his novels, such as Generals of the South and A Biographical Dictionary of the Later Han.