Gujin jiyao 古今紀要

Gujin jiyao 古今紀要 "Records of important events in ancient and modern times" is a kind of excerpt of history books, but the text was so much transformed that it is seen as an "alternative history" (bieshi 別史). The 19-juan long book was compiled by the Song period 宋 (960-1279) writer Huang Zheng 黃震 xxx, courtesy name Dongfa 東發, from Cixi 慈溪 (today in Zhejiang), who was intendant (? tiju 提舉) of Zhedong 浙東.

The text begins with the Three August Emperors (sanhuang 三皇) of the age of mythology and ends with the reign of Emperor Zhezong 宋哲宗 (r. 1085-1100) of the Song. It is organized by persons, first presenting a kind of chronicle for each emperor, and then shortly that of his most important ministers and court officials. Each person is ranked according to moral matters and performance, barring Song period persons. The descriptions of their lives and activities is most detailed.