Veritable Records


Veritable Records are historical records compiled by government historians of Chinese dynasties since the 6th century, and later in Korea, Japan and Vietnam which adopted the Chinese bureaucratic system and the writing system of Classical Chinese. Typically they were compiled immediately following the death of a monarch and follow a strictly prescribed format. Veritable Records are highly detailed and contain a wealth of political, economical, military, and biographical information.
Famous examples include :
During the Yuan and Qing dynasties of China, Veritable Records were also written in Mongol and Manchu respectively.

Origin

The earliest Veritable Records were those compiled under the direction of Zhou Xingsi for the reign of the Emperor Wu of Liang, but the practice of writing Veritable Records did not become standardized until the reign of the Emperor Taizong of Tang, who was obsessed with his historical legacy.