The reasons for the compilation and revision of Tong Jian

The reason why Zi Zhi Tong Jian was compiled was because Emperor Gaozong of the Qing Dynasty read Zi Zhi Tong Jian written by Li Dongyang of the Ming Dynasty. "This edition was not carefully reviewed, so it was specially revised to add the deeds of the Ming Dynasty". This kind of revision and supplement due to the existing books is a common practice in the official history revision activities of the Qianlong Dynasty, which may not be listed as an important task at first. Moreover, at that time, the Qing court was working hard to compile historical books such as Qing Hui Dian, General Examination of Continued Documents (later developed into Continued Three Links and Qing Three Links), Map of the Imperial Palace in the Western Regions, General Map of Pingding Junggar, and the compilation of General Comment. However, with the development of compilation, the importance of calligraphy has been enhanced in the process of paying attention to praising and criticizing calligraphy and considering righteous examples. By the time it was compiled, it had been said that the book Ji Lan was not the same as other books, and it should not only be approved by Zhu, but also be awarded to literati, and must be compiled by the family. Later, Emperor Gaozong of the Qing Dynasty mentioned the reasons for compiling this book in his preface, starting with his "imperial ancestor" and "imperial reading as a mirror". He believes that although the imperial edict of the "emperor's ancestors" can "teach future generations", it has not changed the text of the old history. "Therefore, he ordered Confucian officials to compile a book" A Mirror of Collecting Capital and Governing Past Dynasties "and correct its name." From this point of view, the compilation of this book seems to be the unfinished business of Qing sages. From the very beginning, it has a high-standard political and academic purpose and has nothing to do with Li Dongyang's Zi Zhi Tong Jian. We noticed that the official books of the Qing Dynasty not only failed to include the original imperial edicts of Emperor Gaozong, but also made the Mirror of Past Dynasties compiled by Li Dongyang disappear without a trace. It is not included in Sikuquanshu, and even the General Catalogue of Sikuquanshu is not introduced as a "catalogue". Whether there are taboos between them is really a mystery.