The history recorded in Zi Jian is limited, from the 23rd year of Wei Liezhou (403 BC) to the 6th year of Zhou Xiande (959 BC), with a period of *** 1362. The book is divided into sixteen dynasties, namely, five volumes of Zhou Ji, three volumes of Ji Qin, sixty volumes of Han Ji, ten volumes of Wei Ji, forty volumes of Jin Ji, sixteen volumes of Song Ji, ten volumes of Miracle, twenty-two volumes of Liang Ji, ten volumes of Chen Ji and Sui Ji.
The content of Zi Tong Zhi Jian mainly focuses on political, military and ethnic relations, as well as the evaluation of economic, cultural and historical figures, with the aim of warning future generations through the description of the ruling class policies related to the rise and fall of the country and the rise and fall of the nation.