The Twenty-Four Histories (Chinese: 二十四史; pinyin: Èrshísì Shǐ; Wade–Giles: Erh-shih-szu shih), also known as the Standard Histories (zhengshi 正史) are the Chinese official historical books covering a period from 3000 BC to the Ming dynasty in the 17th century. The Han dynasty official Sima Qian established many of the conventions of the genre, but the form was not fixed until much later. Starting with the Tang dynasty, each dynasty established an official office to write the history of its predecessor using official court records. As fixed and edited in the Qing dynasty, the whole set contains 3213 volumes and about 40 million words. It is considered one of the most important sources on Chinese history and culture.
The title "Twenty-Four Histories" dates from 1775 which was the 40th year in the reign of the Qianlong Emperor. This was when the last volume, the History of Ming was reworked and a complete set of the histories produced.
Early Four Historiographies (前四史)Records of the Grand Historian (史記, Shǐ Jì), compiled by Sima Qian 司馬遷 in 91 BCBook of Han (漢書, Hàn Shū), compiled by Ban Gu 班固 in 82Records of the Three Kingdoms (三國志, Sānguó Zhì), compiled by Chen Shou 陳壽 in 289Book of Later Han (後漢書, Hòuhàn Shū), compiled by Fan Ye 范曄 in 445Book of Song (宋書, Sòng Shū) — Southern Dynasties, compiled by Shen Yue 沈約 in 488Book of Qi (齊書, Qí Shū) — Southern Dynasties, compiled by Xiao Zixian 蕭子顯 in 537Book of Wei (魏書, Wèi Shū) — Northern Dynasties, compiled by Wei Shou 魏收 in 554Eight Historiographies of Tang Dynasty (唐初八史)Book of Liang (梁書, Liáng Shū) — Southern Dynasties, compiled by Yao Silian 姚思廉 in 636Book of Chen (陳書, Chén Shū) — Southern Dynasties, compiled by Yao Silian in 636Book of Northern Qi (北齊書, Běi Qí Shū) — Northern Dynasties, compiled by Li Baiyao 李百藥 in 636Book of Zhou (周書, Zhōu Shū) — Northern Dynasties, compiled under Linghu Defen 令狐德棻 in 636Book of Sui (隋書, Suí Shū), compiled under Wei Zheng 魏徵 in 636Book of Jin (晉書, Jìn Shū), compiled under Fang Xuanling 房玄齡 in 648History of the Southern Dynasties (南史, Nán Shǐ), compiled by Li Yanshou 李延壽 in 659History of the Northern Dynasties (北史, Běi Shǐ), compiled by Li Yanshou in 659Old Book of Tang (唐書, Táng Shū), compiled under Liu Xu 劉昫 in 945Old History of the Five Dynasties (五代史, Wǔdài Shǐ), compiled under Xue Juzheng 薛居正 in 974New History of the Five Dynasties (新五代史, Xīn Wǔdài Shǐ), compiled under Ouyang Xiu 歐陽脩 in 1053New Book of Tang (新唐書, Xīn Táng Shū), compiled under Ouyang Xiu in 1060Three Historiographies of Yuan Dynasty (元末三史)History of Liao (遼史, Liáo Shǐ), compiled under Toqto'a 脫脫 in 1343History of Jin (金史, Jīn Shǐ), compiled under Toqto'a in 1345History of Song (宋史, Sòng Shǐ), compiled under Toqto'a in 1345History of Yuan (元史, Yuán Shǐ), compiled under Song Lian 宋濂 in 1370History of Ming (明史, Míng Shǐ), compiled under Zhang Tingyu 張廷玉 in 1739These works were begun by one historian and completed by an heir, usually in the next generation.
Records of the Grand Historian, inherited from Sima Tan 司馬談 (father) by Sima Qian 司馬遷 (son)Book of Han, inherited from Ban Biao 班彪 (brother), Ban Gu (son) by Ban Zhao 班昭 (sister)Book of Liang and Book of Chen, inherited from Yao Cha 姚察 (father) by Yao Silian 姚思廉 (son)Book of Northern Qi, inherited from Li Delin 李德林 (father) by Li Baiyao 李百藥 (son)History of the Southern Dynasties and History of the Northern Dynasties, inherited from Li Dashi 李大師 (father) by Li Yanshou 李延壽 (son)New History of Yuan (新元史, Xīn Yuán Shǐ), compiled by Ke Shaomin 柯劭忞 in 1920Draft History of Qing (清史稿, Qīng Shǐ Gǎo), compiled under Zhao Erxun 趙爾巽 in 1927In China, the Zhonghua Book Company (Zhonghua Shuju) have edited a number of these histories. They have been collated, edited, and punctuated by Chinese specialists.
Only two of the Twenty-Four Histories have been completely translated into English: Records of the Grand Historian by William Nienhauser, in nine volumes, and Ouyang Xiu's New History of the Five Dynasties by Richard L. Davis in 2004.
In Korean and Vietnamese, only the Records has been translated. Most of the histories have been translated into Japanese.