[1] In March 1343, the third year of Ukhaantu Khan, Emperor Huizong of Yuan's Zhizheng Era (至正年號; 至正年号), an Imperial edict ordered the creation of histories of the Song, Liao and Jin Dynasties.
Under the overall supervision of Toktogan, Temür Daš (Chinese Tiemuertashi 鐵木兒塔識; 铁木儿塔识), He Weiyi, (賀惟一; 贺惟一), Zhang Qiyan (張起巖; 张起岩), Ouyang Xuan (歐陽玄; 欧阳玄), Li Haowen (李好文), Wang Yi (王沂) and Yang Zongduan (楊宗端) were given responsibility for the project[2] with Woyuluntu (斡玉倫徒; 斡玉伦徒), Taibuhua (泰不華; 泰不华), Yu Wenzhuan (于文傳; 于文传), Gong Shidao (貢師道; 贡师道), Yu Que (餘闕; 余阙), Jia Lu (賈魯; 贾鲁) Wei Su (危素) and 23 others appointed as historiographers.
In the section of the book covering Song dynasty records there are fifteen separate categories viz: astronomy, the system of five phases known as Wu Xing, the legal calendar (律曆; 律历), geography, rivers and water ways, Confucian rites, music, ceremonial weaponry and bodyguards (儀衛; 仪卫), military dress (輿服; 舆服), elections, government positions, consumer goods, the army and punishment together with art and culture.
A total of seven chapters contain biographies of traitors and rebels including Cai Jing, Huang Qianshan (黃潛善), Qin Hui, Zhang Bangchang (張邦昌) and Liu Yu (劉豫).
Chien also includes maps in English corresponding to the main administrative regions described in volumes 85–90 comprising the Geography (地理) section.
Qing dynasty historian Qian Daxin (錢大昕) once said: "The History of Song esteems neo-confucianism, especially the school of Zhu Xi".
Famous general Wang Jianzai (王堅在), regardless of his valiant combat record, is also omitted as are many other individuals involved in Mongol defeats by the Song.
[note 4] Qing dynasty poet and historian Zhao Yi (趙翼) covers this in his Twenty-two Historical Sketches (《二十二史劄記》) under a section regarding observations on the Song and Jin armies (宋金用兵需參觀二史).
During the Qing dynasty, Chen Huangzhong (陳黃中) wrote the Songshi Gao (宋史稿) running to 219 chapters.
During the final years of the Qing Qianlong Emperor (r. 1735–1796 CE), historian Shao Jinhan (邵晉涵) along with Qian Daxin (錢大昕) and Zhang Xuecheng (章學誠) worked to revamp the History of Song.