The supreme ruler of the Manchu people attached great importance to history and its functions. Since the beginning of his business, Nurhaci has attached great importance to learning history to understand the rise and fall of political power in the past dynasties, especially the historical events of the achievements of ethnic minorities. Nurhaci was very thirsty for historical knowledge and asked all scholars to do the same. In the forty-third year of Wanli in the Ming Dynasty (1615), Nurhachi once said to his disciples: "All the emperors of the Ming Dynasty, Korea, Japan, Mongolia and other great countries were examples of those who gained power by practicing good deeds, or who believed in evil and valued wealth. I have heard all the examples of bad virtues and failed teachings, as well as all kinds of Taoism. Although I have heard this good scripture and good words, I still want to ask again and know more. Father, I have good words. Even if you hear them, you should diligently remember them. "Nurhaci first had people tell Chinese historical books, and then he had people who were familiar with Manchu and Chinese characters. Wenchen translated Chinese historical books.
The Chinese books translated during the Nurhachi period include "Daming Huidian", "Sushu", "Sanlue" and other books. Huang Taiji, Nurhachi's successor, also attached great importance to the study of historical knowledge. He still regards letting people tell history as one of the main ways to learn about historical events. The translation of historical books has made greater progress than before, such as "Tongjian", "Mencius", "Wanbaoquanshu", "Three Kingdoms", "Six Tao", "Wu Jing" and abridged translations of Liao, Jin, The Four Histories of the Song and Yuan Dynasties, etc. As a result, "Manchu people gradually became familiar with the meanings of allusions and stories that they had never heard of before." The supreme ruler of the Manchu people paid special attention to learning and understanding the history of ethnic minorities, such as the history of the three ethnic minority regimes in the north, Liao, Jin, and Yuan, especially the history of the Jin. The purpose was to apply good and evil, and use history as a mirror to achieve great achievements. Historical records: Nurhachi once personally told the historical events of the Jin Dynasty to Mongolian Beile, and learned from it the historical experience of the victory of the ethnic minority regime over the Han regime to inspire fighting spirit. He also explained that the great cause of becoming emperor is not the exclusive property of the Han people in the Central Plains, but "without moral integrity." In the world, those who are virtuous will become emperors.”
Huang Taiji instructed: "When I look at the Chinese history books, there are so many embellishments that it is useless to read them all. Now it is appropriate to select among the four histories of Liao, Song, Jin, and Yuan, those who were diligent in seeking governance and whose country prospered and prospered. , or those who acted contrary to the principles and ruined the unity of the country, and the strategy of using the army with the husband, as well as the loyalty of the assistants, and the traitors who caused chaos in the country, the relevant political figures compiled and translated them into books for future reference. These books are all false. If these books are circulated in the country, they are afraid that ignorant people will believe them to be true. We also see that historians call the emperor, whether he is moral or not, he is generally called the emperor. , Only virtue is a supplement. He who must be virtuous is called the Son of Heaven. Now that I have accepted Heaven's blessing as the master of the country, how dare I think that the son of Heaven is beloved by Heaven? Ningzu relies on it!" Obviously, Huang Taiji used historical facts to clarify the historical law that "the emperor and heaven have no relatives, but virtue is the auxiliary", and the principle that ethnic minorities can dominate the world, and found historical basis for the Manchus to replace the Ming Dynasty and gain the world.
According to records, in November of the first year of Chongde (1636), Huang Taiji summoned the princes, princes, Baylor, Gushan, Ezhen, and ministers of the Duchayuan at Xiangfeng Tower to order Neihongwenyuan. The minister read "The Chronicles of Jin Shizong". Then Huang Taiji gave instructions: "You guys are listening, Shizong was a virtuous king with a remarkable reputation in the Mongolian and Han countries. Therefore, later generations at that time were called Xiao Yao and Shun. I have read this book and learned its outline, and I am very aware of it. I think of Taizu Jin and Taizong, whose laws are clear and will last for a long time. They were indulged in drinking and sex, and they were like the Han people. Bad habits. When Emperor Shizong came to the throne, he worked hard to follow the ancestors and strive for governance. He was afraid that his descendants would still follow the Han customs and forbid the rules. He always followed the old rules in clothing and language, and practiced riding and shooting at all times to prepare for martial arts. Although he was taught this way, the kings of later generations gradually became lazy and forgot about riding and shooting.