Veritable Records of the Qing is an official chronicle in annalistic format documenting the daily affairs of Qing emperors and the central government. It exists in three versions: Manchu, Mongolian, and Chinese. However, beginning in the Qianlong period, the decline in Manchu language proficiency among bannermen made it increasingly difficult to compose text directly in Manchu. Consequently, starting with the compilation of the Manchu Veritable Records of the Qianlong Emperor (daicing gurun i g'aodzung yongkiyangga hūwangdi i yargiyan kooli) during the Jiaqing period, the traditional process of first drafting the records in Manchu and then translating them into Chinese was reversed. From this point onward, the records were initially compiled in Chinese and subsequently translated into Manchu, with the translations closely adhering to the Chinese text. The Manchu Veritable Records span from the reign of Emperor Taizu to Emperor Muzong. Although the collection housed at the National Palace Museum is incomplete, it still comprises over 1,000 volumes, making it a substantial and significant archive.
The Manchu Veritable Records preserved in the National Palace Museum are mostly bound with red silk covers. In terms of historical value, these records document major events of the Qing dynasty, both domestic and foreign, as well as Manchu customs, encompassing a vast array of topics. Whether for research on Qing politics or traditional Manchu culture, the Manchu Veritable Records are an indispensable resource. Notably, in the early Qing period, some Chinese versions of the Veritable Records of the Qing were either incomplete or lacked clarity, making cross-referencing with the Manchu text essential. Moreover, as the Manchu Veritable Records were compiled during the reigns of different emperors, the language and grammar of the Manchu text evolved over time, providing invaluable material for the study of the Manchu language.