本文從劉知幾的代表作《史通》之內、外篇，析論劉知幾對上古先秦以迄於盛唐時期，歷代著名史家撰史技藝方面的重要看法。得悉劉氏皆以其「史才三長論」的主張，審視這些古來史家之撰述是符合抑或乖違其理，進而定奪其技藝能力之高下優劣。其所肆論於《史通》者，已成為劉氏一家獨斷之學，且為後世史家自期臻於劉氏所論目標的要求，而冀為一代之良史。

This paper elucidates the criticism of craft explored in Liu Zhi-ji’s Shih-t’ung for the renowned Chinese historians before Tang Dynasty. Liu proposed the theory of “Three Qualities” to appraise the ancient historians before making a deciding coclusion. The criticism inscribed in Shih-t’ung became a unique contention as well as a principal criterion, encouraging subsequent historians to cultivate one’s historical crafts and self-expect one’s abilities to be a good historian.