實錄體的起源，應放在帝王編年史模式的演變中加以審視。一般說來，出現於中國歷史早期的起居注可分為檔案型與史著型兩種。漢魏六朝以降，“實錄”一詞的出現頻率漸增，實錄體與皇帝編年史結合成為一種必然。“實錄”與“起居注”是一脈相承的，皇帝編年史在唐以前稱“起居注”，唐以後則稱“實錄”，中間的梁與北齊是這兩種稱謂的交替過渡時期。由起居注而實錄，無論在名稱還是書法上，均是一大進步。

The origin of Shi Lu should be re-examined with the consideration of the evolution of the pattern of the imperial chronicle. Generally, Qijuzhu appeared in the ancient time of Chinese history, can be divided into two types, the source and the written history book. Along with the frequent occurrence of the term "Shi Lu", this term has actually become interchangeable with the term "imperial chronicle" and has almost become one term since the period of the Han-Wei and six dynasties. Both of Shi Lu and Qijuzhu come from the same source. The Chronicle of the Emperor was named "Qijuzhu" before Tang Dynasty and named "Shi Lu" after then; during Liang-Northern Qi Dynasties, it is a period of transition in term of the employment of the two terms. The evolution from Qijuzhu to Shi Lu made a great progress , no matter regarding just the term or regarding the way of expression.