自秦始皇統一六國(B.C.221)以迄大清滅亡前夕(A.D.1911)，傳統中國官方法制文書的編纂形式，歷經多次變革。大約自秦漢以至南北朝，是以《律》爲主，以《令》爲輔；隋唐五代是以《律》、《令》、《格》、《式》爲主，斯爲第一次重大的變革；後周與兩宋則以《刑統》爲主，以《編敕》爲輔，是爲第二次重大的變革；元明清時代，則以《律》爲主，以《例》爲輔，是爲第三次重大的變革。正當大唐帝國依「律令格式」以爲治的盛唐時期，卻出現了一種嶄新的法典編纂形式，此即《開元格式律令事類》，而此一法制文書可視爲日後《刑統》的前身。自《開元格式律令事類》以降，同類型的官方法典，先後至少就有《大中刑法統類》、《大梁新定格式律令》與《同光刑律統類》等法典的編纂，然後才出現《大周刑統》、《宋刑統》。故知，《刑統》的出現，絕非偶然，乃係逐漸遞嬗變遷而成者；而《大周刑統》在我國法制史傳承的過程，確曾扮演過「承先啟後」的重要角色。本文認爲，在《宋刑統》所附「周顯德五年七月七日敕條」，正是《大周刑統》（《顯德刑統》）中所收之敕條，這些敕條正突顯出後周世宗時代皇權提升的徵象；換言之，史學界過往普遍認爲北宋時代是我國古代皇權大幅提升的開端，若自「法制變革」的角度來看，我國古代皇權提升的發軔期，實際上可以溯源自後周世宗年間。

The compiling style of the traditional Chinese legal code had come through many reformations. From Qin, Han dynasty to Northern and Southern Dynasty, Lu (律) was given first place and Lin (令) was given assist place. In Sui, Tang and Five dynasties, mainly in accordance with Ge (格), Shi (式), and. This was the first significant reformation. The Xing Tong (刑統) was for the most part and the Bian Chi (編敕) was secondary from Later Zhou to Song dynasty. This was second reformation. In Yuan, Ming and Ch'ing dynasty, Lu (律) was in chief and Li (例) was less important. This could consider as third reformation. In the middle Tang dynasty, a brand-new compiling style of legal code-the Kai Yuan Lu lin Shi Lei (開元格式律令事類) had appeared. This could be considered as predecessor of The Xing Tong. After that there were several legal codes, such as the Da Chung Xing Lu Tong Lei (大中刑律統類). And then appeared the Da Zhou Xing Tong (大周刑統) and the Song Xing Tong (宋刑統). The compiling style of The Xing tong had formed gradually. The Da Zhou Xing Tong played a critical role in the develop process of traditional legal history. There are fifteen imperial edicts dated back to July 7th in 958. All these edicts should be record on The Da Zhou Xing Tong and show imperial power rose in Shi Emperor in Later Zhou dynasty.