This essay investigates the context and development of the chronicle-type (ji, or account-type) prose up to the point of Tang dynasty, when it mutured into a distinct form of its own. Methodologically, the author has largely followed the works of Wu Na and Hsu Shizeng, tracking closely how narrative forms and techniques have evolved between the pre-Qin era and Tang dynasty. He proposes that chi prose was originally an ancient literary form concerned with factual data and public matters, but over time it gradually chrystallized into a novel kind of writing. Carefull assessment of the literature shows that, due to the widely known attempts of Li Hua and later masters of the ancient style prose (guwenjia), ji prose gathered momentum for rapid development: the subject matter has since on become more “self-saturated” or “self-involved,” thus more expressive of the writer's distinctive personal style. Sometimes, it even incorporates the three traditional prose modes (narrative, lyricism and discursive reasoning) for its own use. This breakthrough of the ji prose testifies to the novelty and revolution of prose writing in Tang.