清代前期的君主熱衷修史。世祖已有為前代編纂新通史，為政治服務的意圖。聖 祖定下官方修史新制，下令史官每完成兩三卷，便須上呈審覽，使他能更緊密監視修史的 進度及控制史書的內容。他又刊行自己的史論。作為臣民的讀史指南。世宗強調由官方編 纂復經他審定的史書，才是信史。高宗君臣吹噓高宗 當時唯一的歷史判官，並提出歷史編 纂為史官專業及筆削褒貶 君主專利的理論。影響所及，乾嘉之際的史家（包括以私人身分 治史的史官）大多專注考據，不敢輕言著史及論史。

　　　　　Manchu emperors in the early and high Ch'ing periods played an important role in the compilation of official historical works. Emperor Shun-chih had already intended to compile a new general history with a view to reinforcing his rule. Instead of waiting for his court historians to submit drafts of official historical works upon completion, Emperor K'ang-hsi required them to turn in every 2-3 chapters of works-in-progress to him for inspection as they were written. This practice allowed him to closely monitor the progress of compilations and insure that the contents of these works were presented to his satisfaction. He also published his own treatises on history as guidelines for his subjects on the reading of historical works. Emperor Yung-ch'eng asserted that only official histories edited by himself were authentic versions of history, and that all privately published historical works were unreliable. Emperor Ch'ien-lung and his court historians advocated the view that the Emperor was the sole judge of history of their time. They also claimed that while the writing of history was the responsibility of court historians, making judgements of "praise and blame" regarding historical events was the monopoly of the Emperor. As a result, most historians (including court historians when they engaged privately in historical writing) of the Ch'ien-lung (1736-1796) and Chia-ch'ing (1796-1820) eras did not dare to write history or comment on historical works. They devoted themselves instead to textual research.