Huang-Ming congxin lu 皇明從信錄

Huang-Ming congxin lu 皇明從信錄 "Biographies of followers without doubt of Our Dynasty" is a chronicle of the Ming dynasty 明 (1368-1644) compiled by Chen Jian 陳建 (1497-1567, courtesy name Tingzhao 廷肇, style Qinglan 清瀾) and revised by Shen Guoyuan 沈國元 (late Ming, courtesy name Zhongfei 仲飛). Chen is also the author of the chronicle Huang-Ming tongji fazhuan quanlu 皇明通紀法傳全錄.

The 40-juan long Congxinlu was written in the style of Sima Guang's 司馬光 (1019–1086) Zizhi tongjian 資治通鑑 from the Song period 宋 (960-1279) and had originally the title Huang-Ming tongji 皇明通紀, imitating the chapter titles of Sima's great book.

It begins in 1352, when Zhu Yuanzhang 朱元璋 (Emperor Taizu 明太祖, r. 1368-1398), the eventual founder of the Ming dynasty, rebelled against the Yuan 元 (1279-1368) regime, and reaches down to the chapters Jingnanji 靖難記 (describing the usurpation by the Yongle Emperor 永樂, r. 1402-1424) and Wuzongji 武宗紀, the annals of the Zhengde Emperor 正德 (r. 1505-1521).

A supplement called Liangchao congxing lu 兩朝從信錄 and written by Shen Guoyuan covers the years of the Jiajing 嘉靖 (1522-1566) and Longqing 隆慶 (1567-1572) reigns. Shen Guoyuan revised the original text, expanded it until the Wanli reign 萬歷 (ending in 1620), and changed the title of the book. The text is based on memorials to the throne and imperial edicts, as found in the "veritable records" (shilu 實錄), and enriched by annotations, and is therefore very reliable. The first print appeared in 1620, and a facsimile was published in 1987 by the Jiangsu Guangling guji keyinshe 江蘇廣陵古籍刻印社.

The Huang-Ming congxin lu is included in the series Xuxiu siku quanshu 續修四庫全書.