本书分上、下两卷，上卷为清太祖时期，下卷为清太宗时期，各分15个专题，以重大历史事件为经，贯穿讲述了自努尔哈赤起兵反明（1583年），至清军占领北京（1644年）这一时期的历史发展大势。(The book contains two volumes, with one centering on the reign of Nurhaci and the other on that of Hong Taiji. Each having fifteen topics, they tell the general historical trend during the period between Nurhaci's attacks on Ming China in 1583 and the capture of Beijing by Qing's army in 1644.)