After being dispatched to Japan as the recorder of travel logs for the Joseon envoy, Shin wrote the book in 1443 under the order of King Seongjong and it records details including those of Japan's Imperial Family, lords (influential people throughout the ages), place names, the state of national affairs, the movements of the diplomatic mission, and rules of the reception met by the envoy, and so on.
1443年（世宗(朝鮮王)25年）朝鮮通信使書状官として日本に赴いた後、成宗の命を受けて作成したもので、日本の天皇家や国王(各時代の権力者)、地名、国情、交聘往来の沿革、使臣館待遇接待の節目などを記録している。