However, it is possible to consider it as official history given that Emperor Tenmu stated in the preface that the emperor would advisedly select Teiki, and find kyuji to eliminate the false parts and find the truth for it to succeed to the later ages.
序文に天武天皇が撰録帝紀討覈舊辭削僞定實欲流後葉帝紀を撰録し、旧辞を討覈して、偽りを削り実を定めて、後葉に流（つた）へむと欲（おも）ふと詔していることから、勅撰と考えることも出来る。