In October 1662, as the Shogun Ietsuna TOKUGAWA's will, Gaho Hayashi was ordered to complete the chronological record of history, and in August 1663 the Shogunate approved the project by hosho (a document for informing lower-rank people of the decision of upper people such as an emperor or shogun) with signatures of roju (senior councillors of the Tokugawa shogunate), and the edit work started at the residence of Hayashi in Shinobugaoka.
寛文2年（1663年）10月、将軍徳川家綱の上意として林鵞峯に編年録の完成を命じられ、翌寛文3年8月に幕府老中の連署奉書で幕府の許可がおり、忍岡の林邸での編纂が開始される。