Abstract: Compiled by the Northern Song historian Sima Guang, Zi Zhi Tong Jian contains a wealth of statistical data covering household registration and population, taxation and corvée, military intelligence, agricultural production and many other aspects, which is an extremely valuable historical basis for studying the evolution of government statistics in ancient China. In order to summarize the historical experience and learn from historical wisdom, this paper is based on a detailed exploration and in-depth interpretation of statistical activities, data, statistical thought and methods in Zi Zhi Tong Jian. Focusing on typical cases and highlighting data governance, this paper portrays and summarizes the situation of government statistics in China during the Five Dynasties and its previous periods from three respects: the organization and implementation of government statistics, the coverage and main contents of government statistics, and the prevention and punishment of statistical fraud. The study finds that: firstly, government statistics in ancient China started early and became more and more mature and stable; secondly, statistics has always been highly valued, and has increasingly become an effective tool for national governance and an important basis for relevant decision-making; thirdly, the problem of statistical fraud occurred from time to time, and the efforts to prevent and punish it were great; fourthly, the degree of collection and utilization of statistical data was highly correlated with the economic and social conditions; and fifthly, statistics was deeply integrated with other fields, and there was a lack of research on specialized statistical issues.

Key words: Zi Zhi Tong Jian, Government Statistics, Data Governance, Statistical History